Pathanjali Vyagrapadeeswarar Seydunganallur

Pathanjali Vyagrapadeeswarar, Seydunganallur

Saivite Temples - Thoothukudi

God

Pathanjali Vyagrapadeeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Sivakami, facing south

Other Deities

Kanni Vinayaka, Subramanya with consorts, Saneeswara, Mangala Durgai, Bhairava, Navagraha. Sanctum Niches – Dakshinamurthy, Chandikeswara

Pathanjali Vyagrapadeeswarar Seydunganallur is a small east-facing temple with a gateway mandapam at the entrance in the east and a smaller one for the goddess on the south side. A single Prakaram houses all the shrines and the Sanctum Sanctorum. The Yoga Dakshinamurthy idol here is special and said to be a unique one. The Tamiraparani River flows east of the temple in a north-south direction. Behind Pathanjali Vyagrapadeeswarar Seydunganallur flows the south canal of the river which takes off from Seevalaperi and goes south beyond Sattankulam and drains into a lake, serving agricultural needs all along.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Tamiraparani River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Pathanjali Vyagrapadeeswarar Seydunganallur is an ancient temple as is evident from the large number of inscriptions found around the walls of the sanctum sanctorum. The details of these inscriptions are not available as of now.

Legend

The Lingam here is believed to have been installed by Sages Pathanjali and Vyagrapadar thus including both their names. King Seidungan who ruled these areas from Murappanad came here one day for hunting and was amazed at the holy vibrations he felt. Upon careful observation, he found the two great sages in penance before the Lingam and stood there in silence with his hands folded in obeisance. The Lord then commanded him to build the Pathanjali Vyagrapadeeswarar Seydunganallur temple at the same locations on the banks of the River Tamiraparani which in the ancient days used to flow close to the temple. It is said that both the Sages went to Chidambaram to worship the Lord there after this. Sage Pathanjali is considered an avatar of Adisesha the multi-headed serpent of Mahavishnu who appeared from heaven at the feet (Padham) of Anusuya, wife of Sage Athri, thus his name is Pathanjali. Vyagrapadar was obsessed with collecting flowers for Lord Shiva even before the bees drank the honey from them and was blessed with night vision and feet of a leopard so that he could go about his chore in darkness. It is said that even today the Nandia Vattai (Ervatamia coronaria) flowers collected here remain in bud form and open only after being offered to the Lord.

Directions

Pathanjali Vyagrapadeeswarar Seydunganallur is 10 kilometers southeast of Tirunelveli on the road to Tiruchendur. The temple is outside the village on the east side.

Stay and Food

None locally. The closest for food and stay is Tirunelveli.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples