Patteswaram

The name Patteeswaram was derived from the daughter of the Divine cow Kamadhenu Patti who worshipped the lord here.

Patteeeswaram is 6 Kms from Kumbakonam, very near to Dharasuram. Some temples at Patteeswaram

Dhenupureeswarar Temple:

The main deities of this temple are Swayambu linga known as Patteeswarar, Dhenupureeswarar with Amman Gnanambikai Palvalai Nayaki.

One of the 275 Thevara Padal Petra sthalam. This was once the capital of Chola king in the name Pazhayarai.

This is a typical big Chola temple with lots of beautiful and intrinsic sculptures, pillars and mandapams. Spread over 4.4 acre area with 4 Rajagopurams on four directions and 3 praharams.

Durgai temple:

A Vishnu Durgai Amman shrine, as an annexe to the Dhenupureeswarar temple is nowadays highly (more) popular as a separate temple of its won.

The Chola Kings including the Great Raja Raja Chola were staunch devotees of Durga Devi. She was the protecting deity of the Cholas from the northern side of their places. Lord Vinyaka, Lord Muruga and Lord Bhairava were also protecting the kings from other entrances. After the end of the Chola regime, the Durga is installed in Thiru patteeswaram temple (some say, the Kali at Udayalur village nearby is the original Devi temple of Cholars).

The Goddess here is known by names such as durga, Navasakthi nayaki, Navayoga nayaki, Navagraha nayaki, Navaratri nayaki, Navakoti nayaki, to name a few. Unlike in other temples, the Durga here is very soft in look and grace (Shanta Swarupi), the Goddess appears in a Tribanga stature, eight hands, three eyes and jewels in the ears. Generally, the lion carrying Kali would be looking on the right side. But the Shanta Swarupi Durga’s Lion here faces the left side. She holds conch, wheel (Vishnu Durga), bow, arrow, sword, shield and a parrot.The navakoti archana is popular here.

Thiru Sakthi Mutram Shiva temple:

This temple is located 6 Kms from Kumbakonam; next street to Patteeswaram Durgai / Dhenupureeswarar temple.

The main deity of the temple Sivakozhundheeswarar with Periyanayaki Amman.

Parvathi Devi did penance standing in one leg and the Lord appeared as a huge column of fire (Jyothiswaroopam) in front of her. Knowing that the Jyothiswaroopam is nothing but the Lord himself she embraced him and hence the names Sivakkozhundeeswarar and Sakthi Mutram. This place was once called as Rajarajapuram.

Panchakrosha Sthalams

Keezh Pazhayarai, Thirunallur, Thiruvalanchuzhi, Patteswaram, Thiru Sakthimutram and Avoor are called Panchakrosha sthalms. It is considered very sacred to worship all these 5 places on a single day during Dakshinayanam.

Keezha Pazhayarai:

This place is located 12 kms from Kumbakonam and 2 kms east of Patteswaram in the Avoor road. Main deity of this temple Swayambu linga known as Somanathar with Somakalambikai.The temple has east facing Rajagopuram with 3 praharams.

Parasunathar temple at Muzhaiyur:

A Thevara vaipu sthalam at East of Patteeswarm. The main deity Parasunathar is a Swayambu linga with eight stripes with Ambal Gnanambigai.Nandhini, daughter of Kamadhenu worshipped here.Parasuramar worshipped here to clear off the sin due to the killing of his mother.

Dharmapureeswarar (Vallalar) Temple at Muzhaiyur (Vada Thali)

About 100 meters from Parasunathar (Then thali) temple at Muzhaiyur.

Mel Thali or Aarai Metrali

In West – Swayambu lingam Kailasanathar with Ambal Sabala nayagi. Sabali, the daughter of Kamadhenu worshipped here. A thevara Vaipu sthalam.

Harichandram

1 km north of Patteeswaram, Swayambu lingam Chandra mouleeswarar with Soundravalli. A Thevara vaipu sthalam.

Sri Gopainatha Swamy Temple

Twin Anjaneyas are present here.

Thiruvalanchuzhi Vellai Vinayagar Temple

This temple is located 7 kms from Kumbakonam enroute Papanasam (Tanjore). Main deity of the temple Swayambu lingam known as valanchuzhinathar with Perianayaki Amman; Valanchuzhi Vinayagar or Vellai Vinayagar.

Arunagirinathar sang Thirupugazh hymns. The temple is known more for the Dwajasthambu Vinayagar in a separate shrine than the main deity Valanchuzhi nathar.

This is one of the Panchakrosha sthalam along with the nearby Thirunallar, Patteeswaram, Keezha Pazhayarai and Avoor. It is considered very sacred to worship all these places on the single day during Dakshinayanam.

Nallur Sri Kalyana Sundareswarar Temple:

This is located 5 kms east of Papanasam. In the Kumbakonam – Papanasam route, after Sundara Perumal temple, take a diversion at Uthani village for about 2 kms to Nallur.

Main deity Swayambu linga known as Periyandeswarar Kalyan Sundarar, Panchavarneswar, Sundaranathar, Soundara Naayakar with Ambal Giri Sundari, Parvatha Sundari, Kalyana Sundari, Malaiazhagi, Vanduvaazh Kuzhali.

The miracle here is colour of the deity changes its colour five times during day time as copper, light red, molten gold, emerald and multi colour for every 2 hours and 20 minutes and so the name Panchavarneswar. Research has been done for colour change but the reason is still unknown.

It is believed that the Lingam started from the land and ends at the top of the mount. In this Shiva temple we can see Narasimha idol in the Viman.

Papanasam:

108 Shivalayam temple

This temple is located 16 kms from Kumbakonam.Main deity Ramalingaswamy with Parvathavardhini Amman.This is called Keezhai Rameswaram and possibly the only (ancient) place in the world where 108 big separate lingams are present in one place.It is believed that worshipping Lord Shiva in this temple would remove all our sin and worshipping in this one temple is equivalent to worshipping in 108 temples.

Rama, after worshipping at Rameswaram to ward off the evil effects of killing Ravana found the Brahmaharthi dosham (fault) was still following him. Rama instructed Hanuman to bring on Shivalinga from kasi. Since it got delayed, Rama and Sita themselves collected sand from nearby Kudamurutty (a branch of Cauvery) river and made 108 Shiva lingams under a vilva tree. Meanwhile, Hanuman brought the Shivalinga from Kasi also. Since Rama got his dhosham (fault) cleared off, this place is called papa (bad karma) – vinasam (ward off).

There are 108 Shivalingas arranged equally in three rows in a separate andapam and it is a wonderful sight to see so many lingams in one place. The presiding deity in the sanctum is Sri Ramalingaswamy since it was worshipped by Sri Ramar. Hanumantha Lingam, the huge lingam brought by Hanuman from Kasi is kept in a separate annexe to the temple on the southern side.

Rama blissfully granted that all the devotees should worship the 108 lingams, the main deity Ramalingeswar, the Hanumanthalingam (the 109th Lingam) and finally the Ambal Parvadavarthini in that order to make the worship complete and accomplish their prayers. We can see Bairavar, a huge 6 feet God in a separate shrine. It is believed that the Sun God of this temple is the force behind Rama getting the power by chanting Adhithiya Hridhayam (Surya worship).Vishnu Durgai is present in the koshtam.It is believed that one’s desire will become true if one circcumbulate that outer praharam by 108 times.

Sri Pankajavalli Thayaar Sametha Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple

Located within the Papanaasam town this temple, though not a Divyadesam was visiting and sung by two of the Azhwars namely Nammalvar and Thirumazhisai Alwar. It is also said that the Chola King Prathapaveeran had taken a holy bath in this temple pond and got relieved from the Brahmahathi fault.

Dhamodhara Vinayagar alias Rettai (Twin) Pillaiyar temple

This is another popular temple at Papanasam where the twins Vinayagars are present.