| Description:Tiruppoovanam
is located on the Rameswaram - Madurai railway line. This is a shrine treated with
great reverence and there are several legends associated with
Tiruppoovanam. This shrine is regarded as the 11th of the
Tevara Stalams in the Pandya region of Tamilnadu. Manikka
Vacakar has also sung of its glories and it is even referred to as Dakshina Kailasam.
Tiruvilayadal puranam also refers to it. This temple has been traditionally managed by the
Sivaganga royal family. The temple and the Utsavamurthy images here are of great beauty.
Legends: Surya is said to have worshipped Somaskandar here. Lakshmi is
said to have worshipped Shiva here. Sambandar, upon viewing each grain of sand as a
Shivalingam refused to set foot in the temple for the fear of trampling on them; Shiva is
said to have caused the Nandi to move aside, to allow him to have a darisanam of the
shrine.
Shiva is said to have transformed iron into gold and blessed a devotee by name
Ponnaiyal, and the image made by her for the temple is known as Azhagiya Nathar.Kali,
Bhrama, Vishnu and Lakshmi are said to have worshipped Shiva here. King Nala is also said
to have visited this shrine.
The Temple: There are separated entrances to the Shiva and Ambal
shrines in this temple which covers a span of about 3 acres. The Rajagopuram rises to a
height of 75 feet. Several of the tanks here are considered to be sacred. Natarajar's
tandavam here is Bhrama Tandavam. There are several other noteworthy features and shrines
in this temple.
Festivals: The annual Bhrammotsavam falls in the month of Panguni.
Other festivals here include Aadi Pooram, Navaratri, Arudra Darisanam, Kartikai Deepam and
the Kolattam festival (Aippasi). |
