Brahmapureeswarar, Peramur, Thanjavur

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

This nondescript temple is located between the Kaveri and Kollidam rivers, in the vicinity of Tirupazhanam, Ganapati Agraharam and Thingalur. The temple is a Tevaram Vaippu Sthalam, finding mention in one of Appar’s pathigams.

Contrary to expectation and popular belief, the name of the place – Peramur – is not an error in spelling Perambur nor is it a derivative from Perambur. This was not a forest of bamboo trees. Instead, the name comes from the fact that Brahma worshipped here, and was therefore called Brahmur which, when written out in Tamil, gets spelt (and over time, used) as Peramur.

The temple’s structure from the outside is rather unassuming. There is no raja gopuram. Instead, there are stucco images on top of the entrance mandapam, of Vinayakar, Siva and Parvati, and Murugan. Outside is a very old Nandi. The front mandapam itself is a brick and mortar structure, as is much of the temple.

There are only two shrines here – the garbhagriham for Siva as Brahmapureeswarar, and the shrine for Brihannayaki Amman. Flanking the entrance to the ardha mandapam are Vinayakar on the left, and a celestial deity (not identifiable) on the right.

As one walks around the temple, we can see the classic Chola architecture that the brick and mortar façade hides away. Despite the gaudy coat of blue coloured paint, which is also mouldy from the lack of proper maintenance, one can see classic Chola features in the koshtams (niches), and the upper parts of the sala, as also the panjarams.

In the koshtam there is no Vinayakar, but Dakshinamurti is present. it appears that the original Dakshinamurti vigraham here was embedded on the wall (evident by the presence of the banyan tree carved on the koshtam wall itself, as well as the depiction of the Sanaka sages). In the nasi above the Dakshinamurti koshtam is a beautiful miniature depiction of Siva in sukhasana! In the koshtam are also Lingodhbhavar, Brahma and Durga. there are separate shrines for

In the prakaram – which is poorly maintained – are shrines for Vinayakar, Murugan, Vishnu, and Chandikeswarar. There is also an open-to-air Navagraham shrine, next to which is what appears to be either Bhairavar or Suryan.

The pond next to the temple serves as both the temple tank and the water source for the village.