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