This is
the 190th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 73rd sthalam
on the south side of river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. This place was called as
Thalavanam ( Palm tree forest ) and the temple is called as Thalavaneswaram
In
Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple
after worshiping Lord Shiva Thiyagaraja of Thiruvarur. Sundarar came to this
temple after worshiping Lord Shiva and got Gold in the form of bricks to
celebrate Panguni Uthiram at Thiruvarur with Paravai Nachiyar.
காழியார் வாழவந்து அருள்செயும் கவுணிப்
பிள்ளையார்தாம்ஆழியான் அறிஒணா
அண்ணல் ஆரூர் பணிந்து அரிது செல்வார் பாழிமால்
யானையின் உரிபுனைந் தார் பனையூர் பணிந்துவாழிமா மறைஇசைப்
பதிகமும் பாடி அப்பதியில் வைகி……..
திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்செய்ய சடையார் திருப்பனையூர்ப் புறத்துத் திருக்கூத்தாடும் காட்சிஎய்த அருள்எதிர்
சென்று அங்கு எழுந்த விருப்பால் விழுந்து இறைஞ்சிஐயர்தம்மை
அரங்கு ஆட வல்லார் அவரே அழகியர் என்றுஉய்ய உலகுபெறும்
பதிகம் பாடி அருள்பெற்று உடன் போந்தார்…….. சுந்தரர்
புராணம்
Thirugnanasambandar,
Sundarar, Manickavasagar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of
this temple.
அரவச்சடைமேல்
மதிமத்தம்விரவிப்
பொலிகின் றவன்ஊராம்நிரவிப் பலதொண்
டர்கள் நாளும்பரவிப் பொலியும்
பனையூரே……….
திருஞானசம்பந்தர்மாட மாளிகை கோ
புரத்தொடு மண்ட பம்வள ரும்வ ளர்பொழில்பாடல்
வண்டறையும் பழ னத்திருப் பனையூர்த்தோடு பெய்தொரு
காதி னிற்குழை தூங்கத் தொண்டர்கள் துள்ளி பாட நின்றுஆடு மாறுவல்லார்
அவரே அழகியரே………. சுந்தரர்“திருப்பனையூரில் விருப்பன் ஆகியும்”……… மாணிக்கவாசகர் -“கண்டீச நண் பனையூரன்
புகழும் நம்ப என உம்பர் தொழும்தண் பனையூர் மேவும் சடாதரனே….. திரு
அருட்பா
Moolavar : Sri Soundareswarar, Sri Azhahiyanathar,
Sri Thalavaneswarar.Consort : Sri Brukanthanayagi, Sri Periya Nayagi.
Some of
the important features of this temple are as follows.The
temple is facing east with an entrance arch/ Rajagopuram base with stucco
images of Rishabarooder at the centre. A balipeedam and Rishabam are
immediately after the entrance arch. In Koshtam Agasthiyar, Parasara maharishi,
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.
In
prakaram, Thunai Iruntha Vinayagar ( for Karikal Chozhan ), Martruraitha
Vinayagar ( similar to Thiruvarur ), Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Mahalakshmi
( Stucco images ), Shiva Lingas worshiped by Sapta Rishis, Somaskandar ( a
different one with fruit in left hand ) and Chandikeswarar. A small sannathi of
Thalavaneswarar Temple ( Sri Panagatteeswarar Temple ) is also in the
prakaram.
ARCHITECTUREThe main temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and a Mukha
mandapam. The adhistanam is of prati banda adhistanam with Vrutha kumudam. The Prastaram is with valapi, kapotam and Viyyalavari. An eka thala dravida Vimanam is over the sanctum. 
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSSince
Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the
original temple might have existed before 7th Century. The same was
reconstructed as a stone temple during Chozha period ( 11th Century
) and extended during Pandyas and Vijayanagara period. It is believed that
Karikarchozha was brought up from this place.
There
are about 14 inscriptions recorded from this temple. These inscriptions belongs
to Kulothunga Chozha-I, Rajathi Rajan-II, Sundara Pandyan, Parakrama Pandyan, Rajara Rajan-I and Rajarajan-II.
As per
the inscriptions The place was called as Rajendra Chozha Panaiyur and Lord
Shiva was called as Panayadiappan, Panangattiraivan etc,.
Vikrama
Pandyan’s 5th reign year inscription records the endowments of land
and house lands gifted to Adhi Chandeswarar temple.
Sundara
Pandya period inscription records that there was a sandhi / kattalai in the
name of king, for naivedyam, 5 veli land was gifted to this temple. This is a
copy of the old inscription and the inscription last word finishes with Thulyam
( copy ).
Rajathirajan-II’s
10th reign year inscription records the gift of land as irayili to
the Azhagu Devar by Chozha Panaiyur nattuKon and Kotramangalamudayan
Adalvallan.
Kulothunga
Chozha-I, period inscription records the
endowment of 6 ma land as irayili gifted to this Azhakiya Devar. With
the land gifted 5 Chatti Choru ( 5 pot of cooked rice ) to be offered to Thabasis
and Sivayogis. Peruvari, Silvari, Echchoru Kootrarisi Vasalil pontha
kudimai for the same 6 kasu was received
and the land was gifted as Irayili.
Kulothunga
Chozha-I’s period inscription records the land measuring 600 kuli was gifted to
this temple of Adhi Chandeswarar as irayili after purchase by the 5 people Panaiyur
Kizhvan Eduthapatham Koothadi alias Gangaikonda Chozha Panayuradaya Velan, Panaiyur
Kizhavan VelanKanapura Devan, Panaiyur Kizhavn Velan Jananathan and Panaiyur
Kizhavan Kondan eduththapadam.
Kulothunga
Chozha-I’s 5th reign year inscription records the sale of land
measuring 6 makani munthirikai keelarai as Irayili after getting 7 kasu to
recite Thirupalli Ezhuchi at Adhi Chandeswarar sannathi.
Most of
the other inscriptions records the Gift of lands as sale, after getting money,
for Poojas, worship naivedyam, burning lamps etc. There are many fragment
inscriptions, from which, we couldn’t
get full details. Maha Kumbabishekam was conducted on 26th August 1973 after renovations.
LEGENDSIt is believed that the Shiva Lingam was installed
by Sage Parashara. Lord Shiva was praised as Sri Thalavaneswarar ( Thala panai
– a variety of Palm tree ). It is believed that Maha Lakshmi, Sage Parasarar,
Sapta rishis ( Kaushikkar, Kashyapa, Bharadwaja, Gauthamar, Agasthiyar, Athiri
and Birugu ), Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Muchukunda
Chakravarthy and Karikala Chozhan worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.
As per
the request of Paravai Nachiyar, Sundarar got gold from Lord Shiva for the
celebration of Panguni Uthiram thirunal at Thiruvarur and Sung “தம்மையே புகழ்ந்து” and worshiped Lord Shiva of Thirupugalur and came
to Thirupanaiyur. Lord Shiva gave darshan out side of this place. Sundarar has
sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva as
“அரங்காடவல்லார் அழகியார்” and got blessings.
Saptha
rishis, Parasara Muni, Mahalakshmi, Karikarchozhan lived in this place and
worshiped lord Shiva of this temple. In memory of this legend, this place
Manicka Nachiyar thittu / elevated place on the North east direction of this
Village is called as “Santhitha Theerththam- சந்தித்த தீர்த்தம்”.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
TEMPLE TIMINGS:The
temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs to 16.30 to 20.00
hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS :Land line number is +91 4366 237 007, or the priest Kalyanasundara
Gurukkal on his mobile +91 99659 81574
and +91 99422 81758 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH :On the
route Thiruvarur get down at Sannanallur then Panaiyur stop from there 1 KM.On the
bus route Peralam to Thiruvarur get down at Andipanthal then Konamadhu
from there 1 KMThe
temple is 7 KM from Thirukandeeswaram, 9 KM from Thirupugalur, 14 KM from Thiruvarur, 30 KM from Karaikal,
33 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 38 KM from Nagapattinam, 38 KM from Kumbakonam and
332 KM from Chennai.Nearest
Railway station is Thiruvarur.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
-“கண்டீச
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
