Sri Adhi Moolanathar Temple, Thiruppaatrurai, Trichy - 275 Shiva Temples

59. Sri Adhi Moolanathar Temple, Thiruppaatrurai, Trichy (Chola Nadu - North of Kaveri):

Names of God : Sri Aathimooleswarar, Sri Aathi Moolanathar
Name of Goddess : Sri Megambihai, Sri Moganayagi, Sri Nidhya Kalyani
Holy water (Theertham) : Kollidam.
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) : Vilwa Tree.
Thevaram : Sambandar
District : Tiruchirapalli.
Location : Trichy.
Timings : 07:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 04:00 p.m. to 07:00 p.m.

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This is the 59th sthalam on the northern side of river Cauvery. Thiruganasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Lord graces in the temple as swayambumurthy. During Purattasi (September-October), Panguni (March-April) and some days in the year, the rays of Sun fall on the Lord. Lord Dakshinamurthy on the wall of the sanctum sanctorum graces with His Veena and a leg beautifully bending as if dancing. His disciples are not with him. This is a rare form of Lord Dakshinamurthy. Musicians worship the Lord with abishek and special pujas. Lord Bikshadana is nearby.

Important Features:

When Markandeyan visited this temple and he has nothing to offer. To his true prayers milk was flowing from the head of Shiva Lingam, hence this place was called as Thiruppartrurai.
Moolavar is Suyambu.
Artha mandapm is called as Deva Sabai and the pillars are very beautifully chiseled and worth to see.
Ambal sannadhi is facing south.
10th & 12th century Tamil inscriptions are found on the walls.

Lord Shiva here is also called Adhimooleswarar. There is a grand Court Hall (Raja Sabha – court of the king) in the Arthamandapa Hall in the temple. Saivite saint Gnanasambandar had mentioned the Lord in his hymns as Moolanatheswarar and the place as Kaarar Kondrai. Devotees believe that performing abishek to the Lord would bring them all prosperity.

The temple is situated in between the rivers Cauvery and Kollidam. Nandhi (the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva and the Bali Peeta (an upside down lotus platform for placing the Nivedhana) are outside the temple. As it is believed that worshiping the Goodess facing South would minimize the ferocity of Yama the God of Death, the Goddess in the temple is facing south. Those who have lost their kid(s), perform special puja to the Goddess with yellow clothes. They hope to get another child. This pooja is performed in the temple on all Poornima (full moon) days. Newly wedded couples also pray to Goddess seeking healthy and wise children. Behind the sanctum sanctorum is the shrine of Sankaranarayana instead of Lingoghbava as is generally found in Shiva temple. There are Rukmini, Sathyabama and Lord Venugopala also in the temple.

History / Legend:

A Chola king ruling this region then passed through this place while hunting and wanted to have rest. He saw a white bird and with the intention of having it, he shot an arrow but the bird escaped. When he visited the place again, he saw the bird and waited near the bushes as it was its nest.

The king felt the smell of milk in that place. But the bird did not return. The king removed the bushes and found an anthill. When he further dug, milk sprang from the spot. The king, afraid of the incident, simply returned back. Lord Shiva appeared in his dream and said that He was in that spot in the form of a Linga and directed him to build a temple. So place came to be known as Pattrurai (Paal+Thurai – Paal in Tamil means milk and thurai place, thus came the name Pattrurai) The Lord was named Pattrurainathar as he came out from the place where milk sprang up.

People pray for removal of obstacles in marriage talks and for child boon.

Location: One has to travel by bus from Tiruchy - Tiruvanaikaval - Kallanai route and get down at Panayapuram and walk 2 Kms to reach the temple.