Pasupatheesvarar Temple / Swayambhu Pasupatheeswarar Temple /Sri Suyambu Pasuathiswarar Temple / சுயம்பு பசுபதீஸ்பவரர் கோயில் / Thinnakonam / தின்னகோணம், Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this temple was a part of the “Trichy Heritage Walk” organized by “Yaaooyakay – யாஊயாகே- Group”, to the Historical Chozha period temples, in and around Trichy aka Tiruchirappalli, scheduled on 20^th & 21^st March 2021. Even though they were contributed by the Pallava, Chozha, Pandya, Vijayanagara Kings, and the present Nattukottai Nagarathars, they are less popular. This is also one of the "Thevara Vaippu Sthalam".

This is one of the Vaippu sthalam. Thirugnanasambandar mentioned this place as NeRkunRam ( 2-39-9 ) in Kshethra Kovai, along with 86 Temples. In that, he mentions that Lord Shiva, who couldn’t find out the start & end – அடியும் – முடியும்” by Maha Vishnu as Kadal Vannan – கடல்வண்ணன் and Brahma as mamalaron – மாமலரோன்.  

நெற்குன்றம் ஒத் தூர்நிறை நீர் மருகல்

        நெடுவாயில் குறும்பலா நீடுதிரு

நற்குன்றம் வலம்புரம் நாகேச்சுரம்

        நளிர்சோலையும் சேனைமா காளம் வாய்மூர்

கற்குன்றம் ஒன் றேந்தி மழை தடுத்த

        கடல்வண்ணனும் மாமல ரோனும் காணாச்

சொற்கென்றும் தொலைவிலா தானுறையும்

        குடமூக்கென்று சொல்லிக் குலாவுமினே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் ஷேத்திரக்கோவை -2.39.9

Moolavar  : Swayambhu Pasupatheeswarar / Sri Sadanandar

Consort    : Sri Govindavalli / Sri Govarthanambigai 

Some of the salient features of this temple are...

The temple faces east with an entrance arch like Rajagopuram. Stucco images of Lord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar, and Murugan are on the entrance arch. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the mukha mandapam. Stucco images of Lord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar, and Murugan are on the top of the mukha mandapam. Stucco Dwarapalakas and Saptamatrikas are in the mukha mandapam. In the sanctum, a pyramid-shaped rock is considered a Swayambhu Shiva Linga. In addition to this, there is a regular Shiva Linga. In koshtam Nardana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Arthanareeswarar, Pichadanar, and Durgai.

In ardha mandapam, Nalvar, Adhi Lingeswarar, Ambal, Lakshmi Narayanar, Sankara Narayanan, Veenadharar, and Sastha.  In praharam Lingothbavar Valampuri Vinayagar, Siva Sakthi Velavar, Agasthiyar, Navagrahas, Saneeswarar, Chandran, and Suriyan. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. The temple was reconstructed in recent years. The adhisthana is of prati bandha adhistana. Yazhivari is above the kumudam and in the Bhoomi Desam. The sanctum sanctorum was built with stone from the adhistana to the prastaram. Both Brahmakantha and Vishnu Kantha pilasters support the sanctum walls. The prastaram is with valapi, kapotam with nasikudus, and vyyalavari. In Grivam Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Ashtadikpalakas.

The vimana is of Gajabirushta style - தூங்கானை மாடம் – the back of an Elephant. It was said that this is the only Gajabirushta-type Vimana temple (2^nd in Chozha Nadu) in the Tiruchirappalli area. Thirugnanasambandar records the glory of the Gajabirushta Vimana temple of Pennadakam as.....

ஒடுங்கும் பிணிபிறவி கேடென்று இவை உடைத்தாய வாழ்க்கை ஒழியத்தவம்

அடங்கும் மிடங்கதி நின்றீர் எல்லாம் அடிகள் அடிநிழற்கீழ் ஆளாம்வண்ணம்

கிடங்கும் மதிலும் கலாவிஎங்கும் கெழுமனை கள்தோறு மறையின்னொலி

தொடங்கும் கடந்தைத் தடங்கோயில்சேர் தூங்கானை மாடம் தொழுமின்களே

..... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar also mentions that Thirugnanasambandar came to this Gajaprushta style - தூங்கானை மாடம் – Temple at Pennadakam after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirumuthukundram (Virudhachalam).

ஆங்கு நாதரைப் பணிந்து பெண் ணாடகம் அணைந்து அருமறை ஓசை

ஓங்குதூங்கானை மாடத்து உள் அமர்கின்ற ஒருதனிப் பரஞ்சோதிப்

பாங்கு அணைந்துமுன் வலம் கொண்டு பணிவுற்றுப் பரவுசொல் தமிழ்மாலை

தீங்கு நீங்குவீர் தொழுமின்கள் எனும் இசைப் பதிகமும் தெரிவித்தார்.

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has mentioned this temple in Kshethra Kovai, as “Narkundram – நற்குன்றம்“, the original temple might have been built between the 7^th to 8^th centuries, maybe by Pallavas, and the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period.

Parantaka-I period inscription records the name of this place as “ThiruviraRkunRam – திருவிரற்குன்றம்” and Thirunarkundram, the same was corrupted to the present name of Thinnakonam. Lord Shiva was mentioned as “Thirumadathu Koonanar”. Some of the inscriptions record this place as Thinnakonam and Thinnakunam

LEGENDS

It is believed that the Prasad distributed in (Wednesday brahma muhurta – 04.30 hrs to 06.00 hrs) at the Agathiyar shrine has medicinal value and cures many diseases.

It is believed that Ambal, in the form of Kamadhenu, worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Hence, Lord Shiva is called Pasupatheeswarar. This is a parihara sthalam for Pithru and Puthra dosham.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Maha Shivaratri days, Deepavali, Pradosam, Ko/Cow pooja, and on important festivals.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs, and from 18.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Somasundara Gurukkal on the landline number is +91 4326 273366 and the mobile number is +91 94437 89557, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Thinnakonam is 12 km from Musiri, 18.6 km from Kulithalai, 38 km from Tiruchirappalli, 57 km from Karur, 58 km from Namakkal, 84 km from Thanjavur, 115 km from Kumbakonam, and 345 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Kulithalai, and the Junction is Tiruchirappalli.    

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Saptamatrikas

The Old Photos are from Lalgudi Veda Sir's Facebook Page 

Thanks to Lalgudi Veda Sir for the Old Photos

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---