Tirukkazhippalai Sri Palavannanathar Temple

 

Tirukkazhippalai Sri Palavannanathar Temple is located at Sivapuri in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, India.

The presiding deity is Shiva in the form of Palvannanathar and his consort is known as Vedanayaki. Lord Shiva is Swayambhu here.

It is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalam of Lord Shiva

The temple is regarded as the fourth in the sequence of temples situated on the Cauvery River's northern bank.

The temple complex covers an area of one acre and all its shrines are enclosed with concentric rectangular walls.

The most well-known shrines in the temple are those of Oondreswarar and his consort Minnoli Amman.

The temple is also called Bhairava Temple and sports an image of Bhairava similar to the one in Varanasi.

This temple has a three-tier Rajagopuram

The sanctum is approached through a pillared hall called a mukha mandapa and an artha mandapa. The shrine of the Ambal is located in the mukhamandapa facing south.

As per Hindu legend, the god Shiva and his wife Parvati appeared before the sage Agastya at this place. It is counted as one of the eight places where the sage got the darshan of Shiva. As per another legend, sage Kabila made a lingam (an iconic representation of Shiva). A king was moving along the way and his horse's hooves split the lingam into two. The sage was disappointed and he started making another lingam. Shiva and Parvati made a divine intervention and provided milk from the divine cow Kamadhenu which strengthened the image. The deity thus came to be known as Palvannanathar. In modern times, it is believed that the ablution done with milk is absorbed by the image. The temple is believed to have been in a place called Karaimedu village which was washed away in a flood in river Coleroon and has been moved here.

It is believed to be the place where sage Agasthya and Valmiki are believed to have obtained grace.

The most important festival held in the temple is Brahmotsavam, which takes place during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May–June).

There are weekly rituals like somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham, and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pounamu (full moon day) and sathurthi. Thai Poosam during the Tamil month of Thai (January - February) is the most important festival of the temple. Navratri during Purattasi, Annabishekam during Aipasi, Thiruvadirai during Margazhi, and Karthikai somavaram are other festivals celebrated in the temple.

Timings

6.00 am to 10.00 am

4.00 pm to 6.30 pm