the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Shiva

Once Lord Murugan is believed to have imprisoned Lord Brahma for not being able to explain the meaning of Pranava Mantra (Aum / Ohm). For imprisoning her husband, Goddess Saraswathi cursed Lord Murugan that he would become dumb. Lord Shiva intervened in this matter and then got Lord Brahma released. However, Lord Shiva asked Lord Murugan to go to this temple and offer his prayers in order to seek absolution for all the trouble that he had caused by imprisoning Lord Brahma. It is believed that Lord Murugan visited this place and worshiped the lord. Lord Shiva absolved him of his sins and restored his speech. Hence, the lord here is praised as Sri Pranaveswarar (lord of Pranava Mantra). It is believed that Goddess Parvathy, Vinayakar, Lord Murugan and Lord Brahma have worshiped the lord here.

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 64th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This east facing temple has a single corridor and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 3-tiers. This ancient temple is located on the southern banks of the river Arisilaru. Hence this place gets the name Perunthurai (periya means big and thurai means river bank in Tamil). The historical name of this place is Penu Perunthurai but now it is known as Thiruppanthurai.There are five stone inscriptions in this temple which date back to the periods of Karikal Cholan, king Madurai konda Parakesari, Raja Raja Cholan and King Veera Pandiyan. As per these stone inscriptions, this temple was rebuilt in granite during King Karikal Cholan’s period. In the stone inscriptions, the lord’s name is referred to as Sri Penu Perunthurai Mahadevar and the goddess’s name as Sri Malai Arasi Ammai. This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE). In this temple, Lord Pitchandavar and Lord Dandapani are famous among the devotees. The idol of Lord Dhandapani is located in the hall in front of the sanctum. He is seen in a meditative posture with closed eyes, having long ears, showing the chin mudra in his hand and having a sikha (long hair-kudumi) in his head. This is a very unique depiction. At the entrance of the temple, there is a separate shrine for twin Vinayakars – Sri Guga Vinayakar and Sri Satchi Vinayakar. It is believed that Lord Vinayaka took a twin form and escorted Lord Murugan when he came here for penance. It is considered auspicious to perform abhishekam to Lord Murugan here using honey. Devotees who have speech impairment or those who stammer can pray to the lord here to get relief.

Some of the important festivals celebrated in this temple are – Vaikasi Visakam in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June), Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept), Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Thiru Karthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec), Makara Sankranthi and Thai Poosam in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb), Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar) and Panguni Uthiram in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr). Amuthu Padayal to Lord Pitchandavar is celebrated in a grand manner in the Tamil month of Chithirai (Apr-May) on the Barani star day. Pradosham is also observed regularly.