Sri Pasupatheeswarar Temple, Aavoor Pasupateeswaram, Papanasam - 275 Shiva Temples

21. Sri Pasupatheeswarar Temple, Aavoor Pasupateeswaram, Papanasam (Chola Nadu - South of Kaveri):

Names of God : Sri Pasupatheeswarar, Sri Asvathanathar, Sri Aaavoorudayar
Name of Goddess : Sri Mangalambigai (Taken from temple tank), Sri Bangajavalli (Old)
Holy water (Theertham) : Kamadenu theertham is now called as Thena theertham
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) : Peepal Tree
Thevaram : Sambandar
District : Thanjavur.
Location : Papanasam.
Timings : 06:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 04:30 p.m. to 08:30 p.m

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This is the 21st sthalam on the southern side of river Cauvery. Thiruganasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Located 15kms South West of Kumbakonam on the Melattur/Thittai Highway is the huge Chozha Period Pasupatheeswarar temple in Avoor, a temple praised by Thiru Gnana Sambandhar and one of the 70 Mada Koils of Ko Chenganan Chozha. One is welcomed by a big tower on the Eastern side.

Important Features:

It is considered as one of 275 Paadal Petral Stalams.
Pancha Bairava Sannidhi is a speciality at the temple.
Parikara Sthalam for Pithru and Drishti Dosham.
Lord Muruga with a bow and arrow.
This is also one of the mada temple built by Ko Chenkat Chozhan.
Kamadhenu relieved from sabam by this temple Lord Shiva. Please see the Sirpam on the kodimaram.
There is a separate sannadhi for Somaskandhar in which there is no moorthy.
There are two Ambigai sannadhi.

This is one of the Mada Koils (one where an elephant cannot reach the sanctum) built by the famous Chozha king Ko Chenganan, others include Thiruvanaikaval and Nachiyar Koil.

Since Kamadhenu performed pooja for Lord Shiva at this temple and he provided darshan to the sacred cow, he came to be referred to as ‘Pasupatheeswarar’. The place is praised in Thevaram hymns of Gnanasambandar: “Let my tongue ever sing the glory of the Lord of Avur Pasupatheeswaram, known for its fertile plantain fields entertaining the monkeys living around, wearing the sacred ash, standing majestically with His long hair, acknowledging the worship of Lord Vishnu and ever present in the minds of devotees.”

Presiding deity Lord Pasupatheeswarar is Swayambu in Linga form. There are five Bhairavars in standing form worshipping Lord Shiva. Hence the place is called Pancha Bhairava Thalam. Lord Muruga in the temple graces with a bow in hand.

Avur is the name of the place. Pasupatheeswaram is the name of the temple. This is a Madakovil type. The place is also known as Aswathavanam. As the roof of the sanctum sanctorum has a beautiful hill peak, the place is also called Manikudam. According to tradition, Vayu Deva (authority for wind) brought two hill pieces from Kailash of which one stayed here while the other at Nallur.

Lord Brahmma, seven sages (saptha rishis), Ganas (attendants of Lord Shiva), Devas, Iyakkas, Gandharvas (all belonging to the celestial world), Indira the King of Devas, Sun, the nine planets (navagrahas), Lord Vishnu, Emperor Dasaratha worshipped Lord Shiva in this shrine and got blessed.

A king, Darmadhwaja by name had a dip in the holy spring Brahmma theertham and was cured of his leprosy. Lord Muruga graces in the temple with a bow in His hand. Avur is the birth place of eminent Tamil poets as Avurkizhar, Avur Moolankizhar and Perunthalai Chathanar. The celebrated Tamil Epic Manimekalai forming part of the five ancient Tamil epics, praised as Aimperum Kappiangal, was authored by Chathanar.

On each of the four Sundays of Karthigai, Lord Pasupatheeswarar goes out on a street procession and Theerthavari is performed.

Lord goes out on a street procession on Thei Pirai (immediately after the full moon day) on the Ashtami day every month with Homam, Abhishekam and Anna Dhanam being a special feature on that day.

History / Legend:

King Dasaratha came here and finding only the idol of Lord Shiva, he installed the idol of Pankaja Valli and performed pooja invoking the blessings of both. On the Eastern wall opposite the Pankaja Valli Sannidhi, one finds the sculpture of King Dasaratha offering his prayers to Lord Shiva. An invisible voice indicated to him the location of ‘Pancha Bairava’ idols hidden beneath. Dasaratha located these unique idols and installed the idols of Pancha Bairava opposite the Pankaja Valli Sannidhi. This is a Parikara Sthalam for Pithru Dosham and Drishti Dosham. It is believed one would be liberated from these after offering sincere prayers to the Pancha Bairava.

In each of his praise, Thiru Gnana Sambandhar refers to this place as ‘Avoor Pasupatheeswaram’. He also showers verses of praise on Pankaja Valli. He refers to the palace like mansions that were seen in the Mada Streets of Pasupatheeswaram. Sambandhar talks about the sacred cows that were always seen at the temple here.

This is one of the 70 Mada Temples built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan and one finds steep steps leading up to the Sannidhi of Lord Shiva making it difficult for elephant to make an entry here. Another of the Mada Koil at Thiru Nallur is just 6kms North of here.

Seeking a handsome boy, King Dasaratha invoked the blessings of Lord Muruga at this temple. It is believed that Rama was born subsequent to the prayers offered by Dasaratha here. Hence in memory of this event, Lord Subramanya is seen in a unique posture with a bow and arrow in hand.

Location: This sivasthalam temple is located 8 Kms to the south-west of Patteeswaram, another Paadal Petra Sthalam. Avoor is situated on the Kumbakonam - Melattur - Thanjavur road. Nearest railway station is Dharasuram. Avoor is located on the Kumbakonam/Patteeswara – Melattur/Thittai Highway. Buses / Mini Buses ply every 15 minutes from Kumbakonam bus stand and Patteswaram to Avoor via Govindakudy. Direct buses are also available from Thanjavur via Thiru Karugavur. One can also reach the temple from Papanasam (9kms) and Sundara Perumal Koil (5kms).