Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Patteeswarar Temple, Perur – The Temple

Patteeswarar Temple, Perur – The Temple

This temple is facing towards east with five tiered Rajagopuram. There is a four pillared frontal porch in front of Rajagopuram. Deepa Sthambam can be found in front of the Rajagopuram. There is another three-tiered Rajagopuram at the entrance to the inner prakaram. A Mandapam connects the main Rajagopuram with the second level Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dhwaja Sthambam and Nandi can be seen before the second level Rajagopuram.








Sanctum Sanctorum:

The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala, Arthamandapam, Maha mandapam and Mukha mandapam. Presiding Deity is called as Patteeswarar / Goksheereswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). The hoof marks of Patti are still visible on the top of the Lingam.


Kodi Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhavar, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. There is a covered circumbulatory path around the sanctum. There is a raised enclosed Mandapam called Thiruchutru Thirumaligai running around the sanctum sanctorum. Ashta Dikpalakas can be seen in the Vimana over the sanctum.

Ambikas Shrine:

There are two Ambikas for Lord Shiva in this temple. One Ambika is called as Pachai Nayagi / Maragadambikai. Other Ambika is called as Manonmani. Pachai Nayagi is housed in a separate east facing shrine. Her idol is made of Maragatha stone (green stone). Her shrine consists of Sanctum, Antrala, Ardha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam.

Nandi can be found facing the sanctum in front of Maha Mandapam. The Vimana is in square shape. There is an idol of Lion in front of her shrine. A stone ball can be seen in the mouth of the lion and can be rotated with the hand. The teeth of the lion prevents the ball from coming out of the mouth. Manonmani Shrine is situated to the left side of the Pachai Nayagi  Shrine.

Kanaka Sabhai:

Kanaka Sabhai (Golden Hall of Dance) is facing towards south, situated on the right side in between the first and second level Rajagopurams. It houses the beautiful form of Nataraja in the dancing posture. Lord Nataraja generally appears in all temples in an active dance posture.  The difference in this temple is that he appears with legs downwards showing the end of the performance.  He looks slightly mischievous with bright cheeks and the hair falling behind. Kanaka Sabhai has two rows of ten huge pillars with exquisite carvings of various manifestations of Lord Shiva.





Sculptures of Agni Veerabhadra, Agora Veerabhadra, Kali, Nirutha Ganapathy, Saraswathi with Veena, Bikshadana, Arumuga, Oordhuva Tandava Moorthy and Gaja Samhara Moorthy can be seen on these pillars. Its terraced roof has a series of stone-chains with a numerously pedaled lotus at the centre. Arudhra Darshanam at this temple is an important festival, next only to Kanaka Sabhai at Chidambaram. Hence, this place is also called Mela Chidambaram (West Chidambaram).

Murugan Shrine:

There is a separate shrine for Lord Murugan in the temple premises. His shrine is situated between the Sanctum and Pachai Nayagi Shrine resembling Somaskanda form. Hence, this temple is considered as Somaskanda Kshetram.  He is in Dhandayudhapani form. This shrine is considered as one of the only three places where the sanctum of Lord Muruga is facing the west, the other two being Palani and Thiruvannamalai. Lord Murugan of this temple is praised in Thirupugazh Hymns of Arunagirinathar,  a 15th century CE Tamil saint poet.

Bhairavar Shrine:

There is separate shrine for Lord Bhairava in the temple premises. As the temple is considered as Mukthi Kshetra, Lord Bhairava appears without his dog vahana as Gnana Bhairava.

Varadaraja Perumal Shrine:

Varadaraja Perumal shrine is situated to the right of Goddess Pachai Nayaki shrine. Pooja is carried out in Vaishnava sampradaya here.

Anjaneya Shrine:

There is separate shrine for Anjaneyar in the temple premises. The idol is carved in wood (Etti tree) instead of stone. He is about four and half feet tall.

Patteeswarar & Pachai Nayagi Naatru Nadavu Shrine:

Patteeswarar & Pachai Nayagi Naatru Nadavu Shrine is situated outside the temple premises. It is located close to Deepa Sthambam. It is believed that Sundarar got darshan of Lord Shiva and Parvathy in the form of farmer couple while planting seedlings here.

Kedareswarar Shrine:

Kedareswarar Shrine is situated to the left side of Rajagopuram under Peepal tree outside the temple premises.

Kalyana Mandapam:

Kalyana mandapa is situated in between the sanctum and Pachai Nayagi Shrine.

Yaga Salai:

Yaga Salai, place for conducting Yagas can be found near bell tower in the temple premises.

Other Shrines:

There are shrines for Patti Vinayagar, Suryan, Chandran, 63 Nayanmars, Pancha Lingams, Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli And Devasena, Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Cheraman Perumal, Sundarar, Murugan, Durga, Navagrahas and Madheswaran in the temple premises. The Durgai in this temple appears with eight hands. Saptha Lingas and Sahasra Linga can be seen behind the sanctum. Hero Stones can also be seen in the temple premises.


Pirava Puli & Irava Panai:

Sthala Vriksham is Peepal tree. The sacred trees associated with the temple are the palm and tamarind trees, called Irava Panai and Pirava Puli. There is a tamarind tree praised as Pirava Puli in front of the temple. The seeds of which do not germinate if sown, indicating that if one surrenders to Lord Shiva he will be liberated from the cycle of birth and death. When one takes the Tamarind seed from here and places it in another town, one finds much to one’s surprise that the seed does not find growth in that new region outside of the temple zone. The Palm Tree is praised as Irava Panai meaning that it would never fall down meaning that those devoted to Lord Patteeswarar would ever be standing straight with name and fame.


Theerthams:

Theerthams associated with this temple are Brahma Theertham, Chakra Theertham and Noyyal River. The temple tank is situated in front of the temple. The tank is a fine piece of symmetrical steps with 16 angles. Perur Padithurai is 200 meters to the north of the temple and it is situated on the southern bank of Noyyal River.

Patteeswarar Temple, Perur – Literary Mention

Patteeswarar Temple, Perur – Literary Mention

The temple finds mention in Devara hymns of Appar, Sundarar and Sambandar Nayanmars. Nayanmars were group of 63 saints living in Tamil Nadu during the 6th to 8th centuries CE who were devoted to the Lord Shiva. Hence, the temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam. The temple also finds mention in Thirukovaiyar of Manickavasagar, 9th century Tamil poet who wrote famous Thiruvasagam and minister to the Pandya king Varaguna Varman II. Lord Murugan of this temple is praised in Thirupugazh Hymns of Arunagirinathar,  a 15th century CE Tamil saint poet. Perur Puranam was written by Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam Kaviraksha Kachiyappa Munivar

Sambandar (02.039):

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.

Appar (06.007):

சிந்தும் புனற்கெடில வீரட்டமுந்

திருவாஞ் சியமுந் திருநள்ளாறும்

அந்தண் பொழில்புடைசூழ் அயோகந்தியும்

ஆக்கூரு மாவூரு மான்பட்டியும்

எந்தம் பெருமாற் கிடமாவது

இடைச்சுரமும் எந்தை தலைச்சங்காடுங்

கந்தங் கமழுங் கரவீரமுங்

கடம்பூர்க் கரக்கோயில் காப்புக்களே.

Appar (06.051):

அஞ்சைக் களத்துள்ளார் ஐயாற் றுள்ளார்

ஆரூரார் பேரூரார் அழுந்தூ ருள்ளார்

தஞ்சைத் தளிக்குளத்தார் தக்க ளூரார்

சாந்தை அயவந்தி தங்கி னார்தாம்

நஞ்சைத் தமக்கமுதா உண்ட நம்பர்

நாகேச் சரத்துள்ளார் நாரை யூரார்

வெஞ்சொற் சமண்சிறையி லென்னை மீட்டார்

வீழி மிழலையே மேவி னாரே.

Appar (06.070):

ஆரூர்மூ லத்தானம் ஆனைக் காவும்

ஆக்கூரில் தான்தோன்றி மாடம் ஆவூர்

பேரூர் பிரமபுரம் பேரா வூரும்

பெருந்துறை காம்பீலி பிடவூர் பேணுங்

கூரார் குறுக்கைவீ ரட்டா னமுங்

கோட்டூர் குடமூக்கு கோழம் பமுங்

காரார் கழுக்குன்றுங் கானப் பேருங்

கயிலாய நாதனையே காண லாமே.

Sundarar (07.047):

ஆரூர் அத்தா ஐயாற் றமுதே

அளப்பூர் அம்மானே

காரூர் பொழில்கள் புடைசூழ் புறவிற்

கருகா வூரானே

பேரூர் உறைவாய் பட்டிப் பெருமான்

பிறவா நெறியானே

பாரூர் பலரும் பரவப் படுவாய்

பாசூ ரம்மானே.

Sundarar (07.090):

பாரூரும் அரவல்குல் உமைநங்கை

யவள்பங்கன் பைங்கண் ஏற்றன்

ஊரூரன் தருமனார் தமர்செக்கில்

இடும்போது தடுத்தாட் கொள்வான்

ஆரூரன் தம்பிரான் ஆரூரன்

மீகொங்கில் அணிகாஞ் சிவாய்ப்

பேரூரர் பெருமானைப் புலியூர்ச்சிற்

றம்பலத்தே பெற்றா மன்றே.