| Description:
Tiruppanaiyur is located in the vicinity of Nannilam
and Tiruvisalur. Tiruppugalur
is located at a distance of 5 km from here. It is considered to be the
73rd in the series of Tevara Stalams in
the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri. Of the 275 Shivastalams six shrines
are associated with Panai maram (Palm Tree). They are Panaiyur,
Panankattur, Puravaar Panankattur,
Cheyyar, Tirumazhapadi
and Tiruppanantaal.
Legends: Paraasarar is said to have worshipped here. Shiva is said to
have blessed Sundaramoorthy Nayanar with a vision of the cosmic dance here. Karikal Valava
Cholan is said to have resided for 8 years in this temple. where he was protected from the
scheming courtiers who plotted to assume the reins of his kingdom.
Legend also has it that Mahalakshmi and the saptarishis worshipped
Shiva here. The presiding deity is also referred to as
Taalavaneswarar.
The Temple: There are two prakarams in this temple. The Tunaiyirunda
Vinayakar shrine within the temple is of great importance. The patikams of the Nayanmars
describe the splendour of this rather modest village during their times. There are 7
Sivalingams in the inner prakaram signifying the deities at Tiruppugalur,
Tiruppayatrankudi, Virkudi,
Tiruvaanjiyam, Nannilam,
Tirukkandeeswaram and Ambar
Maakaalam worshipped by the Saptarishis. There is also a small shrine to Taalavaneswarar. There is an image
of Paraasara Muni, who is said to have dropped a small portion of the celestial nectar
Amritam into the Temple tank, Amrita Pushkarini here. Three worship services are offered
here each day. |
