Kumbakonam

Sri Aabath Sahayeswarar Temple at Thiruppazhanam

Location 

Thiruppazhanam is situated at a distance of about 4 kms from

Thiruvaiyaru on the Thiruvaiyaru to Kumbakonam route. From
Kumbakonam it is about 30 kms away.
It is about 2 kms away from the famous Thingalur Lord Chandran temple.
Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam near this place are – 
Vada Kurangaduthurai, Thiruvaiyaru, Thirukkandiyur, Thiru Chotruthurai,
Thiruvedhikudi, Thiruppunthuruthi, Thiru Alampozhil, Thiru Neithanam,
Thiru Nallur and Thiru Palaithurai. 

General Information

Sri Aabath Sahayeswarar, Sri Amuthalingeswarar,

Moolavar
Sri Pazhanapiran, Sri Pirayana Pureesar, Sri Parameshwarar

Sri Periya Nayaki Amman, Sri Siva Sundara Kalyani,

Ambal
Sri Bokasakthi Amman

Theertham Cauvery river, Devi Kupam, Amirtha Theertham,

(Holy
water) Kubera Theertham and Muni Kupam

Sthala
Vriksham
Banana (Kathali), Vilva tree
(Sacred
Tree)

Pathigam
Saint Thirugnanasambanthar-1,
(Hymn)
Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)-5
rendered by 

 This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and
50th Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in
Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai).
 Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
  This is one of the Saptha Sthana temples of Thiruvaiyaru.
 This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower
(Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
 There is no flag post (Dwajasthambam) here.
 The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place
on 08.09.2005.

History of the Temple

The historical names of this place are Thiruppazhanam, Kathalivanam,

Kausikasramam, Prayanapuri and Pazhanappathi.
“Pazhanam” means fertile land. True to its name, this place is surrounded
by many such fertile fields.
There are about 28 stone inscriptions in this temple which date back to
the periods of many Chola kings like Aditha Cholan-I, Paranthakan-I,
Kulothungan-III, Rajarajan and Rajakesari Varman. 
It is believed that this temple was constructed by Chola kings Aditha
Cholan-I and Paranthaka Cholan-I.
This temple is one of the 88 temples controlled by the Tanjore Palace
Devasthanam.
This temple is also under the purview of the Hindu Religious and
Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu
(HR&CE).

Legend

As per the Sthala Puranam of this temple, although Goddess Parvathy is

present along with Lord Shiva, her idol cannot be seen in the sanctum
sanctorum.
As per another Sthala Puranam, Goddess Lakshmi worshiped Lord Shiva
here and was granted many boons. After obtaining the boons from the
lord, she travelled back to her place. Hence the lord here is also praised
as “Sri Pirayana Pureesar” and this place gets the name “Pirayana Puri”
(“pirayanam” means travel in Tamil).
As per legend, an orphan Brahmin boy named Susarithan, from a village
along the banks of Gauthama river, underwent pilgrimage to various
Shiva sthalams. When he reached this place, Yama, the lord of death,
informed him in his dreams that his life would be taken after five days.
The frightened boy surrendered to Lord Shiva and begged for his life. It is
believed that the lord, through his divine voice, advised the boy to go to
Thiruvaiyaru temple immediately. The lord further told him that thereafter
he would be safe. Hence the lord is praised here as “Sri Aabath
Sahayeswarar” (“Aabath” means danger, “Sahayam” means to help and
“Eswarar” refers to the lord).
Saint Thirunavukkarasar stayed in this temple for some time and
rendered his services. It is believed that in a nearby village called
Thingalur, he restored the life of a boy who had died due to a snake bite.
He did so by singing the following Pathigam – “Oṉtṟuko lāmavar sinthai
yuyarvarai oṉtṟuko lāmuya rum'mathi chūṭuvar… ..….”. This boy was the
son of a stanch Shiva devotee called Apputhi Adigal. In his hymns, Saint
Thirunavukkarasar praised Apputhi Adigal’s services and his devotion
towards Lord Shiva.
It is believed that Lord Mahavishnu, Lakshmi, Kuberan, Puthan, Ayan,
Chandran, Sage Kousika, Saptharishis, Ashtathik Palakas, Adithan, Angi
and Soman have worshiped Lord Shiva here.

Deities in the temple

Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and
idols of Adhi Vinayakar, Arumugar with his consorts, Iyyanar,
Sapthamathas, Veerabathrar, Umai Ammai, Venugopalar (Lord
Mahavishnu), Narthana Vinayakar, Kasi Viswanathar, Gajalakshmi,
Chandikeswarar, Navagraham and Bairavar can be seen in the hall and
corridors.
Lingams installed and worshiped by Lord Mahavishnu can also be seen in
the corridor.
In the corridor, there are Shivalingams representing all the Sapthasthana
temples - Thiruppazhanam, Thiru Neithanam, Thiru Kandiyur,
Thiruchotruthurai, Thiruvedhikudi, Thiruppunthuruthi and Thiruvaiyaru.
In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of
Devakoshta Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy and Durgai can be seen.
In the shrine of Dakshinamurthy, reliefs of Saptha Rishis, Kamadhenu and
Apputhi Adigal can be seen. Kamadhenu can be seen pouring her milk on
a Shivalingam (Pasupathyeswarar).
There are separate shrines for Goddess Parvathy and Lord Murugan in the
outer corridor.

Salient Features

In this temple, the shrines of both Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy are
facing the east direction. Goddess Parvathy’s shrine is on the right side of
Lord Shiva’s shrine. This is considered to symbolise their wedding
posture.
The idols of Lord Dakshinamurthy, Saptha Rishis and Kamadhenu look
very beautiful.
Saint Thirugnanasambanthar visited this temple twice – a rare
occurrence.
Lord Murugan’s idol here has six faces and it looks very beautiful.
Lord Shiva’s sanctum tower (“Vimanam”), is constructed entirely using
granite. It is a wonderful structure and even the sculptures are beautifully
carved.
It is believed that Lord Chandran (Moon) worships Lord Shiva of this
temple by directing his rays on the lingam every year for ten days in the
Tamil months of Purattasi (Sept-Oct) and Panguni (Mar-Apr). This occurs
on full moon days and two days before and after it.
This temple is considered to be significant for its three important
attributes – Moorthy, Sthalam and Theertham - glory of Lord, sacredness
of the land and the auspicious temple tank.

Sapthasthanam Festival

Lord Panchanatheeswarar (Sri Iyyarappar) of Thiruvaiyaru decided to

conduct the marriage of Nandhi and Suyasambigai at Thirumazhappadi (a
nearby place) on the “Punarpoosam” day of the Tamil month of Panguni.
He selected the following places to arrange things required for the
marriage.

1. Thiruvedhikkudi to get the Vedic Brahmins,     

2. Thiruppazhanam to get fruits,
3. Thiruchotruthurai to arrange food,
4. Thirukkandiyur for Kandi (ornaments),
5. Thiruppoonthuruthi for fruits and garlands, and
6. Thiruneithanam (Thillai sthanam) to get ghee for yagnas.
After the marriage, as a gesture of thanks, it is believed that Lord
Panchanatheeswarar and Goddess Dharmasamvardhani visited each of
these places in a palanquin. This event is celebrated as “Sapthasthanam”.
Sapthasthanam (seven places) festival is celebrated in Thiruvaiyaru on
the “Visakam” day (the day after the full moon) in the Tamil month of
Chithirai (Apr-May) every year.
First palanquin (bedecked with mirrors) carrying the principal deities of
Thiruvaiyaru go to the second temple in procession. Idols of Nandhi along
with his wife Suyasambigai also join this procession. The deities of the
second temple receive them at the border of the village. After reaching
the second temple and performing certain poojas, they join the second
temple’s palanquin to the third temple.  Like this, the palanquins from six
places are joined together and they finally assemble in Thiru Neithanam
temple. Thereafter, all the seven palanquins take part in a procession
back to Thiruvaiyaryu.
Thousands of people come from all over the country to witness this
marvellous festival. The palanquins are paraded near the car stand
(“Ther-adi”). Devotees also take part in the “Poochorithal” (flower
festival) in which an idol offers flowers to the principal deities in the
palanquins. After the Poochorithal, the palanquins leave for their
respective temples.
The seven temples that are part of this Sapthasthanam festival are -

1. Aiyarappar temple, Thiruvaiyaru,

2. Apathsahayeswar Temple, Thirupazhanam (this temple),
3. Odhanavaneswarar Temple, Thiruchotruthurai,
4. Vedapureeswarar Temple, Thiruvedhikudi,
5. Kandeeswarar Temple, Thirukkandiyur,
6. Pushpavananathar Temple, Thirupanthuruthi and
7. Neyyadiappar Temple, Thiru Neithanam.

Greatness of this temple

It is believed that worshiping the lord here will help devotees attain
salvation and will help them break away from the repetitive cycle of birth
and re-birth.
Those seeking wedding boon or those facing difficulties in their marriage
proposals can pray to the lord here.

Important Festivals

Sapthasthanam (“ezhur”) festival is celebrated in a grand manner.

Some of the other important festivals celebrated in this temple are –
Aani Thirumanjanam in the Tamil month of Aani (June-July),
Aadi Pooram in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-Aug),
Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept),
Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct),
Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–
Nov),
Thiru Karthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec),
Somavaram (Mondays) in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec),
Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan),
Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar) and
Panguni Uthiram in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr).
Pradosham is also observed regularly.

Temple Timings 

From 08:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 04:00 PM to 08:00 PM.

Temple Address

Sri Aabath Sahayeswarar temple,

Thiruppazhanam Post,
Thiruvaiyaru Via and Taluk,
Tanjore District,
Tamil Nadu- 613 204.
Tele: +91 - 4362 – 326668.

This temple’s priests Sri Raja Swaminathan Gurukkal can be contacted at

+91 – 97902 07773 and Sri Panchabakesan Gurukkal at +91 94864
67597.