Vishahareswara Temple, Avanam Paruthiyur, Thiruvarur
Vishahareswara Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. The temple was built in the
early 19th century in the village of Kodandaramapuram, which later
became part of Avanam Paruthiyur, situated on the banks of the Kudamurutti
River, a tributary of the Cauvery. The temple faces south. The presiding deity
of this temple is a form of Shiva called Vishahareswarar, and his consort
Prasanna Parvathy Devi.
Legends
Once Rahu approached with his mouth agape to eclipse the
Sun, he became very angry when he saw the burning rays of the Sun. He began to
emit poisonous breath in his serpent form, blackening the face of the Sun. Having
lost his glorious face by Rahu’s poisonous breath, the Sun sought the favor of
Lord Shiva and worshiped him on the northern banks of the Kudamurutti River, a
tributary of the Cauvery, under a Bilwa Tree.
First Goddess Parvathy Devi blessed Sun, and then Lord
Shiva himself joined her and the divine couple blessed him. Lord Shiva relieved
the Sun of the evil effects of Rahus’s poison and the Sun regained his charm
and brightness. Rahu then felt remorse for his actions and begged Lord Shiva’s
pardon. The Shiva temple was built here to commemorate Shiva blessing the
Surya. The temple hosts Shiva as Vishahareswarar, which means "poison
remover", along with his consort Prasanna Parvathi Devi.
History
This Vishahareswara temple was built by Aditya Chola
(C.E. 870-901). The Chola name for the temple was Thiru Aditteeswaram. The
temple was renovated and taken care by a great Shiva Bhaktar by the name
Paruthiyur Venkatesha Sastri, popularly known as Annaval. Annaval had spent
most of his time in this temple with his parayanams of the Shiva
Purana, teaching the scriptures,
spreading bhakti and promoting Hindu Dharma. He was an authority on Saivite
traditions. Annaval addressed several issues by answering the queries on Dharma
Shastram and Hindu traditions, often posed to him by Vedic scholars and
pundits.
His authority on the administration of dharma made many
legal luminaries come to them seeking their advice on issues concerning Hindu
law. Paruthiyur Venkatesha Sastri Annaval (1770–1841), along with his brother
Paruthiyur Sri Krishna Sastri Ayyaval (1773–1860), was the doyen brothers of
Paruthiyur and for the Hindu Religion. The great exponent of the Ramayana,
Philanthropist and Pravachan Pioneer Bramasri Paruthiyur Krishna Shastrigal
(1855–1911), renovated this Vishahareswarar Temple and did Kumbabishekam in
1905.
The
Temple
The temple hosts Shiva as Vishahareswarar, which means
"poison remover", along with his consort Prasanna Parvathi Devi. The
temple faces south. Sthala Vriksham is Vilwa Tree.
Festivals
The temple is open to the public mornings and evenings. Shivarathri
is celebrated in a special way in this temple. Also, it is said that the poison
of a snake will be ineffective at this place. Though there are many snakes and
cobras in every nook and corner of the village, there has never been a
snakebite or poison attack. It is also believed that worshiping Shiva &
Parvathy here gets one relieved of the evil effects of Rahu, Kethu and Mars, and also finalizes marriages. Parithi means the Sun.
Since it was here where the Sun worshiped Lord Shiva, this holy place got the
name Parithipuram. People with poisonous bites and deadly diseases come from
distant places and to pray to Vishahareswarar, the poison remover.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 5 Kms from Kudavasal, 12
Kms from Nachiyar Koil, 22 Kms from Kumbakonam, 23 Kms from Thiruvarur and 114
Kms from Trichy. Nearest Railway Station is located at Kumbakonam and Nearest
Airport is located at Trichy.