Thenupureeswarar, Patteeswaram, Thanjavur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Thenupureeswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Gnanambikai, Palvanainayaki
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:	TiruppaTTeechuram
Vriksham:	Vanni	Teertham:	Gnana Teertham
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	6 to 11 & 4 to 8.30	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Paadal Petra Sthalam (Kaveri Then Karai)	–
Sung by:	Sambandar	Temple set: Pazhaiyarai Pancha Krosha Sthalam, Pancha Nandi Kshetram
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Patteeswaram	District:	Thanjavur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Kumbakonam (7 km)	Thanjavur (35 km)
	Tiruvarur (43 km)	Mayiladuthurai (45 km)

Location

Patteeswaram is located just outside of Kumbakonam, off the Kumbakonam-Thanjavur old highway.

Sthala puranam and temple information

When the Cholas had their capital at Pazhayarai, there were four main temples in the four cardinal directions – Keezhthali (east), Metrali (west), Vadathali (north) and Thenthali (south). Kamadhenu, the wish-fulfilling sacred cow of Devaloka, had four daughters – Patti worshipped at Keezhthali which is Patteeswaram (the place is named after her, and this is the temple she worshipped at); Vimali worshipped at Vadathali; Sabali at Metrali and Nandhini at Thehthali (Muzhayur).

Parvati wanted to come to this town and undertake penance to please Lord Siva. The devas and rishis took the form of various plants, and joined her. Kamadhenu sent her daughter Patti to assist Parvati. Pleased with Parvati’s devotion, Siva appeared with his long, flowing hair (and hence called Kapardeeswarar), and blessed them all. Inspired by Parvati’s devotion and commitment, Patti made a Lingam out of sand and prayed to that Lingam by offering her milk. Equally pleased, Siva gave her darshan and stayed on forever in the Lingam created by Patti. For this reason, the Lord has the name Pattesar / Patteeswarar, and the village also gets its name for the same reason.

Sambandar visited many Siva temples, but when he reached Tirusakthimutram near Patteeswaram, he found it difficult to walk because of the heat, and he was only a child. Siva, through his ganas, erected a pandal made of pearls, to make Sambandar comfortable. Siva also instructed the 5 Nandis between the eastern entrance and the main sanctum, to move slightly, so that He could see Sambandar entering the temple. For this reason, these Nandis are slightly off alignment.

Chola kings worshipped Ambal as Gnanambikai, their prime deity, for protection, security and valour. After the fall of the Chola empire, Durga (just another form of Sakti) took prominence.

The name Patteeswaram was derived from the daughter of the divine cow Kamadhenu – Patti, who worshipped the lord here. In the Ramayanam, Rama is believed to have been relieved of Sayagathi dosha for killing Vali. Parvati herself performed penance here, while sage Vishwamitra was admitted in the company of Brahmarishis with the backing of Gayatri mantra in this place. Sage Markandeya worshipped here and all the Navagrahas here face Suryan and are positioned as per the Agama tradition (and not the Vedic tradition).

This temple is part of the Pazhayarai Pancha Krosha Sthalams, which is one out of four sets of Pancha Krosha Sthalams in Tamil Nadu. It is believed that visiting these six temples (Pazhayarai, Nallur, Tiruvalanchuzhi, Sakti Muttram, Patteeswaram and Avoor) along with this temple in a single day is be beneficial to devotees.