Thenupuriswarar Temple, Patteeswaram

Patteswaram
Tanjore
Deity	Thenupureeswarar (Shiva) Somakambalambigai ( Parvathi)
Features	Temple tank: Brahma Theertham
Location
Location	Patteeswaram
State	Tamil Nadu
Country	India
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates	10°55′29″N 79°20′42″E / 10.92472°N 79.34500°E / 10.92472; 79.34500
Architecture
Type	Dravidian architecture

Thenupuriswarar Temple is a

The temple complex covers around four acres and entered through a seven tiered gopuram, the main gateway. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Thenupuriswarar, his consort Somakamalambigai and Durga, being the most prominent. All the shrines of the temple are enclosed in large concentric rectangular granite walls.

The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. The Brahmotsavam festival is celebrated during the month of the Chittirai (April - May) is the most prominent festival.

The original complex is believed to have been built by

The temple was originally believed to have been built by

The temple is located 6 km away from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam- Aavoor road. The temple is 3 km away from Darasuram. The best mode is taking town buses from Kumbakonam or mini buses from Darasuram. The Darasuram railway station is also close by to the temple. The temple is surrounded by vast streets on all the four sides. The temple is one of the most visited temples in the district.^[8]

The temple of Patteeswarar presents a magnificent sight with five

The temple is located at

Lingothbhava, Durga and Navagrahas. Unlike other temples, eight of the Navagrahas, the planetary deities are set facing the Sun at the centre. The shrine of Amman is located in the second precinct and has sculpted yali images of different poses. The shrine also houses a scrollwork in the ceiling that also has chains made of stone. The images of Govinda Dikshitar and his wife are housed in the shrine of Amman. There are various sculpted pillars in different parts of the temple indicating various legends associated with the temple and Hindu mythology. During the 1970s, there were three metal images of Nataraja, Somaskanda and Lakshmi were found out from the caves inside the temple - these are housed in Thanjavur Art Gallery.^[10] There are six water bodies associated with the temple. Gnavavi is a temple tank located in the third precinct closer to the southern gateway. Koditheertham is the well in the first precinct and Thapas keni is the one opposite to the Amman shrine. Thirumalai rajan river, tank outside the eastern gateway and Gayathri Kulam located on the eastern side of eastern gateway are the other waterbodies.^[11]

Religious importance

Sapthavigraha Moorthis
Saptha Vigraha moorthis are the seven prime consorts in all Shiva temples located at seven cardinal points around the temple
Deity	Temple	Location
Shiva	Mahalingaswamy temple	Tiruvidaimarudur
Vinayaga	Vellai Vinayagar Temple	Thiruvalanchuzhi
Murugan	Swamimalai Murugan temple	Swamimalai
Nataraja	Natarajar temple	Chidambaram
Durga	Thenupuriswarar Temple	Patteswaram
Dakshinamurthy	Apatsahayesvarar Temple	Alangudi
Navagraha	Suryanar Kovil	Suryanar Kovil

The shrine of the goddess

River Kaveri. It is located on the banks of Kudamurutti, a tributary of river Kaveri.^[12]

According to Hindu legend, Mahalingaswamy is the centre of all Shiva temples in the region and the Saptha Vigraha moorthis (seven prime consorts in all

Dakshinamoorthy in Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi at Alangudi, Papanasam taluk.^[14]

Festivals and religious practises

The temple has six worhsip practises in day, namely, Ushathkalam at 6 a.m., Kalasanthi at 9 a.m., Uchikalam at 12 p.m., Sayaratchai at 6 p.m., Irandamkalam at 8 p.m. and Arthajamam at 9 p.m. There are three major festivals celebrated in the temple. During the Vaikasi Visagam festival, the festive images of the five principal deities are taken in different vehicles to Thirumalairajan river for Theerthavari. On the return, the images are mounted in Vrishabaga vahana and taken around the streets of Pateeswaram. Muthupandal festival is the major festival in the temple, when the legend of Thirugnangasambandar walking all the way from Thirusakthimutram to the temple in hot sun and with divine grace, a roof made of flower welcomes him to the temple. During the evenings, the festive image of the saint is taken along with the images of the presiding deity around the streets of the temple. During the Margazhi festival, the five principal deities are taken in different mounts and the legend of Rama getting expiation from his curse is enacted.[15]

See also

• Durgai Amman Temple, Patteeswaram
• Swamimalai
• Darasuram
• Oothukadu
• Sathi mutram

Notes

1. ^ V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 26.
2. ^ Census of India, 1961, Volume 7; Volume 9
3. ^ The self-milking cow and the bleeding liṅgam: criss-cross of motifs in Indian temple legends.Gabriella Eichinger Ferro-Luzzi
4. ISBN 9781351547000
   .
5. ^ "The Journal of the Music Academy, Madras". 65–66. Music Academy. 1994. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
6. ^ Pillai 1995, p. 13
7. ^ Pillai 1995, p. 18
8. ^ "What to see - Thanjavur district attractions". Thanjavur District Administration. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
9. ^ Encyclopaedia of the Śaivism .Swami P. Anand, Swami Parmeshwaranand
10. ^ Pillai 1995, p. 12
11. ^ Pillai 1995, p. 6
12. ISBN 9781684666041
    .
13. ISBN 978-81-7478-177-2
    .
14. ^ ^{a b} Narayanaswami (April 1987). "Jyothirmaya Mahalingam". Om Sakthi (in Tamil). Coimbatore: Om Sakthi Publications: 34–5.
15. ^ Pillai 1995, pp. 14-16

References

• Pillai, Panchanatham (1995). Arulmighu Thenupuriswarar Thiruthala Varalaru (1st ed.). Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thenupuriswarar Temple.

Photogallery

• 
  Rajagopuram
• 
  Gopura in the north side
• 
  Inner gopura
• 
  Vinayakar shrine and flagpost
• 
  Vimana of the presiding deity
• 
  Vimana of the goddess
• 
  Yagasala