This area was reportedly once heavily covered in palm trees. This location is known as “Puravaar Panangkatur” because the Tamil word “Puravaar” means forest and the word “Pangkatur” means “full of palm trees.” In his hymns, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar also referred to this location as Puravaar Panankatur.
Sri Panangateswarar Temple Location:
Panayapuram is located 3 km from Mundiambakkam and roughly 12 km from Villupuram. It is accessible from Pondicherry via Mundiambakkam. The temple is located on the Panruti / Kumabakonam route, barely a kilometer from the Vikravandi tollgate.
The following Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams are located close to Panayapuram: Thirumundeeswaram (Gramam) (29 kms), Thiruvamathur (13 kms), and Thiruthuraiyur (24 kms).
Sri Panangateswarar Temple History:
It is thought that Kulothungan-I, the Chola king, constructed this temple.
This area was reportedly once heavily covered in palm trees. This location is known as “Puravaar Panangkatur” because the Tamil word “Puravaar” means forest and the word “Pangkatur” means “full of palm trees.” In his hymns, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar also referred to this location as Puravaar Panankatur.
The palm tree, or panai, is the Sthala Viruksham of very few of the 276 Paadal Petra Shivasthalam temples. Among them is Sri Panangateswarar Temple. The names of these are Thiruppanandal, Thiru Cheyyar, Thiru Mazhapadi, Thiru Valampuram, Thiru Panaiyur, Thiru Vanparthan Panankattur, and Thiru Puravaar Panankattur.
According to legend, Lord Shiva was purposefully excluded from a yagna that Dakshan, the father of Goddess Parvathi, conducted in which all the devas (celestial gods) were invited. This slight incensed Lord Shiva, who became enraged and targeted all the devas who participated in the yagna and ate the yagna-food (avirbhaagam).
Aghora Veerabhadrar was given instructions by Lord Shiva to punish all the devas by going to Dakshan’s yagna-hall. As a result of Agora Veerabhadrar following the lord’s orders, Sun God (Suryan), one of the attendees, lost his eye sight and luster. In order to obtain pardon from Lord Shiva, Suryan visited various sacred sites and made his offerings. Puravaar Panangkattur is the location where Suryan’s vision and brightness were ultimately restored. As a result, Lord Shiva is also praised in this passage as “Kan parithu aruliya kadavul”—the God who took and then gave back sight.
It is thought that every year, starting on the first day of the Tamil New Year, Suryan worships Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi for seven days by lighting the idols in the two sanctums, having regained his brightness at this temple.
This location is also linked to the legend of the Chola Emperor Sibi Chakravarthi. It is said that once a pigeon, pursued by a vulture, gave itself to the King and asked for his assistance. He promptly severed a section of his thigh meat equal to the pigeon’s weight and gave it to the vulture for sustenance. When Lord Shiva saw this deed, he was moved by his generosity, bestowed upon him his dharisanam, and extended an offer of salvation (moksham). Here, his descendants erected a magnificent temple as a memorial to King Sibi and to commemorate this occasion.
Deities in the Temple:
Devotees think that worshiping Lord Shiva here will heal any issues they may be having with their vision. Here, devotees also offer prayers to Lord Shiva in hopes of obtaining knowledge and wisdom as well as the removal of obstacles to marriage proposals.
Significant Holidays:
Several Tamil festivals are observed in style, including Surya Pooja in the month of Chithirai, Brahmotsavam in the same month, Maha Shivarathiri in the month of Masi, Thiruvaathirai in the month of Markazhi, and Annabhishekam in the month of Aippasi.
Sri Panangateswarar Temple Timings:
06.00 AM to 11.00 AM and in the evening 04.00 PM and 08.30 PM and
Sri Panangateswarar Temple Address:
Sri Panangaateeswarar Temple,
Panaiyapuram Post
Mundiyampakkam Via
Villupuram District
Tamil Nadu – 605 601.
Tele: +91 9942056781.
Visit the official website of Liturgical Temples in Tamilnadu to know more about different temples. Information provided here is well researched by our team members.