Apathsahayar Temple, Thirupazhanam, Thanjavur

Apathsahayar Temple, Thirupazhanam, Thanjavur

Apathsahayar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirupazhanam near Tiruvaiyaru, Tamilnadu, India. It is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple is located 3 km east of Tiruvaiyaru. The temple is revered by the hymns of 7th century Tamil saint poet, Appar.

The Lord in the temple is a swayambumurthy.  The main tower is too ancient in three tier model. There is no flag post in the temple. It has a Bali peeta and Nandhi. There are shrines for Lord Vinayaka and Muruga. The Vahanas (the vehicle idols of Gods) are stored in the right of the front hall.

After worshipping Vinayaka and proceeding further on the left, there are shrines of Sapthamadhas (seven virgins), Vinayaka, Venugopala and Shivalingas in different names, Nataraja Sabha, Bhairava and Navagrahas the nine planets.

Legends

Once upon a time there was a Brahmin kid named Susarithan lost his parents and in the search of peace he started a pilgrimage tour.  That kid stayed one night at Thirupazhanam village.  At that night, Yama Raja appeared in his dreams and told him that he will die 5th day from today.  The kid got up and scared of this message from Yama.  He surrendered himself to the Lord Shiva and he rescued from the death.  Hence the Lord is called as Apathsahayar.  In Thala Puranam this place is referred as Pirayanapuri as Goddess Laxmi worshipped here and travelled from here.

Here the Lord save his devotees form the danger comes in their life; hence he is called as Abadhsahayeswarar (savior). It is said to be that Lord Vishnu and Mahalakshmi came to this place and got rid of their curse by installing lingam and offering prayer. Hence we can see a separate shrine for Venugopalar and separate Vriksham (jack fruit tree).

In another mythological story this place is referred as “Sage Koushik’s ashram”.  Sage Koushik has kept his share of nectar at this place as a safest location from Asuras.  However Asuras figured out this and they came to steal the nectar.  Lord Shiva has created God Aiyanar and Goddess Kali to kill them to save the nectar.  Hence Sage Koushik made Shiva linga out of nectar and worshipped him at this location.

Once Lord Shiva wanted Nandhi to get married, Nandhi is a son of Sage Siladha.  Nandhi is also kind of son of Shiva he wanted to conduct Nandhi’s marriage in a grand way.  The marriage procession started at Thiruvaiyaru and crossed Thirupazhanam, Thiruchotruthurai, Thiruvedhikudi, Kandiyur, Thirupponnthuruthi, Thillaisthanam villages and finished at Thiruvaiyaru back.  

This is the place where Lord Shiva collected Fruits for Nandhi’s Marriage. The fruits needed for Lord Nandhi’s Marriage has been sent from this place, hence this place is called as Thirupazhanam (Pazham means fruit in Tamil).

On the day of Nandhi’s marriage Lord Shiva will appear in a glass palanquin.  Nandhi and his wife will come along with Shiva through all the above mentioned 7 places.  “Sapthasthanam Festival” happens grandly during the full moon day of Tamil month Chithirai.  Out of 7 Shiva temples (Saptha Sthana Sthalams) in and around Thiruvaiyaru, Abadhsahayeswarar temple is considered to be second one.  This temple was also worshipped by Moon god.  This place is also called as Thirupazhanam, kathalivanam, Koushikashramam, Pirayanapuri and Palanipathi.

Greatness of Temple

The place is known as Kathalivanam meaning place of plantain trees. Moon worshipped here. Kubera the authority for wealth, Lord Vishnu, Mahalakshmi and a Brahmin named Darmasharma worshipped here.

This is the second of the Sapthasthanam Sthalams – holy places.

Temple Speciality

Lord Shiva graces in the temple as a swayambumurthy. Rays of moon fall on the Lord on Poornima days (full moon) and also before after two days in the month of Panguni (March-April) and Purattasi (September-October).

Temple – Architecture

Apathsahayar Temple located at Thirupazhanam is the 50 the temple mentioned in “Devaram” (Devaram is a Tamil Saiva devotional poetry).  This temple was constructed by Aditya Cholan (1st) and Paranthaka Cholan (1st).  The main temple tower is very old and it has been formed with three levels.  There is no Temple hoist here.  There are dedicated sannidhis for Lord Ganesha and Murugan in the outer praharam.  

As like any other Shiva temples Nandhi is located in front of Lord Shiva.  Right side of the temple has been used for God’s vehicle (Vaganam).  Ganesha Sannidhi is located first while we are entering the temple.   Once we worship Lord Ganesha and enter we will get to worship “Saptha Kannigal”, Venugopalar, Nataraja Saba, Bairavar and Navagrahas.

At the first level of the Gopuram, on the east side Shiva Parvathi, south side Dakshinamoorthy, west side Annamalaiyaar and North side Brhamma was located.  At the Artha Mandapa Nandhi was facing the south direction and worshipping the Lord Shiva. Venugopalan appears with his flute at this temple.  Lord Shiva at this temple is called as Apathsahayar (or Abadhsahayeswarar) appearing in a “Suyambu” (self-made) form.

Goddess Ambal at this temple is called as Sundara Nayagi is located in a dedicated Sannidhi located in the Prahara. Inside the premises we can see Medha Dakshinamoorthy, Pasupatheeswarar, Apputhiadigal, Saptha Rishi, Vinayagr, Murugan, Sapthamatharkal, Venugopalar, Bhairavar and Nataraja Sabhai and. All the Navagraha facing sun is a special here.

Outside the premises there is Holy Trees like Jack fruit tree, banana tree, holy water tank, and a place believed to be where Paranashala built by Agasthiyar. Agasthiyar and Chandran had worshiped in this place.

The Rajagopuram consists of three stages has been renovated by the devotees recently and Maha Rudra Homam conducted. The premises looks clean, mobile number of a person who guards the temple has been written in the temple gate.

Temple Opening Time

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m

Prayers

Marriage, child, education are the boons sought by the devotees from the Lord. Devotees perform abishek and vastras to the Lord as their humble offer.

Festivals

Ezhur Sapthasthanam festival, Shivarathri in February-March, Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January and Aipasi Annabishekam in October-November are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Saptha Stanam:

The sapthasthanam festival is conducted at Tiruvaiyaru during April every year. Hundreds of people witness the convergence of seven glass palanquins carrying principal deities of respective temples from seven places at Tiruvaiyaru. The palanquins are paraded near the car stand, the crowd witnessed the Poochoridhal (flower festival) in which a doll offers flowers to the principal deities in the palanquins. After the Poochoridhal, the palanquins left for their respective places. The seven temples are

Temple	Place	District
Aiyarappar temple	Thiruvaiyaru	Thanjavur
Apathsahayar Temple	Tirupazhanam	Thanjavur
Odhanavaneswarar Temple	Tiruchotruthurai	Thanjavur
Vedapuriswarar Temple	Thiruvedhikudi	Thanjavur
Kandeeswarar Temple	Thirukkandiyur	Thanjavur
Puvananathar Temple	Thirupanturuthi	Thanjavur
Neyyadiappar Temple	Tiruneithaanam	Thanjavur

Singers

This Temple is praised in the Thevaram hymns of Appar, Thirunavukarasar and Gnanasambandar. My Lord on his bull is coming chanting the Vedas, wearing the sacred thread and the tiger skin, he removes sins of both believers and non-believers, and he is in Pazhana Nagar – Thirunavukarasar. This is the 50th temple on the northern bank of Cauvery.

Contact

Sri Abadhsahayeswarar Temple,

Tirupazhanam Post, Tiruvaiyaru,

Thanjavur district

Phone: +91 4362 326 668

Connectivity

The temple is located 3 km east of Tiruvaiyaru. This temple is nearby Tiruvaiyaru in Kumbakonam-Tiruvaiyaru road. Nearest Railway Station is Thanjavur & Nearest Airport is Trichy.