Sri Pasupatiswarar Temple, Pandanainallur, Mayiladuthurai - 275 Shiva Temples

35. Sri Pasupatiswarar Temple, Pandanainallur, Mayiladuthurai (Chola Nadu - North of Kaveri):

Names of God : Sri Pasupatheeswarar
Name of Goddess : Sri Venu Kujambigai, Sri Kaambana Tholiammai
Holy water (Theertham) : Surya Theertham.
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) : Sara Kondrai.
Thevaram : Thirunavukarasar, Sambandar
District : Nagapattinam.
Location : Mayiladuthurai.
Timings : 06:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 04:00 p.m. to 08:00 p.m.

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This is the 35th sthalam on the northern side of river Cauvery. Thiru Ganasambandar and Appar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. The temple with a 7 tier Gopuram (Tower) houses the shrines for Sattanathar, Natarajar and Dakshinamurthy. The female deity's shrine faces north. Inside the temple, there is also a shrine for Adhikesava Perumal. The Navagraha images are kept in a straight line unlike in other temples where they are kept in a 3 x 3 matrix.

Lord is facing east and Ambigai in penance form is facing north in this temple with a 7 tier Rajagopuram and 2 prakaras. Kottai Muni Andavar is at the entrance. Nava Lingas, Lords Muruga, Sattainathar, Dakshinamurthi and the Navagrahas in a straight line, Mothrs Gajalakshmi, Annapoorani and Saraswathi are in the prakara shrines. Lord Ganapathy is worshiped as Nruthi Ganapathi

Masi Magam in February-March and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

History / Legend:

Lord is praised as Pasupatheeswar, as He came here as the Lord of cow – Pasu-cow, Pathi-Lord, Easwarar-God – Pasupatheeswarar. Navagrahas are on a straight line to have the wedding darshan of Lord and Mother, hence the planets are only merciful here. Those facing any adverse planetary effects are advised to circumambulate around Lord, Mother and the Navagrahas for remedy. There is no special Sabha for Lord Nataraja. Lord Vishnu graces from a separate temple. Son of King of Kambeli got back his eye sight by the grace of Lord in this temple.

Lord Vishnu, Sage Kanwa, Vali, Indira, Brahmma, Sun had worshipped Lord in this temple. Saints Arunagiriar, Ramalinga Adigalar and Patteeswaram Mounaguruswami had sung the glory of the temple in their hymns.

Mother Parvathi expressed Her desire to Lord to play balls. Lord made balls of the four Vedas. Parvathi continued Her play for too long a time. Though it was time for sunset, Sun only delayed the setting. The Rishis could not perform their Sandhya Vandanam due to delay in sunset. They asked Surya to act but he said that He could not afford to incur the wrath of Parvathi. They appealed to Lord Shiva. Mother did not notice Shiva coming to Her and therefore was cursed by Him. He tossed the ball that fell under the Sarakondrai tree here. Lord said she would be relieved of the curse by performing milk abishek to the Linga under the tree. As the ball –Pandhu in Tamil extinct here -Anaindhadhu in Tamil – the place came to known as Pandhu Anaindha Oor – Pandhanaindha Nallur.

To help His sister Parvathi, Mahavishnu came to the place as a shepherd. He left His cow to graze during the day and supplied milk to Sage Kanwa in the evenings. The cow saw an antihill and poured the milk there. Sage Kanwa had no milk that day. Lord Vishnu hit the cow, which jumped and placed its leg on the anthill. Immediately, the cow and the shepherd were back to their original form. Cow-Parvathi begged Lord to accept her in marriage. Lord advised Her to perform penance facing north and reach Him. Ambigai followed the advice and realized Her wish. Lord Shiva appears in the Sanctum Sanctorum as Kalyana Sundarar.

Those with impaired vision use to bathe in the sacred spring of the temple for regaining sight. Those facing effects of Pithru doshas (effects caused by ancestors), delays in marriage, mental peacelessness, shyness, debt burdens pray in the temple for relief.

Location: This temple is located near Kumbakonam. Bus services are available from Kumbakonam and Kutthalam.