Pallavaneswarar Temple, Poompuhar

This Sri Pallavaneswarar Temple is the 10th of 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai), located on the northern bank of the Cauvery River. Lord Shiva is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifesting) at this temple. Poompuhar is where the Cauveri River meets the Bay of Bengal. Both the Chayavanam and Pallavaneecharam temples are located in Poompuhar. This is the birthplace of Saint Pattinathar. This temple faces east and has two corridors. Its central tower (Rajagopuram) is five-tiered. There are no flag posts (Kodimaram) here.

History of the Temple

The shrine faces the Bay of Bengal. The river Kaveri meets the sea very close to this temple. Therefore, the area around it is known as “Kaveri Puhum Pattinam.” This was eventually changed to Kaveripoompattinam. It is also known as Poompuhar. The site was also known as “Puhar Nagaram” in ancient times. In Tamil, puhar refers to the river’s estuary.

This location is known as “Rajathiraja valanaattu Nangoor Naattu Kaveripoompattinam” in inscriptions from the Chayavanam temple during the Vikrama Chola period. Kings such as Sembiyan, Musukundan, Manuneethi Cholan, and Karikala Cholan used Poompuhar as a port capital and contributed to its splendor.

This temple is said to have been built by a Pallava king to worship Lord Shiva. As a result, this site is also known as “Pallavaneecharam,” and the Lord is referred to as “Sri Pallavaneswarar.”

After the Chola period, much of Poompuhar was drowned in the Bay of Bengal. A few small communities still exist, bearing quiet witness to the cruelty of the times. Some notable settlements of the ancient city of Poompuhar that still exist today include Chayavanam (Thiruchaikkadu), Pallavaneecharam, Melapperumpallam, Keelaperumpallam, and Kezyayur.

Deities in the temple

In addition to the shrines for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Lords Adhikara Nandhi, Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts (but without his peacock), Natarajar with Sivakami, a few Shivalingams (called Suryeswarar, Sundareswarar, and Agasthiyeswarar), Gajalakshmi, Saneeswarar, Suryan, Chandran, Bairavar, Thirugnanasambanthar, Navagraham, Goddess Durgai, and Chandikeswarar can be seen in the corridors.

The “koshtam” (the area surrounding the sanctum sanctorum) contains idols of Narthana Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. There is a separate shrine for Saint Pattinathar, who is depicted worshiping the Lord.

Greatness of this temple

Devotees think that worshiping the Lord here will bless their children with intellect and intelligence.

Important Festivals

Some of the major festivals held at this temple include Visakam in the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May-June) and Pattinathar Vizha in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-August). The Pattinathar celebration lasts 12 days, with the 10th day commemorating Lord Shiva granting salvation to Saint Pattinathar. It is celebrated grandly.

Sri Pallavaneswarar Temple Timings:

Temple hours are 6:30 AM to 12:00 Noon and 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM.

Sri Pallavaneswarar Temple Location

Sri Pallavaneswarar Temple,

Poompuhar Post,

Sirkazhi Taluk,

Nagapattinam District,

Tamil Nadu-609105.

Tele: +91- 94437 19193.

Thiruppallavaneecharam is around 22 kilometers from Mayiladuthurai along the Mayiladuthurai-Poompuhar road. This temple is situated just after the Kannaki Arch but before entering Poompuhar town. For more details visit the official page of liturgical temples to know about temples in Tamilnadu.