Pushpavananadar, Then Thirupuvanam

Saivite Temples, Tirunelveli District

God

Pushpavananadar, facing east

Goddess

Poondevi Ambal, facing east

Other Deities

Suryan, Vinayaka, Mahavishnu, Muruga with consorts, Saneeswaran, Shiva Lingam with consort, Bhairava, Chandran. Sanctum niches – Dakshinamurthy, Lakshmi Narasimha, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Chandikeswara

Pushpavananadar Then Thirupuvanam is a small east-facing temple that has been renovated in recent times. The temple has 2 Prakarams with outer prakaram providing the entrances for the separate sanctums of the main deity and the goddess. In front of the main entrance in the outer Prakaram is a Balipeedam, stone dwajasthambam, and Nandi. There is another Nandi facing the lord inside. The main deity has a separate inner prakaram which houses all the shrines and his sanctum sanctorum. Both the sanctums have a Mahamantapam, Ardhamantapam, Antralaya before the Sanctum Sanctorum. The inner prakaram around the main deity has a cloistered mandapam all around. The sanctum of the lord has Dakshinamurthy on the Vimaana. Other deities in the sanctum niches are present and the niches all have small and beautiful carvings of Lakshmi Narasimha, Navaneeta Krishna, and Vinayaka. The Mantapams here have several beautiful Yaali pillars among other carvings of deities. The Tamiraparani River flows right next to the temple at its north.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Tamiraparani River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Pushpavananadar Then Thirupuvanam is an ancient temple as is evident from the numerous stone inscriptions found around the sanctum walls. But the information from them is not available as of now.

Legend

The Dakshinamurthy here at Pushpavananadar Then Thirupuvanam is important and the temple is considered as one of the Pancha (five) Dakshinamurthy Sthalam. The others being Andhalanallur, Harikesavanallur, Thirupudaimarudur, and Idaikkal.

Directions

Pushpavananadar Then Thirupuvanam is about 22 kilometers west of Tirunelveli. At Mukkudal in the Tenkasi road, take a left, cross the bridge over Tamiraparani and take an immediate left to reach Pushpavananadar Then Thirupuvanam.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest for food and stay is Tirunelveli, Ambasamudram or Tenkasi depending on your travel plans.

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