Pasupatheeswarar Temple, Tiruvetkalam – The Temple
Pasupatheeswarar temple is located inside the premises
of Chidambaram Annamalai University. This east facing temple has a 3-tiered main tower
(Rajagopuram) and it has two corridors. The temple complex covers an area of
two acres and all its shrines are enclosed with concentric rectangular walls. This
east facing temple has a Nagalinga Tree and a temple tank in its facade. The
sanctum is approached through a pillared hall called Mukha Mandapam and
an Artha Mandapam.
Presiding Deity is called as Pasupateshwar. The
presiding deity in the form of lingam (an iconic form of Shiva) is located in the
sanctum. Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthy (self-manifested). There
is a mark on Siva Lingam. Procession idols of Arjuna and Lord Shiva (as
Kirathakamurthy) holding the Paasupathasthiram with Goddess Parvathy can be
seen in the hall. Kiratha Murthy is the main form of Lord Shiva worshipped at
this temple.
Nardana Vinayakar and Anugraha Dakshina Moorthy are seen
as koshta Deivam. Here Muyalagan near Dakshina Moorthy is facing towards left
side which is different from usual posture. Mother is called as Nallanayagi / Sargunambal.
The shrine of the Ambal is located in the Mukha Mandapam facing south. Mother
Nallanayagi graces the devotees with four hands holding Lotus and Neelotpala
flowers in two hands. There is a Nandhi in her shrine also.
This temple’s hall has four pillars with beautifully
carved reliefs that depict the following scene from this temple’s legend -
Arjuna placing his weapons on the floor, his penance while standing on one leg,
Lord Shiva coming in the form of a hunter, Lord Shiva and Arjuna’s fight and
the lord giving Arjuna his darshan while seated on his bull mount. The
image of Parvati with her hair unlocked is a notable feature.
There are shrines and idols of Nardana Vinayakar, Siddhi
Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai, Adhi
Pasupatheeswarar and Shakti, Somaskandar, Sundareswarar, Uchi Vinayakar,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Nataraja with his consort Sivagami, Brahma in
sitting posture, Durga, Nalvar, Mahalakshmi, Navagraha, Bairavar, Suryan and
Chandran can be seen in the corridors.
The significance of this temple is that there is a
single shrine for Suryan and Chandran. It is believed that on the days of solar
and lunar eclipses, worshiping these two lords here would give respite from
planet related Doshams. Inscriptions from the Nayaka period (16th century)
are seen in this temple. Theertham associated with this Temple is Krupa
Kadaksha Theertham, located at the front side of the Temple. Sthala Vriksham is
Bamboo Tree.
