Pancha Puliyur Kshethram
We find many divine places with “puliyur” in their names relating to a tiger due to their association with sage Vyaghrapada meaning tiger-footed.
Pancha Puliyur are the five places where sage Vyaghrapada worshipped Lord Siva to have the divine darshan of Lord Shiva’s Cosmic dance and they are
1. Chidambaram
2. Perumpuliyur
3. Omampuliyur
4. Thiruppathiripuliyur &
5. Erukkathampuliyur
Padaleeswarar Temple, Thirupadhiripuliyur Cuddalore
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. 5.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m
Phone : 04142 236 728 , 098949 27573 and 034428 32181
Location : 23 kms from Puducherry 44kms from Neyveli
Nearest town : Cuddalore
Important days : Appar festival in Chithirai, Vaikasi Visakam, Mahasivarathri, Adipooram, Navarathri. Abhishekam on Karthigai 5th – For Kalabhairavar on Amavasai
Important for : Resurgence of Appar – in sitting posture. Temple tank in Isaani Corner. Pathiri Flowers held by Vinayagar
Moolavar is Pataleeswarar / Thondra Thunai Nather and Ambal is Periyanayagi, Masi magam
It is a believed that worshiping the Lord here bestows one with 16 times the blessings equal to worship in Kasi, 8 times in Thiruvannamalai and 3 times in Chidambaram.
The place gets the name after the Pathiri Tree and Puliyur, a tiger-legged saint who obtained salvation here.
Once, when Shiva was engaged with Parvathi in a game of dice, Parvathi won all the time and he denied. Parvathi jokingly said that she will cover the eyes of Shiva and if he has really won they will see light and covered his eyes. The entire world plunged into seemingly infinite duration of darkness resulting in all creations feeling a Yuga of inactiveness.
When she sought pardon she was asked to pray in all the 1008 Shiva Sthalams and she should undertake a penance at the Sthalam in which the left eye & shoulder vibrates. At this sthalam she felt the divine vibration of left eye and left shoulder and she did her penance in the Aruba form and married lord Shiva.
When the Pallava King Mahendra Varma (600-630 A.D) tied Appar to a Stone and threw him in the river to kill him, the divine grace of God protected him. The stone became a boat and he safely reached the shore near Thiruppathripuliyur and the place is now called as Karaiyera vittakuppam and this event is celebrated as a festival in the month of Chithirai .
When Upamanyu son of Vyagrapadarishi mistakenly hit the Devi with is feet and was cursed her to become a hare, he repented his action and prayed to Devi who guided him to pray lord Padaleeswarar to get rid of the curse. When the hare after wandering many years, was one day hunted by king Adirajan, got wounded and came in contact with the branches of the padiri tree and regained the human form.
When Sage Toomappur cursed Manganar who hindered his tapas, to become a hare, got his for redemption after his penance in this temple and regained his human form.
History goes that Lord Padaleeswarar changed the course of the river Gadilam for saint Manickavasakar to worship without any hinderance
Pranava Vyaghrapureeswar, Omampuliyur, Cuddalore
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m
hone : 04144–264845 99426 34949 Sri Jagadeesa Gurukkal
Location : 43kms from kumbakonam 76 kms Cuddalore
Nearest town : 19 kms from Myladuthurai
Important days : Sivarathri, Prathosham Jupiter transition day
Important for : Guru Sthalam Medical relief
Moolavar is Pranava Vyaghrapureeswarar and Ambal is Poonkodi Nayaki, Pushpalathambigai
The place holds three names arising out of three legends:
1. Due to sage Vyaghrapada
2. Sambandar called it as OmAmpuliyur (the Pranava mantram, OM).
3. Appar called it as omampuliyur (or homampuliyur), as he saw smoky clouds emerging from homams.
4. Uma (Parvati) got the meaning of Pranava mantra here and hence it was called Umapuliyur.
When Lord was teaching Uma the meaning of Pranava Mantra and she was distracted, he punished her with a birth on earth. After her penance under the ilanthai tree (temple’s sthala vriksham), Lord Siva came as the Guru Dhakshinamurthy to complete her education and hence, a shrine for Guru Dakshinamurti is found between the shrines of Siva and Parvati making it a Guru sthalam.
There is a separate south facing Dakshinamurti and a Natajarar who is believed to have given darshan to Sage Vyaghrapada. The presence of two Dakshinamurtis at this temple makes it unique and blesses good education.
Once two celestials cursed by Durvasa to be born on earth as a swine and human, when they were chased by tiger, ran and reached temple’s Gowri Teertham where they got back their celestial forms after a few droplets of water fell on them from a woman’s hair when she was drying it
King Sadanandan had leprosy and was cured of the same after a holy dip in the temple’s tank and worshipping the Lord here.
We also see the idol of Lord Vishnu receiving the Chakra from Siva to destroy the demon Jalandharan.
This temple has no dwajasthambam and no Navagrahams
Thillai Natarajar temple, Chidambaram
Temple Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. noon 4.30 p.m. to 10.00 p.m
hone : 9443635280
Location : 43 kms from Myladuthurai 49 from cuddalore
Nearest town : 20 kms from Sirkazhi
Important days : Prathosham, SIvarathri Margazhi festival. Vidayathi festival, 10 day Aadi thirumanjanam. Chithirai Thiruvathirai, karthikai, New moon days
Important for : Por sabhai Mental Peace. Health issues. Prosperity
Moolavar is Natarajar and Ambal is Sivakami
The temple at Chidhambaram is known as Ponnambalam - Gold Sabha. It's importance can be judged from the reference to it as "Thiruchchitrambalam" and its mention at the beginning and the end of every recitation of Dhevaram hymns even to this date. This temple has been sung in a lot of Dhevaram and Thiruvasakam hymns. Many Hindus consider this to be centre of earth and it is where Shiva danced. Here the deity of Shiva is in the form of Nataraja instead of the usual Lingam form.
When once Adhiseshan felt Maha Vishnu unusually heavy, Mahavishnu told that it is his remembrance of Lord Shiva’s dance to the pleasure of all present made him so. Adhiseshan wanting to see the dance of the Lord, came to chidambaram and worshipped the Lord as pathanchali along with sage vyaghra padar, who too was eager to see His dance. Pleased with their long worship, Lord appeared on the thiruvathirai and danced in the golden hall. Kali had competed with him and lost, unable to depict the posture of Shiva when he stood on one leg and lifted the other high above his shoulder called the Urdhva-tandava stance. This place represents the thakarakasham - the sky inside us and the Lord is worshipped in all the three forms, namely, Arupa - which is called Chitambara rahasyam, Aruparupa - Shiva lingam and Rupa - Nataraja.
The Temple marks the evolution of south Indian architecture and generous assistance by Kings, the temple has expanded over a period of time. The 39 acre granite temple is surrounded by massive walls with four big tall gopurams in four directions. The North & South gopurams are 160 feet high with 108 dance postures of Natya Sastra sculpted on them.
The five principal sabhas are called as Kanakasabha, Chit sabha, Nritya sabha, Deva sabha and Raja sabha. Around the main shrines, the Chit Sabha and the Kanaka Sabha (Ponnambalam), is a compound wall with gopurams. The Chola rulers, Krishnadevaraya and the Nayaks have successively expanded the temple
In the Shivaganga Tank (Ganga brought earth by Shiva - called Siva Jnana Ganga tank) Hiranyavarman, the son of Manu, took a dip and got rid of leprosy. It is believed that a dip in the tank and worhsipping of the Lord purifies of all sins and there is no rebirth. To the west of the tank is the large Shrine of the Goddess Shivakamasundari.
The Shrine of Subrahmanya, the chief of Shiva's army, the son of Shiva and Parvati is in the north with the Raja Sabha, a thousand-pillared mandapam on the other side. It is said that the coronation of many Chola kings and later rulers, took place in the presence of the deity. Facing the main temple enclosure southward, is the Nandi enclosure. The entrance to the Govindaraja Temple is within the enclosure.
The idol of Nataraja is in the Chit sabha and behind the idol, is a black screen, which is considered to cover the Akasa Lingam. It is the belief that there is an invisible Lingam, with golden vilva garlands, emphasising the belief that there is everything in nothing. The five silver plated steps to reach the Chit Sabha, represents the Panchakshara mantram - Na ma si va ya. The images of Vyagrapada and Patanjali, are found embossed on the doors.
Many structures found here are the Deva Sabha (the hall of the God), the Santum sanctorum of Devi shrine, Nritya Sabha (hall of dance) of Chola period with figurines of lively of musicians and dancers. In front of the garbha griha is the Kanaka Sabha (Ponnambalam) and devotees assemble here to pray the akash, the inner and outer space
The Thevaraams were kept in a hall for centuries and Rajaraja Cholan recovered before they suffered further damage and gave to the world .
The sanctum of Sivakama Sundari is on the left of Natarajar Sannidhi. Ratnasabhapati (Nataraja of Ruby), the Spatika Lingam of Chandramauleeswara, Swarnakarshana Bhairavar, Mukhalingam are also to be found in the Chitsabha.
In the Kanaka sabha adjacent to the Chit Sabha, poojas are offered and the ceiling of both are gold plated.
Nataraja in Urdhava Tandava pose is in the richly sculpted Nritya Sabha, in the form of a chariot drawn by horses.
Urchava Pancha Murtis (Somaskandar, Parvati, Vinayaka, Subramanya and Chandikeswara) and other deities are in the Deva Sabha.
The Raja sabha measuring 103 metres by 58 metres is in a 1000 pillared hall in the outermost prakaram where Sekhizhar recited the Peria Puranam.
Neelakandeswarar Temple / Sree Swethaarkavaneswarar Temple / Swedaranyeswarar Temple Erukkathampuliyur, Cuddalore
Timings : 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m
Phone : 04143 243 533 +91 93606 37784
Location : 44kms from Chidambaram
Nearest town : 13 kms from Vriddachalam
Important days : Prathosham. Mahasivaratri
Important for : Childbirth. Speech stammer. Offering of Vastras
Moolavar is Sri Neelakandeswarar /Sri Swethaaranyeswarar / Sri Kumaraswamy
Ambal is Sri Abeethakuja Nayagi, Sri Neelamalar kanni, Sri Neelorbalambal.
The east facing temple has a 5 tier Rajagopuram and a Temple tank with the Balipeedam, Nandi and Dwajasthambam before the Rajagopuram. We see Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.
Ambal & Swami sannathi face the east.
Temple not maintained well with white plants (considered sthala vriksham) in abundance on the back side of the temple. Weeds and plants are seen on the Vimana and around the Temple.
When Devas and Rishis worshiped Lord Shiva at this Temple as birds and the hunters started hunting them, Lord Shiva cursed them to become the useless Erukku plant and hence the place became Erukkathan Puliyur.
When Parvathi was less attentive as Lord Shiva was explained the meaning of Vedas, he got angry and cursed her to born in a fishermen community. When Murugan in anger, threw the 4 Vedas in to the sea and was cursed by Lord Shiva to be born as a dumb Rudrasanmar to Thalapathy and Gunasalini, trader community of Madurai, he got relieved after praying Lord here.
This place is linked to Chola dynasty as the belief is Rajendra Chozha was Rajaraja cholan, after worshiping here and hence this place is Rajendra Pattinam.
Vyaghrapureeswarar, Perumpuliyur, Thanjavur
Timings : 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m
Phone : 9443447826 94427 29856
Location : 42kms from Kumbakonam 18 kms from Thanjavur
Nearest town : 4 kms from Thiruvaiyaru
Important days : Prathosham. Mahasivaratri
Important for : Temple for its beauty New Vehicle Pooja Vastras to Lord and Mother. Donation to temple renovation
Moolavar is Vyagapureeswarar and Ambal is Soundarya Nayaki
When Vyagaprada learning the glory of Lord Shiva from his father, Mathiandan, wanted to worship at Chidambaram with fresh flowers that were not touched even by the bees, he had to cross thorny path with limited light. Praying to Lord Siva, he obtained the feet of a tiger so that he wouldn’t hurt his feet.
He is shown with a human body and a tiger’s feet and along with Patanjali (with a human body and a snake’s tail) seen here, they witnessed Lord Siva’s cosmic dance at Chidambaram.
In this beautiful temple, The garbhagriham is at a slightly raised level, resting on a padma peetham and so is the avuidai on which the Lingam baanam rests.
Here in the western koshtam of the garbhagriham, we find Ardhanareeswarar in the usual place of Lingodhbhavar or Mahavishnu.
Suryan faces west and Lord while the other grahams face the Sun God.
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