The visit to Sri Tripurandhiswarar Temple at
Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli was a part of “Tirunelveli Heritage Walk”, organised
by the CultureCircuits, on 11th to 13th
July 2025. Thanks to Balakumaran GS and Krishnakumar TK for arranging this walk. Palayamkottai is a
part of Tirunelveli, on the banks of the Thamirabarani River.
Moolavar :
Sri Thiripurantheeswarar
Consort :
Sri Gomathi Amman
Some of the Salient features of this temple are….
The temples of Shiva and Ambal are facing east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are after the
Rajagopuram. Vinayagar, Subramaniar, and Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the ardha mandapam.
In the koshtam, only Dakshinamurthy. Utsavars and Natarajar with Sivakami are
in the ardha mandapam.
In praharam Adhikara Nandi, Suryan, Chandran,
Saptamatrikas, Murugan, 63var, Kannimoola Ganapati, Somaskandar, 63var (metal),
Chandikeswarar, Saniswarar, Navagrahas, Natarajar with Sivakami, and Kala
Bairavar.
Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar sannidhi is
in-between Shiva and Ambal sannidhis. Dwarapalakas Veerabhagu and Veera
Mahendran are on both sides of the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum. Balipeedam
and Peacock vahana are in front of the sannidhi. Utsava murtis Sri Valli
Devasena Subramaniar are also in front of Subramaniar sannidhi. Avvaiyar is the opposite of moolavar.
Ambal is in a separate temple facing east with a
separate 3-tier Rajagopuram entrance. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam
are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in a standing posture, holding
a lotus bud in the right hand, and the left hand is in dola hastam. In praharam
Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Murugan, and Chandikeswari.
In the outer praharam, Durga Parameswari alias Sri
Ayirathamman, Nandavanam, Vannimarathadi Vinayagar, Nagars, and Sastha/ Ayyanar
with Poorna & Puskala.
ARCHITECTURE
One of the specialties of this temple is, this
temple complex was built in the Somaskandar form. Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar
sannidhi is between Shiva and Ambal sannidhis.
The temple was constructed with stone from
adhistanam to prastaram. The temple consists of the Sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
ardha mandapam, maha mandapam, mani mandapam, and mukha mandapam. The sanctum
sanctorum is on a Pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and
pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of brahma kantha
pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam.
A two-tala vesara vimanam is over the sanctum sanctorum. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy,
Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the Devakoshta Mahara torana, tala, and greeva
koshtas.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION
The original temple might have existed 10 to 11th
centuries, built during the Pandya period and received contributions from Pandyas,
Chozha, Vijayanagaras, Thiruvithangur Kings, Nayakas, etc. The inscriptions
mainly record, sale and gift of land, Poojas, worship, lighting of lamps, etc.
முதலாம் இராஜராஜனின், சிவன்கோவில் வடக்கு பிரகாரத்தில் உள்ள கல்வெட்டு,
மகாசபையார் காளபிடாரி கோயிலுக்கு இரு மாவரை அளவுள்ள நிலத்தை
விற்றுக் கொடுத்த செய்தியை இக்கல்வெட்டு கூறுகிறது. கல்வெட்டு முற்றுப் பெறவில்லை.
இது விலை ஓலை ஆவணமாகும்.
The Rajaraja’s period inscription on the
north praharam records that the Maha Sabha gave 2 ma of land after the sale. The
inscription is incomplete.
Jala Durgai sannidhi was constructed and
consecrated on 29th May 1987.
Ashta bandhana maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 26th
January 2011.
Ref
Tirunelveli District Inscriptions Volume - I
LEGENDS
As per the legend, the Pandya King Uthalan mocked a Munivar in penance. Angered, Muni cursed the king to lose his beauty, charm, and also his eyesight. The king begged for pardon for the mistake he had committed. The Muni told that, to get rid of the curse, install and worship a
Shiva Linga in the Shenbagavana, on the banks of the Thamirabarani River. The King
came to this and found tha Gautama was in penance. Gauthama Muni, with the
gnanathiristi, what for the King came to this place. So Gautama Muni requested
Hanuman to get a Shiva Linga from Kasi. Hanuman also brought the Shiva Linga.
Gautama Muni’s instructions, the King worshipped Shiva and was
relieved from the curse.
In another legend, in 1649 CE, the Dutch burglars
had stolen the Thiruchendur Murugan temple Utsavar. When they were travelling
on a ship, a heavy wind started, and the boat/ship was about to sink. The Dutch
burglars threw Murugan Utsavar into the sea and escaped. So Vadamalaiappa Pillai
made a new Utsavar and took it to Thiruchendur to install the same. On the way,
he stayed at this place. That night, Murugan came in his dream and indicated
the location of the Utsavar idol in the sea, and also told that a Garuda would fly on
the above spot. Vadamalaiappa Pillai retrieved the Utsavar and installed it at the Thiruchendur Murugan temple. The new Panchaloka Utsavar, which he made for
Thiruchendur, was installed at this Shiva temple itself. Hence, this place is called Murugan Kuruchi.
Ref:
A book on the History of Thiruchendur Murugan Temple
by Dr. N Kalyana Sundaram.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Tamil Month 1st day, Sani
Pradosham, Amavasya, Pournami, Monthly Kiruthigai, Kanda Sashti, Sankadahara
Chaturthi, Vaikasi Visagam, Thiruvilakku Poojas, Valarpirai Ashtami, Bairava
Ashtami, Monthly Sivaratri, etc.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to
12.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
The temple at Palayamkottai, a part of Tirunelveli, is about 3 km from Tirunelveli Junction, 3 km from Tirunelveli new bus stand,
50 km from Thoothukudi, and 56 km from Tenkasi.
The nearest Railway Station is Tirunelveli
Junction.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Shiva's Temple entrance
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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