Pathaaleeswarar, Haridwaramangalam, Tiruvarur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Pathaaleeswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Alankaravalli Ambal
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:	Tiruarathaipperumpaazhi
Vriksham:	Vanni	Teertham:	Brahma Teertham
Agamam:		Age (years):	1000-2000
Timing:	8 to 12 & 4 to 8	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Paadal Petra Sthalam (Kaveri Then Karai)	–
Sung by:	Sambandar	Temple set: Pancha Aranya Kshetram 1
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Haridwaramangalam	District:	Tiruvarur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Kumbakonam (18 km)	Thanjavur (30 km)
	Tiruvarur (38 km)	Mayiladuthurai (53 km)

Location

Haridwaramangalam is located south of Kumbakonam, close to Alangudi.

Sthala puranam and temple information

This is one of the Pancha Aranya Kshetrams (or five forest temples) near Kumbakonam, and according to sthalam puranam, the recommended route is to start a pilgrimage in the morning, and visit the 5 temples on the same day, in the following order (for pujas): Tirukarukavur (ushatkala puja, early morning), Avalivanallur (kalasandhi puja, morning), Haridwaramangalam (uchikala puja, midday), Alangudi (sayaratchai, evening) and Tirukollampudur (arthajamam, night). However, in today’s terms, these temples are within a total driving distance of about 36km, and can quite easily be completed in about 4-5 hours, including the temple visit time.

The sthala puranam is associated with the legend of Siva as a pillar of fire. When Vishnu and Brahma were arguing about who was superior, Lord Siva emerged in front of them as a pillar of fire. Vishnu and Brahma decided to locate the bottom-most and topmost points of the pillar of fire respectively, to determine superiority. Brahma took the form of a swan and flew upwards. Vishnu took the form of a boar and dug into the earth, but even after reaching patalam, he was unable to see the base of the pillar of fire, and accepted his defeat. Hari (Lord Vishnu) dug into the earth at this place, by making a pit or entrance (dwaram) and hence this place was named Haridwaramangalam, and Lord Siva came to be named Pathaaleeswarar. The place where Lord Vishnu dug up the earth near the feet of Lord Siva is said to still be here, and is covered with a stone slab. Lord Siva had broken the horn of the Boar and is seen to be wearing it on his chest.

The day Lord Vishnu dug up the earth and accepted his defeat is the 14th day of the waning moon period and celebrated as Mahasivarathri.

There is also a legend that the tunnel that is at the base of the avudai of the Siva Lingam, goes all the way to Haridwar.

According to another legend, Siva was initially not keen on marrying Parvati, and sought to hide in a hole in the ground which led to Haridwar. Lord Vishnu – Parvati’s brother – took the form of a boar to chase Lord Siva, and brought him back here. After much convincing, Lord Siva’s marriage to Parvati took place!

Devotees worshipping at this temple are said to receive the benefits of having prayed at Haridwar. The temple is also considered a rina vimochana sthalam, and praying here is said to relieve the debt burden of devotees.