Thirupungoor

Thirupungoor

Padal Petra Sthalam, Nagapattinam District

God

Sivaloganadhar, facing east

Goddess

Soundaryanayagi, Chockanayagi, facing south

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Muruga, Brahmalingam, Nandanar, Surya, Nalvar, Lingams worshiped by Agni, Surya and Vamadeva, Navagraha, Nataraja,  Pitchadanar, Agastya, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, Durga, Arthanareeswara

A beautiful 5 tier Rajagopuram welcomes you at Thirupungoor. The large Nandi seen here is 15 feet long and 7 feet tall and unlike any other temple is installed aside as not to block the view of the Shiva Lingam from outside. Since Nandanar stood outside the temple and prayed to the lord a shrine is found here facing west and the lord. The Dwarabalagar on the right as you enter is seen leaning his ear to the left to listen to the lord and take instructions to Nandi (reason mentioned in Legend section below).

Holy Water (Theertham) – Ganapathi Theertham, Idaba Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Pungai (Pongamia glabra recently reclassified and named as Millettia pinnata)

History

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar and Sundarar (7th – 8th Century CE) have rendered Thevaram Hymns for the lord here at Thirupungoor. Nandanar (7th-8th Century CE), one of the 63 Nayanmars, has visited this temple. The Thirupungoor name came from the Holy Tree (Pungai) of the temple.

Legend

Lord Shiva made the Nandi move aside by giving instructions through the Dwarapalaka to enable Nandanar (a dalit who could not enter the temple) to have a clear view of him here at Thirupungoor. Brahma, Indra, Agastya, Chandra, Surya, Agni, Pathanjali, Vyagrapadar, Sabdamadar, Rajendra Chola are said to have worshiped here at Thirupungoor. The holy temple tank here is said to have been created by Nandanar himself with the help of Vinayaka who came in the form of a worker.

Directions

Thirupungoor is about 4 Kilometers in the road going to Thalaignairu and Manalmedu from Vaitheeswaran Kovil.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest is Vaitheeswaram Kovil.

error: Content is protected !!