Dhenupureeswarar Temple,
Patteeswaram – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east with seven tiered Rajagopuram. The Temple covers an area of about 5 acres. The temple measures 650 feet (200 m) east to west and 295 feet (90 m) south to north and has three prakarams. It has gopurams on all four cardinal directions. Kodimara Vinayagar, Dhwaja Sthambam, Nandi and Balipeedam can be found immediately after Rajagopuram facing the sanctum. Nandhi and Balipeedam are not in axial line with the presiding deity.
The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Maha Mandapam, Artha Mandapam, Antrala and Sanctum. Idol of Govinda Deekshitar with his wife can be seen in the Maha Mandapam. Life size Dvarapalas made of stucco can be seen at the entrance of Artha Mandapam. Presiding Deity is called as Dhenupureeswarar / Patteeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Murthy.
Vinayaga, Lingothbhava, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. Mother is called as Palvalai Nayagi / Gnanambigai. Her shrine consists of Sanctum and Artha Mandapam. Her shrine is situated to north side of the sanctum. She greets devotees with one of her feet stretched out in her own shrine.
This is an unusual pose for a goddess and people say that she is shown as a deity who is ready to rush to the aid of her devotees. The door and entrance porch leading to the goddess’s shrine is a magnificent piece of art and sculpture. The pillars in the Artha Mandapam of her shrine consists of beautiful sculptures of Yalis. It also boasts a chain made of a single stone which is rotatable. There are beautiful paintings depicting the legends associated with this Temple are shown in her shrine.
Images of Govinda Deekshitar, his wife and four of the Nayak kings of Thanjavur are seen in front of the Ambal shrine. There is a sculpture of Parvati doing penance is also found inside the temple. The Temple boasts around 5 Nandis. Hence, this temple is considered as Pancha Nandi Kshetram. All 5 Nandis are not aligned to its axial line to the sanctum but are shifted a bit to the side.
There are shrines and idols of Sapthamathas, Mahalakshmi, Renuka, Navagrahas, Surya, Chandra, Bhairava, Nataraja, Veda Lingam, Lingam worshiped by Lord Ram, 63 Nayanmars, Thirugnana Sambanthar, Swarna Vinayaka, Murugan, Somaskanda, Gajalakshmi, Kasi Visvanathar, Anjaneya, Arumugam, Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai, Moovars, Madhavarna Pillayar, Anugai Pillayar, Mahalingam, Saneeswarar, Keerthivasa and Dhandapani in the temple premises.
Theertham associated with this Temple are Gnanavavi, Kodi Theertham, Thapas Keni and Gayathri Theertham. Gnanavavi is a temple tank located in the third precinct closer to the southern gateway. Kodi Theertham is the well in the first precinct and Thapas Keni is the one opposite to the Amman shrine. Thirumalai Rajan river, outside the eastern gateway and Gayathri Kulam located on the eastern side of eastern gateway are the other waterbodies. Sthala Vriksham is Vanni tree.
Durga Shrine:
For brief details, please refer below link;
https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2016/02/thenupuriswarar-temple-patteeswaram_6.html