Dhenupureeswarar Temple, Patteeswaram – History

Dhenupureeswarar Temple, Patteeswaram – History

The city of Pazhayarai was one of the capital towns of the Chola Empire. It consisted of present Patteeswaram, Muzhaiyur, Udaiyalur, Cholan Maligai, Thirusakthimutram, Darasuram and Ramanathan Koil. Pazhayarai is surrounded by the river Mudikondan on the south and the river Thirumalairayan on the north. This town was also a capital for few years during later Cholas.  Sundara Chola, father of great Rajaraja Chola I ruled Chola Dynasty from Pazhayarai.

Pazhayarai was called as Pazhayarai Nagar in the 7^th century, Nandipuram in the 8^th century, Pazhayarai Nandipuram in the 9^th and 10^th centuries, Mudikonda Cholapuram in the 11^th century and Rajarajapuram in the 12^th century. Pazhayarai housed four battle camps of the Cholas namely Aariyapadaiyur, Pampapadaiyur, Manapadaiyur and Puthupadaiyur. Pazhayarai was considered as birthplace of Amaraneedi Nayanar and Mangayarkkarasiyar, a saint amongst the 63 Nayanmars.

During Devaram times, Pazhayarai was divided into four major division namely; Pazhayarai Vadathali, Metrali, Keezhthali and Thenthali. Thali means Temple in ancient Tamil. Kailasanathar Temple was situated in Metrali, Dharmapureeswarar Temple in Vadathali, Somanathar Temple in Keezhthali and Parasunathaswamy Temple in Thenthali. Thenthali is called as Muzhaiyur now. Dharmapureeswarar Temple in Vadathali is the Padal Petra Sthalam and the other three temples are Thevara Vaippu Sthalam.

Before Vijayalaya Chola could set up his capital in Thanjavur (850 B.C.) and lay the foundation for the powerful Chola Empire that followed, the Chola kings were the chieftains in Pazhayarai. It was in this metropolis that Raja Rajan (985 – 1014) spent his childhood and where his sister Kundavai lived with her husband. King Rajendran I (1012 – 1044) lived here before shifting his capital to Gangai Konda Chola Puram.

Patteeswaram was called as Mazhapadi, Devi Vanam and Shakti Vanam in ancient times. The temple was originally believed to have been built by Cholas. Most of the Chola temples built during the period of 866 and 1004 CE is associated with certain military events or political campaign. The present masonry structure was built during the Nayak during the 16^th century. There are few inscriptions dating to Chola period in the temple premises recording building of a temple tank, hall, land grants and gifts to the temple.

There are five inscriptions dating back to 16^th century during the Nayak period. One of them indicates the prevalent culture of presenting the goddess with a saree when families in the village arrange a marriage. Another inscription glorifies the temple and equates the holiness of this temple with Vriddhagiriswarar temple, Thyagaraja temple, Thiruvengadu temple, Tiruchaaikaadu and Kailasa. There is another inscription near the Balipeedam that indicates about the prevalence of Thirunavukkarasar Mutt, Tirugnanasambandar Mutt and Thirumoolathevar Mutt.

Patteeswaram is also closely associated with Govinda Deekshitar, minister of Achyutha and Raghunatha Nayak rulers of Thanjavur (late 16^th and early 17^th centuries). Govinda Dikshitar took special interest in the temple as he was staying at Patteeswaram. Govinda Deekshitar is associated with the construction of the Ramaswamy temple at Kumbakonam, and the repairing and remodeling of the Mahamagam tank at Kumbakonam, and the building of the Pushya Mandapam at Thiruvaiyaru. Mother Shrine of this temple is attributed to Govinda Deekshitar.

During the 1970s, there were three metal images of Nataraja, Somaskanda and Lakshmi were found out from the undiscovered secret rooms inside the temple. These idols are housed in Thanjavur Art Gallery. The temple was originally administered by Kumbakonam Devasthana committee till 7 August 1945. Presently, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.