Thirupoovanur

Padal Petra Sthalams

God

Sathurangavallabeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Karpagavalli and Rajarajeswari (two goddesses), facing south

Other Deities

Chamundeswari, Vinayaka, Muruga with consorts, Kasi Viswanathar, Lakshmi Narayanar, Vasusenan, Sage Agastya, Ayyanar, Naalvar, Kothandaramar, Mahalakshmi, Arthanareeswarar, Pitchaadanar, Pasupatheeswarar, Bhairava, Navagraha, Surya, Nataraja, Somaskanda. Sanctum Niches – Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Durga, Brahma, Chandikeswara

Thirupoovanur is a beautiful, large east facing temple with a 5 tier Rajagopuram and a large temple tank in front. In the ancient days this place used to be filled with flowering plants and trees and was called Pushpa Vanam (Flowering Forest) and the Lord was called Pushpa Vana Naadhar. Now the processional deity is named so. The presence of three goddesses – Karpagavalli, Rajarajeswari and Chamundeswari) here is considered very important. the first two are in shrines facing south and Chamundeswari is in a shrine facing North. The great Sage of Kanchi, Mahaperiyava came and stayed here for 45 days in 1942. Later in 1972 Chamraja Udayar the then King of Mysore, whose family deity is Chamundeswari, visited this temple.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Ksheera Pushkarini, Krishna Kushtahara Pushkarini

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vanni (Prosopis cineraria)

History

Thirugnanasambandar (7th Century CE) has rendered Thevaram hymns here.

Mythology

Sage Sukhabrahma is believed to have developed a garden here and worshiped the Lord with the flowers. Nandi, Sages Agastya, Sukha and others have worshiped the lord here at Thirupoovanur

The Lord is believed to have won in a game of Chaturangam (an ancient form of Chess) and married the daughter (actually the goddess as Rajarajeswari) of King Vasusena here and hence his name is Chathuranga Vallabar. Goddess Chamundeswari who accompanied the goddess to earth as her caretaker also has a shrine here.

Directions

Thirupoovanur is about 4 kilometers south of Needamangalam.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest for food would be Needamangalam.

Padal Petra Sthalams

Thiruvarur Temples

Tamilnadu Temples