Sri Sangaranyeswarar Temple / Sri Sankaaranyeswarar Temple /ஸ்ரீ சங்காரன்யேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Thiru Thalachangadu / தலைச்சங்காடு / Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 162^nd Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 45^th sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. This place maintains the same name as Thalachangadu since 6^th to 7^th Century. 

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvalampuram.

கறைஅணி கண்டர் கோயில் காதலால் பணிந்து பாடி
மறையவர் போற்ற வந்து திருவலம் புரத்து மன்னும்
இறைவரைத் தொழுது பாடும் கொடியுடை ஏத்திப் போந்து
நிறைபுனல் திருச்சாய்காடு தொழுதற்கு நினைந்து செல்வார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

நலச்சங்க வெண்குழையும் தோடும் பெய்தோர் நால்வேதம்
சொலச் சங்கை யில்லாதீர் சுடுகா டல்லாற் கருதீர்
குலைச் செங்காய்ப் பைங்கமுகின் குளிர்கொள் சோலைக் குயிலாலும்
தலைச் சங்கைக் கோயிலே கோயிலாகத் தாழ்ந்தீரே

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

 -தூயகொடி
அங்காடு கோபுரம் வானாற்றாடு கின்றதலைச்
சங்காடு மேவுஞ்சயம் புவே

......... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Sangaranyeswarar, Sri Sangavaneswarar,
                  Sri Sangarunadeswarar.
Consort    : Sri Soundaranayaki.

Some of the important features of this temple are as follows.
The temple is facing east with an entrance arch and a temple tank Sangu Theertham. Balipeedam and Vinayagar is after the arch. Dwarapalakas are in front of Sanctm sanctorum. Moolavar is little tall on a Sanghu / conch / square shaped avudayar. In Koshtam, Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durgai.  

In ardha mandapam image of Nalvar and Chenkot Chozhan with his wife. In prakaram at lower level Sridevi, Bhudevi sametha Maha Vishnu with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Natarajar, Somaskandar, Nalvar, Maha Vishnu, Ramar with Sita, Jurahareswarar, Kaveri, Pattinathar, Jyeshta Devi, Chandikeswarar, Akarshana Lingam and Agasthiyar.

Ambal is in a separate Temple with sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

ARCHITECTURE
The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and ardha mandapam. The sanctum is little large with a narrow entrance. A vesara Vimanam is over the sanctum. This is one of the Mada temples believed to be built by Ko Changat Chozhan.  The details are given below.

The veRRu thalam is of 2.26 meters tall on a padmabandha adhistanam with padmajagathy, vrutha kumuda and pattigai. The bhitti is supported with brahma kantha pilasters ( usual features of kalasam, kudam, lotuspetals mandi palagai and poomottu pothyal. The prastram is with valapi ( lotus petals ), kapotam ( nasis ) and prathivari / vyyalavari. Koshtas are in the bhitti with only two images.

The sanctum sanctorum is on this veRRu thalam. Maha mandapam is built with the same features of VeRRu thalam. The Sanctum sanctorum is on a pratibanda adhistanam with padma jagathy, vrutha kumuda, kapotham and vyyalavari. The Bhitti starts with vedigai, Vishnu kantha pilasters with square base, Indrakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotuspetals mandi, palakai and poomottu  pothyal. An ekatha brick vesara Vimanam is on the prastram. 4 maha nasis and 4 alpha nasis are on the sigaram. Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the greeva koshtam along with thala vahanam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original Mada Temple might have existed before 7^th Century. It is believed that the original Mada style temple was built by Ko Chengat Chozha and latter re-built as a stone temple by Chozhas and further extended by Vijayanagaras.

There are 10 inscriptions recorded from this temple. The inscriptions belongs to Chozhas which includes Uthama Chozha and his mother Sembiyan Mahadevi. As per the inscription this place was mentioned as Rajaraja valanattu Nangoor nattu Thalachangadu and Thalaiyudayavar Koil pathu.

A Chozha period inscription records that silver utensils were gifted by Sembiyan Mahadevi, mother of Utama Chozha and wife of Gandaratita Chozha.

A Land was gifted from this Village to Thiruvelvikudi. Jayangonda Nallur sabha/ Village assembly gifted 3 veli lands to three Shiva temples with some conditions. Meikavalars were given with 4 Veli land for constructing houses. The lands which are not paid taxes with arrears are converted from Devadhana land to Thirunamaththukani. The Sabha members were changed on yearly basis with out permanent posting.

Kovi Rajakesarivarmar’s 12^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning perpetual lamp at the temple of Sri Madhurai Adivarahar shrine at Thalachangadu by Ayyan Kesavan of Kollam in Malai Nadu.

Another Kovi Rajakesari Varmar’s 16^th reign year inscription records the endowment of land gifted to the temple of Adi Varahar by a Narayanan Saththi. ( the inscription is damaged on many portions).

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted after renovation on 27^th Jan 2003 and 26^th May 2010

LEGENDS
This place was called as Sanguvanam, Sankaaranyam, and Thalansanganam during ancient times. This is the birth place of Madala marayavan, a character of the sangam period epic silapathikaram.

Maha Vishnu worshiped Lord Shiva and got the Paanchanya Sangu /conch. Hence this place was called as Sanguvanam, Sangaranyam, Thalaichenganam during ancient times.

Main deity / moolavar is little tall with hair. This can be seen during oil abhishekam. The Location of the sannathis are in the form of Somaskandar, since Murugan sannidhi is in between Moolavar and Ambal sannadhi.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ),  Skanda sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), 5 days Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ) and monthly Pradosham days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS 
The Temple land Line number +91 4364 280757 and R Balachandran’s mobile number +91 9443401060 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH
This place Thalachangadu is on the way from Mayiladuthurai to Poompuhar via Akkur and On the bus route Sirkazhi to Akkur.
The temple is 5 KM from Akkur, 6 KM from Poompuhar, 16 KM from Sirkazhi, 19 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 55 KM from Kumbakonam, 95 KM from Thanjavur, 254 Km from Chennai.
Nearest Railway Station is Sirkazhi and Junction is Mayiladuthurai.   

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Durgai

Maha Vishnu with Sridevi and Bhudevi

--- Nandi

Bhairavar

Dwarapalakas

Dakshinamurthy - Brahma

Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

The  Heritage visit to this Sri Sangaranyeswarar Temple at Thalachangadu was a part of “Mada Temples Heritage Walk in Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai Districts”, organised by “Chozha Mandala Varalatru Thedal Kuzhu – GCHRG, on 05^th and 6^th March 2022.   Thanks to V Ramachandran, Thasildar of Nagapattinam, who took us to all these Temples. This is the second Visit to this temple. 

Sri Valampuranathar Temple / Sri Valampura Nathaswamy Temple, வலம்புரநாதர் கோயில், திருவலம்புரம், Thiruvalam Puram / Melaperumpallam, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 161^st Thevara paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 44^th Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. This place was called as Thiruvalam puram during 6^th to 7^th Century and now called as Melaperumpallam, since this place served as a moat ( Pallam ) for Poompuhar. Also this place is on the right side ( valam ), so called as Valampuram. It is believed that this is one of the 70 mada temples built by Ko Chengat Chozha.

   

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirunanipalli. It is believed that Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple along with Thirugnanasambandar. Lord Shiva himself called Appar to this temple and gave darshan. Sekkizhar didn’t mentioned this temple in particular in Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal puranam.   

கறைஅணி கண்டர் கோயில் காதலால் பணிந்து பாடி

மறையவர் போற்ற வந்து திருவலம் புரத்து மன்னும்

இறைவரைத் தொழுது பாடும் கொடியுடை ஏத்திப் போந்து

நிறைபுனல் திருச்சாய்காடு தொழுதற்கு நினைந்து செல்வார்

-----திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Sundarar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

கொடியுடை மும்மதில் ஊடுருவக் குனிவெஞ்சிலை தாங்கி

இடிபட எய்த அமரர் பிரான் அடியார் இசைந்து ஏத்தத்

துடிஇடை யாளையொர் பாகமாகத் துதைந்தார் இடம் போலும்

வடிவுடை மேதி வயல்படியும் வலம்புர நன்னகரானே

.... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

தெண்டிரை தேங்கி யோதம் சென்றடி வீழுங் காலைத்

தொண்டிரைத் தண்டர்கோனைத் தொழுதடி வணங்கி யெங்கும்

வண்டுகள் மதுக்கண் மாந்தும் வலம்புரத்து அடிகள் தம்மைக்

கொண்டுநற் கீதம் பாடக் குழகர்தாம் இருந்த வாறே

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

எனக்கினித் தினைத்தனைப் புகலிடம் அறிந்தேன்

பனைக்கனி பழம்படும் பரவையின் கரைமேல்

எனக்கினி அவன்தமர்க்(கு) இனியவன் எழுமையும்

மனக்கினி அவன்தன(து) இடம்வலம் புரமே

....... சுந்தரர்

                                                                    -“எள்ளுறுநோய்

ஏயவலம் புரத்தை எண்ணாமல் எண்ணுகின்றோர்

மேயவலம் புரத்து மேதகவே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Valampuranathar.

Consort    : Sri Vaduvarkkanni.

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

The temple is facing east, built in mada style. The temple tank is in front of the temple with a Vinayagar temple on its banks. Eranda Maharishi is next to Vinayagar shrine. The Rishabam and balipeedam are in front of sanctum sanctorum. The stucco images of Lord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar and Murugan are on the top of the Sanctum sanctorum entrance. Moolavar is of Swayambhu a Prithvi Lingam. There is a shallow on the top. Sambrani and Punugu sattam is applied.

In prakaram Suriyan, Vinayagar, Nalvar, Viswanathar, Murugan, Ramanathar, Gajalakshmi. Image of Pichadanar called as Vattanai Nayagar looks beautiful.

ARCHITECTURE

This is one of the Mada Koil - The temple Consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala and artha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with three patta kumudam. The bhitti starts with Vedigai. Vishnukantha pilasters are with kalasam, kudam, mandi, palagai, and Vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of Valapi, and kapotam. a two tier stucco vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.  

 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original Mada Temple might have existed before 7^th Century. It is believed that the original Mada style temple was built by Ko Chengat Chozha and latter re-built as stone temple by Chozhas and further extended during Vijayanagara period.

The inscription recorded from this temple belongs to Vikrama Chozha, Rajathirajan-II, Kulothunga Chozha-III. As per the inscriptions this place was called as Rajarajavalanattu Akkurnattu Thalachangattu Thiruvalampuram ( Vikrama Chozha ), Jayangkonda Chozha valanattu, Akkurnattu Thalachangattu Thiuvalampuram ( Kulothunga Chozha ). Lord Shiva was called as Thiruvalampuri Udayar and Ambal was called as Thadangan Nachiyar.

Vikrama Chozha’s 6^th reign year inscription records that idols of Koothadu Thevar ( Natarajar ) and his pirattiyar ( Sivakami ), Palliyarai Pirattiyar, are established and 2.25 veli land was gifted for worship by Kulothunga Chozhavalanattu Vilanattu, Alangudi Velan Kandaradithan.

 

Thiruvalampuram Village Sabha assembled at Mummudi Chozhan Perambalam, had done service to this temple.  Rajathirajan period inscription records that Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu melmalai Pazhayanurar gifted some of the idols for this temple. 

The inscriptions also throws some light on sale of people to the temple. In one of the inscription, it  records that Rajathirajavalanattu Nangoor SripathuLi Chathurvedi managalam Thattan Soman sold 6 peoples for 13 Kasu. Another inscription Thalachangadu Thiruvalampuri udayan Kaliyan’s son Thambiran Thozhan sold 8 people to this temple.

Rjathirathirajan-II’s inscription (கல்வெட்டு இதழ் 6 – Thanks to Anbu ) records Pichadanar as “வட்டணை படநடந்த நாயகர்”. The same is mentioned in the hymns sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal. The sculptor had made the idol as mentioned in the hymns. The hymns is as follows..

"கறுத்ததொரு கண்டத்தார் காலன் வீழக்

    காவினாற் காய்ந்துகந்த காபாலியார்

முறித்ததொரு தோலுடுத்து முண்டஞ் சாத்தி

    முனிகணங்கள் புடைசூழ முற்றத் தோறுந்

தெறித்ததொரு வீணையராய்ச் செல்வார் தம்வாய்ச்

    சிறுமுறுவல் வந்தெனது சிந்தை வௌவ

மறித்தொருகால் நோக்காதே மாயம் பேசி

    வலம்புரமே புக்கங்கே மன்னி னாரே.

பட்டுடுத்துப் பவளம்போல் மேனி யெல்லாம்

    பசுஞ்சாத்தங் கொண்டணிந்து பாதம் நோவ

இட்டெடுத்து நடமாடி யிங்கே வந்தார்க்

    கெவ்வூரீர் எம்பெருமா னென்றே னாவி

விட்டிடுமா றதுசெய்து விரைந்து நோக்கி

    வேறோர் பதிபுகப் போவார் போல

வட்டணைகள் படநடந்து மாயம் பேசி

    வலம்புரமே புக்கங்கே மன்னி னாரே."

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 18^th June 1966 after renovations / thirupani.

LEGENDS

Thirumal got the Valampuri sangu ( conch ) after worshiping lord Shiva of this temple.

This legend is also associated with Erandamuni of Kottaiyur and Thiruvalanchuzhi, who entered in to river Cauvery at Thiruvalanchuzhi and came out at this place. This legend connected with Thiruvalanchuzhi goes like this, As per the sthala purana, when Adhiseshan came out from patala loka, the Kaveri river went to patala loka through the hole in which Adhiseshan came out. The Chozha king was very much worried and prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva in the form of divine voice/asariri, told that either King or a Maharishi go in to the hole and give their live, the Kaveri will flow in the usual route. The Chozha King Harithuvajan went Kottaiyur, where the sage Eranda Maharishi was doing a penance under a erandam plant. The King told the problem and seek his advice. The Eranda Maharishi went to Thiruvalanchuzhi and went inside the hole. The Kaveri river came out and flowed in it’s original direction.  The Eranda muni came out to this place, Thiruvalampuram. There is a temple for Eranda Munivar ( Jeeva Samadhi ) in front of the main temple..

As per the legend Maha Vishnu did a penance on Lord Shiva, after leaving Mahalakshmi to assist ma Parvati. Satisfied with the penance Lord Shiva blessed Maha Vishnu and gave him the Chakkra and Gatha. Ma Parvati also gave Maha Vishnu the Conch / sangu and Padmam. 

  

Eranda munivar Jeeva samadhi

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Skanda sashti and Annabishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March), Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni ( Arch – April ), Pichadanar festival in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Pattinathar festival and every month pradosham day.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS 

Temple office land line numbers +91 4363 200 890 and +91 4364 200 865  and the mobile numbers of  P Gnanaskanda gurukkal  +91 81108 05059 or Pattu Gurukkal +91 94428 60605  or Radhakrishna Gurukkal +919787709754 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH 

The temple is near to Kadaimudi on the bus route Mayiladuthurai to Poompuhar.

Near Melayur on the bus route Sirkazhi to Poompuhar.

The temple is 3.6 KM from Thalachangadu, 6.6 KM from Akkur, 12 KM from Sembanarkoil, 17.5 KM from Sirkazhi, 21 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 57 KM from Kumbakonam and 255 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Sirkazhi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Natrunaiappar Temple /Sri Natrunaiappar Swamy Temple, நற்றுணையப்பர் கோவில், Thirunanipalli / Ponsei, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu

This is the 160^th Thevaram paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 43^rd Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. The place was called as Thirunanipalli during 6^th to 7^th Century and now called as Ponsei –புஞ்சை. This is the birth place of Thirugnanasambandar’s mother Bhagavathy. This is one of the 44 Temples, where Moovar, Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and Sundarar, has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirupungur and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirunindriyur.

காரைகள் கூகை முல்லை எனதிகழ் கலைசேர் வாய்மைச்

சீர்இயல் பதிகம் பாடித் திருக்கடைக் காப்புத் தன்னில்

நாரி ஓர்பாகம் வைகும் நனிபள்ளி உள்குவார்தம்

பேர்இடர் கெடுதற்கு ஆணை நமது எனு,ம் பெருமை வைத்தார்

......... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

ஆண்ட அரசு எழுந்தருளக் கோலக் காவை

        அவரோடும் சென்று இறைஞ்சி அன்புகொண்டு

மீண்டருளினார் அவரும் விடை கொண்டு இப்பால்

        வேதநாயகர் விரும்பும் பதிகள் ஆன

நீண்ட கருப்பறியலூர், புன்கூர், நீடூர்

        நீடுதிருக்குறுக்கை, திருநின்றியூரும்

காண்தகைய நனிபள்ளி முதலாய் நண்ணிக்

        கண்ணுதலார் கழல் தொழுது கலந்து செல்வார்

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Sundarar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. It is believed that Thirugnanasambandar has sung this hymns sitting on the shoulder’s of his father and the same was mentioned in his hymns.

கடல்வரை யோதமல்கு கழிகானல் பானல் கமழ்காழி யென்று கருதப்

படுபொருள் ஆறுநாலும் உளதாக வைத்த பதியான ஞான முனிவன்

இடுபறை யொன்றை அத்தர் பியன்மேலிருந்தின் இசையால் உரைத்த பனுவல்

நடுஇருள் ஆடும் எந்தை நனிபள்ளி உள்க வினைகெடுதல் ஆணை நமதே

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

முற்றுணை ஆயி னானை மூவர்க்கும் முதல்வன் தன்னைச்

சொற்றுணை யாயினானைச் சோதியை ஆதரித்து

உற்றுணர்ந்து உருகியூறி உள்கசி வுடையார்க்கு

நற்றுணை யாவர்போலு நனிபள்ளி யடிகளாரே

........ திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

ஆதியன் ஆதிரை யான்அயன் மால் அறி தற்(கு) அரிய

சோதியன் சொற்பொரு ளாய்ச்சுருங் காமறை நான்கினையும்

ஓதியன் உம்பர்தங் கோன்உல கத்தினுள் எவ்வுயிர்க்கும்

நாதியன் நம்பெரு மான்நண்ணும் ஊர்நனி பள்ளியதே

....... சுந்தரர்

                                                            -“இன்புள்ளித்

தெள்ளியர் போற்றுத் திகழும் திருநன்னிப்

பள்ளியார்ந் தோங்கும் பரமசிவமே

....... திருஅருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Nartrunaiappar

Consort    : Sri Parvatha puthiri.

Some of the features of this temple are as follows.

The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Panchamurtis stucco images, Vinayagar, Murugan, Lord Shiva with Ambal as Rishabaroodar, Ambal and Dakshinamurthy are on the entrance arch. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the entrance arch. Moolavar is of Swayambhu. In koshtam Agasthiyar, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In parakaram Nalvar, Vinayagar and Suriyan. Natarajar Sabha is in the maha mandapam. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing west. There are two Ambal Sannathis in this temple. Sri Parvatharajan puthiri is on the right side of the moolavar sannadhi and Sri Malayan Madanthai sannathi is in the prakara. There is a Seperate sannathi of Kalyana Sundarar and Parvati, who gave the kalyanakola darshan to the sage Agathiyar.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and artha mandapam. An ekathala vesara vimana is over the sanctum. It is believed that the Vimana is one of the biggest Vimnas in South India. On the base of the sanctum bas-reliefs of epic Ramayana story is worth to watch.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple was existed before 7^th Century. Later the temple was reconstructed as a stone temple during Chozha period and extended during Vijayanagara period.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Chozha Kings, Rajaraja, Kulothunga Chozha and Vijayanagara King Krishna Devaraya. As per the inscriptions this place was in Jayankonda Chozha Valanattu Akkur Nattu Brahmadeya Nanipalli.

Vijayanagara period Saka 1439 ie 1517 CE inscription records the order issued by Krishnadevaraya records his meikeerthi and tax exempted to some of the Village temples.

Kulothunga period inscription records that 10 veli land in front of Thalachangadu Vishnu temples, as archana bogam  to the Thirugnanasambandar Nallur Vinayagar.

Rajendra period inscriptions records the gift of lands to celebrate Rishaba Vahanam and Natarajar.  The lands gifted for Brahmins feeding and latter the donors died due to self immolation in fire due to land quarrel. 200 Kasu was gifted for making 4 idols of them. Some privileges were given to Kollars ( Viswakarmas ) and 6 other castes.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 14^th September 1970.

LEGENDS

It is believed that this place obtained the name as Nanipalli, since a person called Nanni, who had constructed this temple.

Thirugnanasambandar has sung this temple’s hymns sitting on his father’s shoulder, which he mentions in the last song. This place was once a sandy desert and he changed this into a fertile land ( neithal land and again to fields and forest ) through the hymns.

As per the legend, Vinayagar in the form of a crow toppled the kamandala of the Sage Agathiyar, in which he carried the river Kaveri and made it to flow in Tamil Nadu. Angered sage Agathiyar cursed Vinayagar to remain as a Crow ever. To get rid of the curse Vinayagar came to this temple worshiped Lord Shiva after taking a dip in the temple tank and came out in golden ( Pon – Gold, Sei – change ) Colour, hence this place obtained the name as Ponsei.

In another legend Lord Shiva gave the Celestial wedding event darshan to sage Agathiyar. The Kalyana Sundarar shrine symbolises this event.

It is believed that Sun – Suriyan worships Lord Shiva of this through the rays falling on the moolavar during 7^th to 13^th of  of the Chithirai month ( April – May ). Special poojas are conducted on those days. The Maha mandapam is called as “Nanipalli Kodi Vattam”. The Prakara pillars has various reliefs and some are Yazhi pillars. One of the Yazhi has the hole in the nose through which a rope can go through one nostril and will come out through the other nostril.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Aavani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month of Purattasi ( Sept – Oct ), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month of Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Maha Shivaratri in the month of Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS 

The Land line number of the temple +91 4364 283 188 and Vaidyanatha Gurukkal’s mobile number +91 94439 06587 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH 

Buses are available from Mayiladuthurai Bus stand and the temple is close to Sembanarkoil.

The temple is 4 KM from Sembanarkoil, 14 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 17 KM from Sirkazhi, 34 KM from Karaikal, 50 KM from Kumbakonam and 255 KM from Chennai. 

Nearest Railway station is Mayiladuthurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---