Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Palaiyur, Tirupattur, Trichy
Kasi
Viswanathar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Palaiyur
Village in Tirupattur near Siruganur in Trichy District of Tamilnadu. This
temple is very close to Thirupattur Brahma Temple. This temple with a sacred tank was constructed by
Cholas. The Jeeva samadhi of Sage Vyagrapada (Pulikkal Siddhar) is located
within the temple.
Legends
Temple Pond created by Saint Vyagrapada:
Vyagrapathar,
who had feet of a tiger, was said to have lived here for some time tending to
the lord. Once during a drought when he could not get water to bath the Lingam
he asked Indra on his white elephant, who used to pass overhead with water from
Mount Kailash every day for the lord at Thiruvanaikaval to spare some. This was
refused and the sage in anger dug the ground with his clawed feet to bring
forth the Theertham of Ganges here – Pulipaichi Theertham. When Indra and his
mount reached Thiruvanaikaval late after this episode the lord asked for the
reason. When appraised he immediately directed them to provide the water to the
sage which was duly rejected by him now. The elephant then performed the
ablution to the deity itself. This scene is depicted in the Gopuram.
Curse of Ayyanar:
As per
local legend, Ayyanar cursed all the Brahmins in this village many hundred years ago
that their livelihood will be stopped. Slowly all the temples died due to want
of maintenance and the priests all migrated. Since the temples have now been
redone and the Kumbabishekam of the Ayyanar also arranged hoping for better
days.
Jeeva Samadhi:
Vyagrapada,
that is, one having the feet like a tiger, was one of the mythical rishis
(sage) of ancient India. His image and iconography depicts him as a human being
but with the legs of a tiger. He is also shown having a tiger-like tail.
Generally, he is shown alongside Patanjali, and both are depicted as offering
homage to Shiva in his aspect as Nataraja. Lord Shiva had blessed him with legs
as that of Tiger for him to move around the jungle. His Jeeva samadhi is
situated at Kasi Vishwanathar temple situated near Brahmapureeswarar
temple.
The Temple
This is
an ancient temple supposedly as old as the nearby Brahmapureeswarar Temple. The
temple has 3 tier entrance gopuram in the south. A large tank, Puli Paichi
Theertham is present on the east. Presiding Deity is called as Kasi Viswanathar
and is facing east. Mother is called as Visalakshi and is facing south.
There is
only one praharam and the various Koshta Devathas are seen. The Amman
sannidhi has separate Koshta vigrahas like Iccha Sakthi, Gnanasakthi, Kriya
Sakthi, Vidya Sakthi, Siva Durga and Chandikeswari. The Jeeva Samadhi of Sage
Vyagrapathar is seen opposite the goddess shrine. The Jeeva samadhi is found
encased in glass.
There is
no Navagraha here as the rays of the sun falls on the lord every day. The
moonlight also falls on the lord here and full moon day is auspicious. Shrines
of Valanchuzhi Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durga, Shivalingam,
Icha Sakthi, Kriya Sakthi, Vidya Sakthi, Gnana Sakthi, Abaya Sakthi and Kala
Bhairavar can be found in the prakaram.
Temple
Opening Time
The
Temple remains open from 7 A.M to 12 P.M in the morning and from 4 P.M to 8 P.M
in the evening.
Festivals
The
temple is extremely crowded on Thursdays, Full Moon Days, and Sadhaya Nakshatram.
Contact
Kasi
Viswanathar Temple,
Palaiyur,
Tirupattur,
Trichy
District – 621104
Phone: +91 431 2650439
Mobile: +91 9443817385
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 1 Kms from Tirupattur Brahmapureeswarar Temple, 5
Kms from Siruganur, 17 Kms from Samayapuram, 25 Kms from Thiruvellarai, 28 Kms
from Thiruppainjeeli, 28 Kms from Siruvachur, 28 Kms from Srirangam and 34 Kms
from Trichy. Tirupattur is off the route to Samayapuram Mariamman temple from
Trichy on the Chennai Trichy highway. A left must be taken at Siruganur and in
about 5 Kms, Tirupattur can be reached. Nearest Railway Station is located at
Trichy (37 Kms), Pichandar Kovil (23 Kms) and Srirangam (28 Kms). Nearest
Airport is located at Trichy (38 Kms).