Payaraneeswarar Temple, Udayarpalayam, Ariyalur

Payaraneeswarar Temple, Udayarpalayam, Ariyalur

Payaraneeswarar Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located at Udayarpalayam Town in Ariyalur District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Payaraneeswarar and Mother is known as Narumalar Poonguzhal Nayagi.

Legends

Once upon a time, a trader carrying pepper told a lie that it was only pulse, fearing the high tax for pepper on those days. He paid a small tax for pulse and he moved on. Crossing the nearby town Vridhachalam, he found the pepper has turned into pulse. He understood that it was only a punishment imposed on him by the Lord of the shrine Shiva, and offered worship there and got the pulse (Pulse is called as payar in tamil) back into pepper again.

Hence the Lord of the shrine was called “Payaranee Nadhar or Payaraneeswarar” henceforth. The place was also called “Payaraneechuram”. This place is ruled many dynasties in different point of times like Pallavas, Cholas, Pandiyas and others. The last four centuries were ruled by Udayars and the place got the name Udayarpalayam.

The Temple

This is one of the oldest Shiva temples dated back to 1400 years. The name of the deity is “Murkabureeswarar” in Sanskrit and “Payaraneeswarar” or Payaraneenadhar in Tamil. Here the Ambal is called as “Narumalar Poonguzhal Nayagi” in Tamil and “Shakundalambigai” in Sanskrit. It is said that the Lord Ganesha here is called as ‘Vil Valaitha Pillayar’, bent the ‘kandeeba’ bow for Arjuna. A symbolic bow is seen in Lord Ganesha’s hand.

Temple Opening Time

The Temple will be open from 6.00 am to 12.00 noon and 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm.

Connectivity

This temple is located in Udayarpalayam which is 29 Kms from Ariyalur and 9 Kms from Jayankondam. Udayarpalayam is located in Trichy – Jayankondam or Ariyalur – Jayankondam bus route. There are buses from Jayankondam, Ariyalur and Trichy.