Brahma Nandeeswarar, Patteeswaram, Thanjavur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Brahma Nandeeswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Brahmambika
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	to & to	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Patteeswaram	District:	Thanjavur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Kumbakonam (9 km)	Thanjavur (33 km)
	Tiruvarur (44 km)	Ariyalur (46 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

In ancient times, Pazhaiyarai was called Aayirathali – land of a thousand temples. Pazhaiyarai was also one of capital cities in the Chola period. Readers of Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan will recall this as the place of residence of various members of the Chola family, even as Sundara Chola lived in Thanjavur.

In those times, Pazhaiyarai encompassed a large area, though today it refers to what used to be just the south-eastern portion of the old city. There are several temples in the erstwhile Pazhaiyarai area, even today, though several of them are in a pitiable state of disrepair, despite being under the aegis of the state government. This is one of those temples.

There is not much by way of sthala puranam for this temple, except that Brahma and Naga Kannis are said to have worshipped here. For the latter reason, this is regarded as a prarthana sthalam for those suffering from Naga dosham.

This temple dates back to the 8^th century, in the time of Aditya Chola, when it was built as a brick temple but never renovated to a stone structure. This brick temple is what stands here today. According to historical records, Azhishi Kattadigal – Aditya Chola’s wife – worshipped here and also gave several grants to this temple.

A small portion of the base of the raja gopuram is all that stands today, but it is indicative of a three-tier gopuram that would have stood here in the Chola period. The vimanam above the garbhagriham – a dwitala vimanam – is in relatively better state, and houses a Siva Lingam set on a square avudai. Only the garbhagriham stands today, in addition to the Amman shrine. There are some murtis on the koshtam walls around the moolavar’s sanctum.