Panchanadeeswarar Temple

Thiruvaiyaru

Thiruvaiyaru-Sivan_temple

Main Deity : Panchanadeeswara Swamy

Holy water : Cauvery Theertham, Surya Pushkarani, Nandhi Theertham.

Temple Tree : Vilvam.

Prominence of the Shrine : The following are the shrines equal to Kasi, Srirangam, Thiruvenkadu, Thiruvaiyaru, Thirumayiladuthurai, Thiruvidaimarudhur, Thiruchaikadu we find here Thiruvaiyaru also as one among the six shrines as holy as Kasi.

Thiruvaiyaru – Reason for naming it so. Iyarappar Performed the abishegam with water from Ganga, Bramanga Mandala, Ambalin Ganga water, from the clouds, the foam from the mouth of Nandhi and these mixed with the Cauvery. From this Thiru + I (five) + Aru (river) – Thiruvaiyaru came into being.

Temple History : History has it that an Emperor of the Sun Dynasty‘Priyaviradhan’ by name built the temple. One of the greatest kings of early Cholas ‘Karikal Peruvalathan’ was a Chola Emperor during the First Century. He converted forests into country and brought prosperity. He built the embankment along the Cauvery and constructed the Grand Anaicut (Kallanai). As he was returning from the Himalayas after perching the Tiger flag atop the Himalayas, as the earth caved in there. He couldn’t start it again. He understood the power under the earth which was doing so and destroyed the forests around and excavated many idols from the earth. There was a Sivalingam, Sakthi, Vinayaga, Muruga, the seven Madhas (Saptha Mathargal), Chandar, and Suryan. Going deeper he also found a siddha (Yogi) named ‘Niyamesar’. The Siddha turned benignant and told Karikala to build a temple for ‘Mahalinga’ worshipped by the Devas and Nandheesar. He also gave an all powerful scepter to Karikala and told him that he would find all the money for building the temple at the place beneath the hoof of the Nandhi there. Karikala Chola did so and the temple was consecrated and the Poojas and offerings went on every day. The Lord himself appeared as a Siddha calling Himself Iyyarappar and showed him the place where he dwelt as Suyambu (self-made form). As the tangled hair is outspread at the sanctum sanctorum, it is forbidden to walk over there. The ‘Seppesa Mandapam’ of today was the ‘Sembia Mandapam’ constructed by the Chola King. Even today the idol of Karikala and those of his two wives are found here.

Temple Timings : 6.00 am to 12.00 noon ---- 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm.

Nearest Town : Tanjore.

Temple address : Sri Panchanadeeswarar Temple, Thiruvaiyaru, Tanjore District.

Hotels Near Panchanadeeswarar Temple, Thiruvaiyaru :

1. Mathura Hotel, (57 km from Temple)

No 1, Rockins Road, Tiruchirappalli Townhall,

Trichy - 620002, Opposite Central Bus Stand Contonment

Tel : +(91)-431-2414737, +(91)-9894558654.

2. Mayavaram Lodge, (50.8 km from Temple)

No 87, Vanapattarai Street, Tiruchirappalli Townhall,

Trichy - 620002, Teppakulam Post,

Tel : +(91)-431-2711400, 2704089