Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry #98: Pazhampathinathar Temple, Thiruppunavasal

பழம்பதிநாதர் திருக்கோயில் திருப்புனவாசல் அல்லது திருப்புனவாயில்

Thiruppunavasal

Thiruppunavasal

Thiruppunavasal

Thiruppunavasal

Thiruppunavasal

Thiruppunavasal

Thiruppunavasal

Thiruppunavasal

Thiruppunavasal

Thiruppunavasal

Thiruppunavasal

Thiruppunavasal

Thiruppunavasal

Thiruppunavasal

Thiruppunavasal

Lord Sivan at this ancient temple is known as Pazhampathinathar or Virudhapureeswarar, reflecting the great antiquity of this temple. Pazham means old in Tamil and Viruddha means the same in Sanskrit. The temple lies on the banks of the Pambar river which meets the sea a mere 3 km away and thus the place gets the name Punavasal. Punal means a waterway or river and Vaasal is an entrance and it essentially means a rivermouth. In olden times it could have been closer to the sea. The ancient name is Thiruppunavayil and nowadays it is called Thiruppunavasal.

Legends abound given the long history of the site. It is believed that Lord Brahma worshipped Lord Sivan here and consecrated a quadrifaced Chathurmukalingam that appears to have been replaced in later times. They say that this temple predates Thiruvannamalai and thus there is no Lingothbavar in the back koshta, Instead there are idols of Lord Mahavishnu and Anjaneyar,

At around 3 acres it is a modest sized temple. It has a 65 feet, 5 tier rajagopuram. It has a massive vimanam that is taller than the rajagopuram which is unusual in the Pandiyan country. It is a special feature here. Situated in the borderlands between the Pandiyan and Chola country, it has architectural elements that are reminiscent of Chola temples. The tall vimanam reminds one of temples like Thanjavur, Thirubuvanam, Gangaikondacholapuram etc. Like the Chola temples of that era, this temple also houses a very large Sivalingam, one of the largest in Tamil Nadu and sits on a very large Avudayar. At 9 feet, it is the 3rd largest lingam after Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram. With a circumference of 82.5feet and a height of 5.5 feet, the avudayar is the largest of its kind.

The prakarams outside of the sanctum, and mahamandapam are not covered, giving the temple an open and natural feel. There are many sub shrines including one that houses the five ganeshas and the shrine for the 14 lingams representing all fourteen Paadal Petra Sthalams in the Pandiyan country. There are 4 thalavirutchams each representing the four yugas. They are the Punnai, Chathurkalli, Magizham and Kurundham. The consort Goddess Periyanayaki has a separate east facing shrine. A 11 day festival around Vaikasi Visakam in May/June is celebrated at this temple with much fanfare.

With ancient and obscure beginnings, it was already an important Sivan temple in the early 7th and 8th centuries, as both Thirugnanasampanthar and Sundarar have rendered Thevaram pathigams here. There are several sets of inscriptions mostly from the 13th century describing donations to this temple during the reigns of Maravarman Kulasekara Pandiyan I, Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I and Jatavarman Vira Pandiyan I/II. There is also a 12th century Chola era inscription attributed to Kulothungan I. Some sources mention that Sundara Pandiyan II did extensive renovation work here.

This is one of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalangal that have dedicated pathigams attributed to them. It is the 251st Paadal Petra Sthalam and the 7th in the Pandiyan country. Thirugnanasampanthar and Sundaramoorthy Nayanar have composed pathigams in its praise.

Sundarar sings thus:

சித்தம் நீநினை என்னொடு சூளறும் வைகலும்

மத்த யானையின் ஈருரி போர்த்த மணாளனூர்

பத்தர் தாம்பலர் பாடிநின்றாடும் பழம்பதி

பொத்தில் ஆந்தைகள் பாட்டறாப் புனவாயிலே.

(You my Lord are in my mind always, playing tricks with me and with a massive cloak made of elephant hide around your shoulders, you are the Lord of the Earth and dwell here at this ancient temple at Punavaayil, where your devotees sing and dance, while owls constantly sing from their tree holes)

Sampanthar says:

மின்னியல் செஞ்சடை வெண்பிறையன்விரி நூலினன்

பன்னிய நான்மறை பாடியாடிப்பல வூர்கள்போய்

அன்னம்அன் னந்நடை யாளொடும்மம ரும்மிடம்

புன்னைநன் மாமலர் பொன்னுதிர்க்கும் புனவாயிலே

(My Lord, who has shining red matted locks adorned with the crescent Moon, and who is the source of a wide range of sacred texts, including the four Vedas, and who travelled to many places, singing and dancing, together with his consort the Goddess who walks gracefully beside him like a swan, resides here at Punavaayil where the blossoms of the Punnai tree shed golden pollen)

The temple is located about 120 km or 2.5 hours east of Madurai and about 60 km or 1 hour southeast of Karaikudi. We visited in June 2025. We were based in Kanadukathan.

Shaivam.com - Sambanthar Thevaram 3.011

Sundarar Thevaram - Panniru Thirumurai Volume XIV Institute Asian Studies, Chennai 2006

Aanmeegam.org Thiruppunavasal

South Indian Inscriptions Volume VIII

Archeological Survey of India Annual Report 1902/1903 AR 612-616

Credits Google Maps