Palvannanathar Temple / Tirukkazhippalai Palvannanathar Temple, பால்வண்ண நாதர் திருக்கோயில் / Thirukazhipalai / Tirukkazhippalai, Sivapuri, Chidambaram Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 58^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 4^th sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place Thirukazhipalai is between the rivers Uppanaru and Kollidam, also known as Sivapuri is a part of Chidambaram / Thillai. This place Thillai was named after a flora called Thillai Tree ( Excoecaria agallocha Linn ) that dominates in this area. Chidambaram was called different names line, Puliyur, PerumpaRRappuliyur during 7^th to 8^th Century.

Sekkizhar mentions in Periya Puranam that, Thirugnanasambandar visited this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvetkalam.

கைம்மான் மறியார் கழிப்பாலைஉள் அணைந்து

மெய்ம்மாலைச் சொல்பதிகம் பாடி விரைக் கொன்றைச்

செம்மாலைவேணித் திருஉச்சிமேவி உறை

அம்மானைக் கும்பிட்டு அரும்தமிழும் பாடினார்

Thirugnanasambandar, Appar, Sundarar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. In one of the hymn Appar calls Lord Shiva as Piththan- before Sundarar called as Piththaa... Since Appar has sung 5 hymns, the temple might have been a big one and he would have spent some days doing service.

புனலாடிய புன்சடை யாய் அரணம்

அனலாக விழித்தவ னேஅழகார்

கனலாடலி னாய்கழிப் பாலையுளாய்

உனவார்கழல் கைதொழுது உள்குதுமே

........ திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

வனபவள வாய்திறந்து வானவர்க்கும் தானவனே என்கின் றாளாற்

சினபவளத் திண்டோள்மேற் சேர்ந்திலங்கு வெண்ணீற்றன் என்கின் றாளால்

அனபவள மேகலையொடு அப்பாலைக் கப்பாலன் என்கின் றாளால்

கனபவளம் சிந்தும் கழிப்பாலைச் சேர்வானைக் கண்டாள் கொல்லோ

பித்த னைப்பெருங் காடரங் காவுடை

முத்தனை முளை வெண்மதி சூடியைச்

சித்த னைச்செம்பொன் னம்பலத் துள்நின்ற

அத்த நையடி யேன்மறந்து உய்வனோ

.......... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

செடியேன் தீவினையில் தடுமாறக் கண்டாலும்

அடியான் ஆவஎனா தொழிதல் தகவாமே

முடிமேல் மாமதியும் அரவும் உடன்துயிலும்

வடிவே தாம்உடையார் மகிழுங்கழிப் பாலையதே

............. சுந்தரர்

                                    “- செல்வாய்த்

தெழிப்பாலை வேலைத் திரையொளி போலார்க்குங்

கழிப்பாலை இன்பக் களிப்பே”

.......... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Palvannanathar.

Consort    : Sri Vedhanayagi.

Some of the important features of this temple are .......

Adhikara Nadhi with his consort in the niche on both sides of the 3 tier Rajagopuram. Rishabam with Balipeedam are in front of the mukha mandapa.   

Moolavar is small in size and white in colour on a square avudayar with a horse hoof mark ( a small “kuzhi”/ shallow on top  ), in which abhishekam milk is collected. Other abhishekams are done for Avudayar only. Back of moolavar Lord Shiva with Parvati’s thirukalyana bas-relief  in standing posture. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In Prakaram Suryan, Vinayagar, Giratha moorthy, Mahavishnu, Navagrahas, Kalabhairava and Chandran. In Natarajar sabha, Natarajar, Ambal Sri Sivakami  with her friends / thozhis on the same pedam.  Ambal is in a separate sannadhi on the right side of the mandapa entrance. Ambal is facing south. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam.

Kalabhairava is in a separate Sannadhi without his vahana Dog, similar to Kasi. A 27 Skull mala is around his neck and wearing a serpent around his waist. He looks ferocious with side tooth protruding out side.  

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

The original temple might have been existed before 7^th Century, on the banks of river Kollidam, which was about 11 KM from the present place.   The Chozha period temple was also completely damaged during flood in the Kollidam river. The stones were brought to the present place and again  reconstructed with parivara sannadhis by Palaniyappa Mudaliyar of Padukai Mudaliyar family. 

Four inscriptions and some fragment stone inscriptions belongs to Chozha period was recorded from this temple. The stones are not kept in their original places and part of the inscriptions are lost during reconstruction / renovations. The fragment stone inscriptions mentions words Lamps, Silver plates, Naivedyam, etc,.

Rajaraja-I period inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp to Thirukazhipalai Mahadevar temple for which 10 kasu was deposited in the treasury. For the same one ulakku ghee has to be supplied from the interest. Another inscription of the same king records the endowment of uchi kala pooja and another inscription mentions the name of Madevi Perangadi’s merchant Koothan Azhagan. Another inscription records the endowment of supplying Thumbai flower to the temple for which Vadugan Nallooradigal alias Vikrama Chozha Brahmarayan gave a gift of 5 kasus.

Rajendra Chozha-I's, period inscription records  the endowment of naivedyam to uchi kala pooja for the same a lady who belongs to Gangaikonda Chozhapuram donated gold to this temple.

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted  in 2003.

LEGENDS

The Moolavar is white in Colour with a horse hoof mark on top, hence Lord Shiva is called as Palvanna Nathar. As per the legend, during the pilgrimage of Sage Kabila, happened to see this place, with full of bilva trees.  The sand was white in colour and cows are pouring milk on the sand. He made a Shiva Linga out of the white sand. When the King on the horse passed on this way, the horse's hoof damaged the sand Shiva Linga. Sage Kabilar tried to make another Shiva Linga. Lord Shiva with Parvati appeared and advised him to keep the old Shiva Linga itself though damaged, since the milk abhishekam was done by the divine Cow Kamadhenu. It is believed that those who are worshiping Palvanna Nathar will be blessed with all prosperity.  

Valmiki Munivar and Agasthiyar also worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.  This temple is famous for Bhairava worship. Since the Bhairava is similar to Kasi, special poojas are conducted on theipirai ashtami day ie 8^th day after new moon day.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Navaratri, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chathurthi, Aippasi annabhishekam and Margazhi Thiruvathirai. There is no urchavams / brahmotsavams are conducted in a big way.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The Mobile number 98426 24580, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

This temple and Thirukazhipalai is ½ KM from Sivapuri, temple.

By the side of Annamalai University, reach the main road via Kavarapattu road, go via Perampattu road to reach the temple.

Town bus is available from Chidambaram bus stand to Sivapuri.

The temple is about 3 KM from Bus Terminus, 4 KM from Chidambaram railway station, 19 KM from Sirkazhi, 39 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 54 KM from Virudhachalam, 56 KM from Cuddalore, 75 KM from Villupuram and 230 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Chidambaram

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :  CLICK HERE

                             Adhikara nandhi with his consort

Chozha period Dwarapalaka 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---