Sri
Mayuranathar Temple at Panapakkam, in Ranipet District, was a part of
“Gajaprishta /Gajabrushta Vimana Temples, on the banks of Palar and Kosasthalaiyar
Rivers”, on 03rd April 2026.
Moolavar :
Shri Mayuranathar
Consort :
Shri Soundarya Nayaki
Some of the salient features of this temple
are….
The temple faces east with a 3-tier
Rajagopuram on the south. The temple tank is on the east side of the temple. A
mini Rajagopuram is on the south side entrance to the maha mandapam with stucco
images of Vinayagar, Shiva, Parvati and Murugar. Stucco images of Shiva with
Parvati, a Tiger, and a Peacock are at the entrance to the east side of the
maha mandapam. Dwarapalakars are at the entrance of the Ardha Mandapam. Moolavar is
on a round avudaiyar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy (Kallala tree with
snake, monkey, pokkanam, etc.), Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai. Vinayagar,
Utsavars and Natarajar with Sivakami are in the ardha mandapam.
In the inner praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli
Devasena Subramaniar, 63var, Nagar, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar (without Dog),
Nalvar, and Navagrahas.
In addition to the main temple, there is also
another Shiva sannidhi in the inner praharam. Shiva is called Sri Mathananthaka
Nalleeswarar, and Ambal is called Thiripura Sundari.
Ambal is in a separate temple that faces east, on
the north side of the main temple. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya
varada hastam.
In the outer praharam, Vinayagar, Nagars
with two Shiva Lingams with a Rishabam, Stucco images of Shiva Lingam, Tiger
and Peacock, and a Vahana mandapam.
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ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum,
antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The temple was
built with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The sanctum sanctorum is on a
pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam and pattikai. The
bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahma kantha pilasters with
kalasam, kudam, andi, palakai, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of
valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. The vimanam is of two tiers above the bhumi
desam, greevam and vesara sigaram. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha
Vishnu and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams. The Vimanam was built
with bricks above the bhumi desam.
The Natarajar sannidhi vimanam is like a
gopuram with 3 kalasas. The Dwajasthambam mandapam was built during the 20th
century. Rishhabam is under a mandapam with two tiers.
20th-century mandapam with inscriptions on the lintel
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the temple belongs to the 8th-century Pallava period and later received contributions from the Chozhas and
Vijayanagaras. As per the Vijayanagara period inscription, Shiva was called Thirupuliappar.
Rajaraja Chozha-I’s damaged inscription
on the north wall of the Soundarya Nayagi’s temple, which starts with meikeerthi as
“Kanthalur Salai --- காந்தளூர்சாலை), records the gift of cows and buffaloes to
this temple.
The Vijayanagara King Venkatapatideva
Maharaya’s saka 1515 (1510…?) year damaged inscription on the north and west
wall of the Sri Myuranatha Swamy Temple records a land grant to the Thirupuliappar temple
of Panapakkam. Also mentions Seshagiri Ayyan, son of Giriyappaiyyar, the agent
of Achyuthappa Nayakkarayyan.
Ref:
Annual Report of South Indian Epigraphy.
The Nalleeswarar temple was constructed by the Nallurpettai Senkuntha Mudaliar community, and the maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 03rd February 1982
Sri Mathananthaka Nalleeswarar (PC-Website)
Ashta bandhana maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 3rd March 2023.
LEGENDS
As per the legend, when Shiva was in
meditation in a vanam/ forest of Mount Kailash, Ma Uma and Nandi went inside
the vanam to see its beauty. Ma Uma admired the Dance of the Peacock, and Nandi admired
the play of the Tigers. After meditation, Shiva found that both Ma Uma and Nandi were
watching the Peacock’s dance and the tiger’s play. Angered, Shiva cursed them to
become a Peacock and a tiger. At their request, Shiva asked them to come to this
place called “Panasai” and worship him in the form of Jyothi to get rid of
the curse. Both Ma Uma and Nandi came to this place and worshipped Shiva and were relieved from the curse.
In another legend, Shri Shiva gave darshan
to Mrukandu and his wife Marudavathi in the form of a peacock (Mayura). Shiva
blessed them with a son, who became the famous sage Durvasa. Hence, Shiva is
called Mayuranathar.
Sthala Purana stucco images of Nandi as a tiger and Ambal as a peacock worshipping Shiva
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas
are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar, Chaturthi, Kandar
Sashti, Thai Poosam, Somavaras, Pournami, Amavasya, Sankadahara Chaturthi,
Kirithigai, Ashtami, Sashti, Guru Poojas, Brahmotsavam, etc.
Discourses are conducted by the Somavara
Vazhipattu Kuzhu.
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TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs
to 12.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
The place, Panapakkam, is 7 km from Ocheri,
on the Ocheri to Arakkonam Road, 27 km from Arakkonam, 27 km from Kanchipuram,
and 31 km from Ranipet.
The nearest Railway Station/ Junction is
Arakkonam.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
East side entrance with stucco images of Shiva Lingam, and worshipped by a tiger and a peacock
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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