Basic information about the temple
| Moolavar: | Pasupateeswarar | Ambal / Thayar: | MangaLambikai, Pankajavalli |
| Deity: | Siva | Historical name: | Tiruaavoorpasupateechuram |
| Vriksham: | Arasamaram | Teertham: | Brahma Teertham, Kamadhenu Teertham |
| Agamam: | Age (years): | Timing: | 6 to 11 & 4 to 8.30 | Parikaram: |
| Temple group: | Paadal Petra Sthalam (Kaveri Then Karai) | – | |
| Sung by: | Temple set: | ||
| Navagraham: | Nakshatram: | ||
| City / town: | Avoor | District: | Thanjavur |
| Maps from (click): | Current location | Kumbakonam (11 km) | Thanjavur (30 km) |
| Tiruvarur (44 km) | Ariyalur (47 km) |
Location
Avoor is located about 11km from Kumbakonam, on the way to Tirukkarukavur and Oothukadu.
Sthala puranam and temple information
Kamadhenu, along with her children Nandini and Patti, was living in mullai vanam (Tirukarukavur) and used to take other cows along with her to graze. She would collect flowers and undertake puja to Lord Siva. Similarly, Patti did the same at Patteeswaram. The place where all the cows assembled was Avoor (aa in Tamil means cow), and where they went for grazing was called go-iruntha-kudi (Govindakudi). All of these places are located fairly close together. Patti, understanding the worth of this place, created a Lingam here and was praying everyday with her milk. She requested Lord Siva to bless her to stay here permanently. As the Lord acceded to her request he is known Pasupateeswarar.
Parvati came to earth and stayed undertaking prayers to the Lord. All the rishis and devas became trees and vines and stayed here praying to the Goddess. Pleased with the prayers and penance undertaken by the goddess, Lord Siva appeared with his jatamudi, and blessed her. For this reason, Lord Siva here is also known as Kapardeeswarar.
This temple, along with many others that have a cow-based legend associated to them such as the Tiruvavaduthurai Gomukteeswarar temple, is also considered connected to Tirumoolar (Saiva Siddhantin and author of Tirumandiram), because of his taking the body of Moolan to protect cows.
Kamdhenu, who was cursed by Brahma, came here and was relieved of her curse.
King Dasaratha saw the Lord alone and installed the murti of Parvati. The goddess is called Pankajavalli. When the murti was being installed, a voice told the king to look for five Bhairava murtis buried under the ground. The king unearthed them and installed them opposite the goddess, and can be worshipped even today. Dasaratha praying to Lord Siva is seen in the sculptures here. (See video of sthala puranam, below.)
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.
Murugan at this temple is seen in the form of a hunter, with a bow and arrow in his hands, as opposed to the usual vel (spear).
One of the pieces of Kailasam broken during the competition between Adhisesha and Vayu is believed to have fallen here.
This temple is considered as a parikara sthalam for pitru dosham.
This is one of the maadakoils built by Kochchenga Cholan. The superstructure was originally constructed during the Chola period in about the 9th century CE, and later expanded by the Thanjavur Nayaks about 500 years ago. There are also inscriptions from the time of Rajendra Chola III‘s 3rd regnal year, about grants given to the temple.
Other information for your visit
Kumbakonam is a temple town, and there are a number of temples in and around Kumbakonam. Please visit the pages on Kumbakonam, Near: Kumbakonam, and Near 25: Kumbakonam, for more information on these.
Kumbakonam and its outskirts (including Swamimalai) have several accommodation options for all budgets, including some resorts.
Contact
Gallery
TN Temples Project 