Parvatheeswarar Temple, Tiruthelicheri, Karaikal, Puducherry

Parvatheeswarar Temple, Tiruthelicheri, Karaikal, Puducherry

Parvatheeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Tiruthelicheri in Karaikal Town in Union Territory of Puducherry, India. Now the place is known as Koilpatthu. Presiding Deity is called as Parvatheeswarar / Sameevaneswarar. Mother is called as Swayamvara Tapasvini / Shakthi Nayaki / Ampaduttakkannaal. This is one of the oldest temples of Lord Shiva famous for its brilliant architectural work. Karaikkal is the birth place of saint Karaikkal Ammaiyar, one of the 63 revered Nayanmars.

It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar. This is the 167^th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 50^th Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. The last consecration (Kumbabishekam) took place on 07.06.2004 and prior to that on 09.05.1971.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://explore-pondicherry.blogspot.com/2017/11/parvatheeswarar-temple-tiruthelicheri-legends.html

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://explore-pondicherry.blogspot.com/2017/11/parvatheeswarar-temple-tiruthelicheri-temple.html

Temple Opening Time

This temple remains open from 6.00 AM to 12.00 PM in the morning and 4.30 PM to 8.00 PM in the evenings.

Festivals

Avani paddy sowing festival in August-September is grandly celebrated in the temple. Bathing in the Suryapuskharini on Sundays is considered sacred and so is offering worship on Mondays. Maha Shivaratri, Panguni Uthiram, Masi Makam, Thiru Karthikai, Navaratri, Arudra Dharisanam, Aippasi Annabishekam, Avani Utsavam, Margazhi Thiruvadirai and Pradoshams are the other festivals celebrated in this Temple with much fanfare.

Literary Mention

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://explore-pondicherry.blogspot.com/2017/11/parvatheeswarar-temple-tiruthelicheri-literary-mention.html

Prayers

It is believed that those seeking santhana prapthi (child boon) can pray to Goddess Parvathy here. Devotees can pray to Goddess Swayamvara Thapasvini here for removal of obstacles from their wedding proposals. Devotees perform abisheks to Lord and mother and offer vastras.

Contact

Parvatheeswarar Temple,

Thiruthelichery (Kovil Pathu),

Karaikkal, Puducherry - 609 602

Phone: +91 4368 221 009

Mobile: +91 97866 35559

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

http://explore-pondicherry.blogspot.com/2017/11/parvatheeswarar-temple-tiruthelicheri-connectivity.html
Location

Parvatheeswarar Temple, Tiruthelicheri, Karaikal – Connectivity

Parvatheeswarar Temple, Tiruthelicheri, Karaikal – Connectivity

Thiruthelichery is located in Karaikkal on the Bharathiyar Road. It is right at the entrance to the Karaikkal town while coming from the Porayar route. The Temple is located at about 2 Kms from Karaikal, 12 Kms from Porayar, 7 Kms from Poovam, 22 Kms from Nagapattinam, 42 Kms from Thiruvarur, 36 Kms from Mayiladuthurai, 20 Kms from Thirukkadaiyur, 43 Kms from Sirkazhi, 36 Kms from Poompuhar, 12 Kms from Tharangampadi, 128 Kms from Puducherry, 159 Kms from Trichy and 296 Kms from Chennai. Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam near this place are Thirunallaru (7 Kms), Dharumapuram (4 Kms), Thiruvettakkudi (8 Kms), Thirukkadaiyur (20 Kms) and Thirukkadaiyur Mayanam (21 Kms). 

By Road:

Thiruthelichery is right at the entrance to the Karaikkal town while coming from the Porayar route. The temple is located at about 300 meters from Karaikal Bus Station.

By Train:

Nearest Railway Stations are located at Karaikal (2.5 Kms), Peralam (24 Kms) and Nagapattinam (24 Kms).

By Air:

Nearest Airport is located at Puducherry and Trichy.

Parvatheeswarar Temple, Tiruthelicheri, Karaikal – Literary Mention

Parvatheeswarar Temple, Tiruthelicheri, Karaikal – Literary Mention

It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar. This is the 167^th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 50^th Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.

Saint Thirugnanasambanthar visited this temple and sang this Pathigam. Devotees visiting this temple should make it a practice to recite this Pathigam.

பூவ லர்ந்தன கொண்டுமுப் போதுமும் பொற்கழல்
தேவர் வந்து வணங்கு மிகுதெளிச் சேரியீர்
மேவ ருந்தொழி லாளொடு கேழற்பின் வேடனாம்
பாவ கங்கொடு நின்றது போலுநும் பான்மையே.

விளைக்கும் பத்திக்கு விண்ணவர் மண்ணவ ரேத்தவே
திளைக்குந் தீர்த்த மறாத திகழ்தெளிச் சேரியீர்
வளைக்குந் திண்சிலை மேலைந்து பாணமுந் தானெய்து
களிக்குங் காமனை யெங்ஙனம் நீர்கண்ணிற் காய்ந்ததே.

வம்ப டுத்த மலர்ப்பொழில் சூழமதிதவழ்
செம்ப டுத்த செழும்புரி சைத்தெளிச் சேரியீர்
கொம்ப டுத்ததொர் கோல விடைமிசை கூர்மையோ
டம்ப டுத்தகண் ணாளொடு மேவல் அழகிதே.

காரு லாங்கட இப்பிகள் முத்தங் கரைப்பெயும்
தேரு லாநெடு வீதிய தார்தெளிச் சேரியீர்
ஏரு லாம்பலிக் கேகிட வைப்பிட மின்றியே
வாரு லாமுலை யாளையொர் பாகத்து வைத்ததே.

பக்க நுந்தமைப் பார்ப்பதி யேத்திமுன் பாவிக்கும்
செக்கர் மாமதி சேர்மதில் சூழ்தெளிச் சேரியீர்
மைக்கொள் கண்ணியர் கைவளை மால்செய்து வௌவவே
நக்க ராயுல கெங்கும் பலிக்கு நடப்பதே.

தவள வெண்பிறை தோய்தரு தாழ்பொழில் சூழநல்
திவள மாமணி மாடந் திகழ்தெளிச் சேரியீர்
குவளை போற்கண்ணி துண்ணென வந்து குறுகிய
கவள மால்கரி யெங்ஙனம் நீர்கையிற் காய்ந்ததே.

கோட டுத்த பொழிலின் மிசைக்குயில் கூவிடும்
சேட டுத்த தொழிலின் மிகுதெளிச் சேரியீர்
மாட டுத்த மலர்க்கண்ணி னாள்கங்கை நங்கையைத்
தோட டுத்த மலர்ச்சடை யென்கொல்நீர் சூடிற்றே.

கொத்தி ரைத்த மலர்க்குழ லாள்குயில் கோலஞ்சேர்
சித்தி ரக்கொடி மாளிகை சூழ்தெளிச் சேரியீர்
வித்த கப்படை வல்ல அரக்கன் விறல்தலை
பத்தி ரட்டிக் கரம்நெரித் திட்டதும் பாதமே.

காலெ டுத்த திரைக்கை கரைக்கெறி கானல்சூழ்
சேல டுத்த வயற்பழ னத்தெளிச் சேரியீர்
மால டித்தல மாமல ரான்முடி தேடியே
ஓல மிட்டிட எங்ஙனம் ஒருருக் கொண்டதே.

மந்தி ரந்தரு மாமறை யோர்கள் தவத்தவர்
செந்தி லங்கு மொழியவர் சேர்தெளிச் சேரியீர்
வெந்த லாகிய சாக்கிய ரோடு சமணர்கள்
தந்தி றத்தன நீக்குவித் தீரோர் சதிரரே.

திக்கு லாம்பொழில் சூழ்தெளிச் சேரியெஞ் செல்வனை
மிக்க காழியுள் ஞானசம் பந்தன் விளம்பிய
தக்க பாடல்கள் பத்தும்வல் லார்கள் தடமுடித்
தொக்க வானவர் சூழ இருப்பவர் சொல்லிலே.

Parvatheeswarar Temple, Tiruthelicheri, Karaikal – Legends

Parvatheeswarar Temple, Tiruthelicheri, Karaikal – Legends

Bhaskara Sthalam:

Lord Suryan’s wife Chaya Devi was deeply saddened by the fact that her husband was not affectionate to her. When Maharishi Narada informed her father about her state, he was enraged and cursed Lord Suryan. Suryan lost his shining glory and in order to seek relief from this curse he started visiting many temples. He came to this place, created a spring and worshiped Lord Parvatheeswarar. The lord answered his prayers and relieved him from the curse. As Lord Suryan is also known as Bhaskara, the lord here is also praised as Bhaskara Lingam and this place is known as Bhaskara Sthalam. It is believed that Lord Suryan worships Lord Shiva of this temple by directing his rays on the lingam for 10 days starting from 13^th to 22^nd in the Tamil month of Panguni (March-April) every year.

Parvatheeswarar:

Another legend associated with this place is that involving Goddess Parvathi. She was angry with her father, Dakshan, for not having given Lord Shiva the respect that he deserves. For this reason, she no longer wished to be called Dakshan’s daughter. Lord Shiva blessed her to born on earth as the daughter of Sage Kathyayana in Thiruthelichery. She performed rigorous penance here and when she attained the marriage age, she took her place at Lord Shiva’s side. As she performed penance (Thapas in Tamil) here, she is praised as Thapasvini. As Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvathy here, he is also praised as Parvatheeswarar.

Thiru Theli Cherry:

Another legend is that due to lack of monsoon, this area was severely affected by draught. The then ruler, a Chola King, prayed to Lord Shiva to save the people from starvation. It is believed that Lord Shiva came to this place in the guise of a farmer, ploughed the fields and sowed paddy seeds. This fields yielded enormous harvest and the people were freed from the clutches of starvation. As Lord himself sowed seeds here, this place came to be known as “Thiru Theli Cherry” - “Theli” means to sow, “Cheri” means place and “Thiru is a respectful prefix in Tamil.

Koovi Azhaitha Pillayar:

After worshipping Lord Dharbaranyeswarar in Thirunallaru, it is believed that Saint Thirugnanasambanthar passed through this place without noticing this temple. Lord Vinayakar is then believed to have called the saint 10 times, made him turn back and visit this temple. As Vinayakar called the saint, he is praised as “Koovi Azhaitha Pillayar”. (“Koovi Azhaitha” means calling loudly in Tamil). This place was also referred to as “Koovi Azhaitha” but over a period it has changed to “Koil Pathu”.

Conflict between Jainism and Shaivism:

Pothimangai, a small village situated close to Thiruthelichery was under the evil influence of Jainism.  People in this village were forcibly followed the Jain principles and philosophies. Thiru Gnana Sambandhar and his followers were paid visit to Thiruthelichery, after the worship of Lord Parvatheeswarar with his consort Goddess Shakthinayaki, they arrived at Pothimangai accompanied by the followers who were reciting the glorious verses of Thiruneetru Pathigam were detained by the Jains.  

At this moment, followers of Sambandhar passionately sung the Panchakshara Pathigam praising the glories of Lord.  Instantly the leader of the Jainism was killed by a sudden lightning.  Afterwards, there was a huge conflict broke out amongst them about the superiority of the principles and teachings of Jainism and Shaivism, eventually Shaiva Siddhantha won over the Jain principles. The Jains realized their folly and turned out ardent devotees of Lord Shiva.

Arjuna worshipped Lord Shiva here:

Another legend associated with this place is that of Arjuna – Arjuna is believed to have visited this place and worshiped Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva blessed him with his darshan in the form of a hunter. Arjuna prayed to the lord that the lord and the Theertham be named after him. Lord Shiva agreed to fulfil his wish, hence the lord is known as Phalguna Lingam and the Theertham is known as Phalguna Theertham.

Raja Lingam:

It is believed that as advised by Sage Vashista, a king called Ambarisha prayed to Lord Shiva here and was blessed with a child. Thus, the lord here is also known as Sri Raja Lingam.

Names in different Yugas:

The place was known as Brahmma Vanam in Kritha Yuga, Sameevanam in Tretha, Ananda Vanam in Dwapara Yuga and Mukthi Vana in the present Kaliyuga.

People worshipped Lord Shiva here:

It is believed that Goddess Parvathi, Lord Brahma, Lord Indra, Saint Markandeya, Arjuna and Lord Suryan have worshiped Lord Shiva here.