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Saturday, April 4, 2020

Thenkodinathar Temple, Panchanadhikulam East, Nagapattinam

Thenkodinathar Temple, Panchanadhikulam East, Nagapattinam
Thenkodinathar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Panchanadhikulam East Village in Vedaranyam Taluk in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Thenkodinathar / Dhanushkodeeswarar and Mother is called as Madhurabashini. The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about this Temple.


Legends
It is believed that Pandavas during their exile visited here and created a Theertham. They took bath in the Theertham and worshipped Lord Shiva of this Temple. Hence, the Theertham and the place came to be called as Panchanadhikulam.


The Temple
This is an east facing Temple with an entrance arch. There is no Rajagopuram. Presiding Deity is called as Thenkodinathar / Dhanushkodeeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Mother is called as Madhurabashini. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. There is a shrine for Dakshinamoorthy in the Temple premises.


Literary Mention
The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Sambandar had a mention about this Temple. The Temple is mentioned in 2nd Thirumurai in 39th Patikam in 1st Song.
ஆரூர்தில்லை யம்பலம் வல்லந்நல்லம்
வடகச்சியு மச்சிறு பாக்கம் நல்ல
கூரூர் குடவாயில் குடந்தை வெண்ணி
கடல்சூழ் கழிப்பாலை தென்கோடி பீடார்
நீரூர் வயல்நின்றியூர் குன்றியூருங்
குருகா வையூர் நாரையூர் நீடுகானப்
பேரூர்நன் னீள்வயல் நெய்த்தானமும்
பிதற்றாய்பிறை சூடிதன் பேரிடமே
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 16 Kms from Vedaranyam, 17 Kms from Vedaranyam Railway Station, 22 Kms from Thiruthuraipoondi, 23 Kms from Thiruthuraipoondi Junction Railway Station, 61 Kms from Nagapattinam and 144 Kms from Trichy Airport. The Temple is situated on Thiruthuraipoondi to Vedaranyam Route.
Location