| Description:
This Shivastalam is also known as Konraivanam, Bhanupuram and Tenkayilai. Not too far from
here is Gangai Konda Cholapuram. Sambandar is
said to have visited Pandanainallur after visiting Tiruppanantaal.
Pandanainallur is considered to be the 35th in the series of the
Tevara Stalams located in Chola Nadu north of the river Kaveri.
Legend goes that Shiva upon being angered by Parvati's indifference to
him, in the middle of a ball game with Lakshmi and Saraswati, cursed her with the form a
cow; she was relieved of this curse upon offering worship here, with Murugar as a calf.
Kamadhenu, Indra and Vaali are also said to have worshipped here.
The Temple: The remains of a fort and a moat testify to the grandeur
of the original construction. . A 7 tiered Rajagopuram adorns the entrance to this temple.
The Suryapushkarini tank with a central mandapam is located within the temple. The
Mahamandapam in the outer prakaram with the Ambal & Natarajar shrines here is of great
beauty.
The Ambal shrine faces North, in accordance with the belief that Parvati faced the
Northern direction while engaged in meditation. The Kalyanamandapam in the inner prakaram
houses a shrine to Kalyanasundarar. There is a shrine to Sattainathar adjacent to the
Dakshinamurthy shrine. (The image above is that of the Sirkazhi
temple complex, from the Sattainathar shrine). The Navagrahams are seen enshrined in a
straight line here, unlike in other temples. There is also a temple to Adikesava Perumaal
in the temple complex. There is also the Chitrambalam shrine nearby housing
Natanapureeswarar & Soundarambikai
Festivals: The annual Bhrammotsavam is celebrated in the month of
Maasi. |
