Sivanandeswarar, Tirupandurai, Thanjavur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Sivanandeswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Mangalambikai, Malai Arasi Ammai
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:	TiruppeNuperumthurai
Vriksham:	Vanni	Teertham:	MangaLa Teertham
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	8 to 12 & 5 to 7	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Paadal Petra Sthalam (Kaveri Then Karai)	–
Sung by:	Sambandar	Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Tirupandurai	District:	Thanjavur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Kumbakonam (10 km)	Tiruvarur (30 km)
	Mayiladuthurai (33 km)	Thanjavur (48 km)

Location

Tirupandurai is located about 11 km southeast of Kumbakonam and very close to Thukkachi.

Sthala puranam and temple information

As a child, Murugan once asked Brahma the meaning of the Pranava Mantram. Because Brahma did not know the meaning, Murugan imprisoned him, considering Brahma unfit to create life on earth. Annoyed with this, Lord Siva questioned Murugan as to whether the latter knew the meaning of the Pranavam, to which Murugan responded that he did.

This resulted in Murugan becoming proud, but he was internally agitated at having imprisoned a senior god such as Brahma. Because of this, he started becoming brooding, and over time, due to the will of Lord Siva, Murugan gradually lost his power of speech.

Murugan then prayed to Vishnu for a remedy, and was told to worship Siva in Swambhu murti form at various places. Murugan established the temple at Senganur, and also worshipped at other places, but to no avail. Finally, he came to Tirupandurai, and created a Lingam and worshipped it. Lord Siva was pleased that Murugan had realized his folly, and restored the latter’s power of speech.

As Siva acted in the way a typical father acts, he is also referred to here as Thagappan Swamy (Thagappan is Tamil for father). He is also called Pranaveswarar.

Murugan gets priority at this temple, as there is a separate idol of Murugan just before the garbhagriham, shown with folded hands and worshipping Lord Siva.

Due to the story of Murugan regaining his power of speech, devotees pray at this temple for speech related problems.

There are also two Vinayakar murtis at this temple – Guha Vinayakar and Sakshi Vinayakar.

Other information for your visit

This temple is located in a corner on the right, where the road turns left, so it is easy to miss the temple. Visitors are advised to go exactly by map directions provided above.

On the way from this temple to Thukkachi, is a small village on the left side of the road. This place has some very old Chola period temple ruins, considered to be what was once a Perumal temple (location map).