This is the 76th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 22nd Sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place was called as Anniyur during 6th to 7th Century and now called as Ponnur. As per the sangam literature Agananooru, one of the local King called “Anni”, ruled this place. Hence this might have obtained the name of Anniyur and latter corrupted to the present name of Ponnur.
In Periya Puranam Thirugnanasambandar, came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Kurukkai. After worshiping Lord Shiva Sri Abathsahayeswarar and went to Pandanallur
திருக்குறுக்கைப்பதி மன்னித் திருவீரட்டானத்து அமர்ந்தபொருப்பு வில்லாளரை ஏத்திப் போந்து அன்னியூர் சென்று போற்றிபருக்கைவரை உரித்தார் தம் பந்தணை நல்லூர் பணிந்துவிருப்புடன் பாடல் இசைத்தார் வேதம் தமிழால் விரித்தார்
Thirugnanasambandar, Appar and Vallalar had sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
மன்னி யூரிறை சென்னி ஆர்பிறைஅன்னி யூர்அமர் மன்னு சோதியேபழகும் தொண்டர்வம் அழகன் அன்னியூர்க்குழகன் சேவடி தொழுது வாழ்மினே......... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்
பாற லைத்த படுவெண் தலையினன்நீற லைத்தசெம் மேனியன் நேரிழைகூற லைத்தமெய் கோளர வாட்டியஆற லைத்த சடையன்னி யூரனே....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்--“பீடுகொண்டுமன்னியூரெல்லாம் வணங்க வளங்கொண்டவன்னியூர் மேவும் அதிபதியே......... திரு அருட்பாMoolavar : Sri Aabathsahayeswarar, Sri Vrikcharanyeswarar, Sri Agneeswarar, Sri Pandaveswarar, Sri RatheeswararConsort : Sri Brihannayagi, Sri Periyanayagi.
Some of the important features of this temple are .......The temple is facing east with a two tier Rajagopuram originally and the same was replaced by an entrance arch during the renovations. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum. The stucco images of Lord Shiva Parvati, Murugan and Vinayagar are at the entrance of the sanctum. An ekathala vesara vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum. In Koshtam Narthana Ganapathi, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Durgai. Ambal is in a separate Sannadhi facing east.
In artha mandapam urchavars Vinayagar, Sivakami, Aadipoora Amman, Durgai, Asthira devar and two Dakshinamurthy and reflection of hand can be seen on the base.
In outer prakaram Sidhi Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Murugan, Mahalakshmi, Navagrahas. Punugeeswarar, Chandrasekarar, Natarajar, Shaniswarar, Suryan, Chandikeswarar and Bhairavar. Adhi Moola lingam is in a separate sannadhi.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSSince Thirugnanasambandar and Appar had sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before 7th Century. Latter re-constructed and renovated during Chozhas, Vijayanagara Nayaks.
LEGENDSThis place was called as Ligusaranyam, Bhaskara Kshetram, Banu Kshethram. Sthala purana is in the name of “Ligusaranya mahathmiyam”
It is believed that Varunan, Agni, Suryan, Rathi, Pandavar, worshiped the lord of this temple.( Stucco images on the mandapam entrance are excellent ). Since Pandavas worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple, Lord Shiva is called as “Pandaveswarar”.
As per the legend, Agni was punished by Veerabhadra for participating in the Daksha’s yagna. He visited many Shiva temples to get a relief and this is one of them. He created a Theertham called agnitheertham and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Lord Shiva gave him darshan under the Lemon tree sthala vruksham. Hence Lord Shiva is called as Vrikcharanyeswarar and Agneeswarar.
In another Legend One King called Harishchandra faced a problem which he couldn’t solved. He visited many Shiva temples and prayed Lord Shiva to get a solution for his hardship. Lord Shiva blessed him to over come the difficulties and hardships. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as “Sri Abathsahayeswarar“ or “Sri Abathsahayar”.
In another Legend, Manmatham ( Kaman ) was burnt ( Kama dahanam / samharam / Killing ) near this place called Kurukkai, where Lord Shiva bless us as Sri Veeratteswarar. Rathi, Kaman’s wife prayed Lord Shiva to pardon her husband. Lord Shiva restored back Kaman to his original physical form. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as “Sri Ratheeswarar”. Also it is believed that Suryan also worshiped Lord Shiva to get relieved from Rathi’s curse.
During Panguni 26th to 30th ( March – April ), Sun rays falls on moolavar hence this temple is called as Bhaskara Sthalam (Bhaskara- Sun ) called
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi Visakam in Tamil month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Aadi Pooram in the month Aadi ( July – Aug ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Annabhishekam in Aippasi ( Oct- Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov- Dec ), Makarasankrathi in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in Tamil Month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradoshams.
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe Temple will be kept opened between 07.30 Hrs to 11.00 hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 19.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:Ravi Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile number +91 9786766995 for darshan and further details. Thakkar may also be reached through his mobile and land line numbers +91 9442585845 and +91 4364 235002
HOW TO REACH : Bus from Mayiladuthurai to Manalmedu Passes through this temple.The temple is 7 KM from Nidur, 8 Km from Mayiladuthurai. 26 KM from Sirkazhi, 34 KM from Kumbakonam, 50 KM from Chidambaram and 260 KM from Chennai.Nearest Railway Station is Mayiladuthurai.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
Since Thirugnanasambandar and Appar had sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before 7th Century. Latter re-constructed and renovated during Chozhas, Vijayanagara Nayaks.
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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