Piravi Marundeeswarar, Thiruthuraipoondi

Saivite Temples

God

Piravi Marundeeswarar, facing west

Goddess

Periyanayagi (Brihannayagi), facing south

Other Deities

Varasidhdhi Vinayaka, Theertha Vidanga Vinayaka, Narthana Vinayaka, Muruga with consorts, Theertha Vidanga Thyagarajar, Gajalakshmi, Gajasamhara Murthy, Bhairava, Navagraha, Naalvar, Nataraja, Somaskanda, Naalvar, Surya, Ayyappan. Sanctum Niches – Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara

Piravi Marundeeswarar, Thiruthuraipoondi is an ancient and historic temple. The lord here is considered as Gajasamhara Murthy (one who killed the elephant – see legend below). The temple is important for people of the Ashwini Birth Star. Other names of the main deity include Pava Oushadeeswarar and Brahmapureeswarar.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Amirtha Theertham (Mangalya Theertham), nine other Theerthams created by the 9 Sages.

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vilwam (Aegle marmelos)

History

Piravi Marundeeswarar, Thiruthuraipoondi is an Abhimana Sthalam – having been in mentioned in the Thevaram Hymns (7th – 9th Century CE).

Legend

The lord is beleived to have killed a violent elephant set upon him by the sages of Taaruga Vanam and subdued them by appearing as a handsome looking beggar (Pitchadanar) and Lord Vishnu as a beautiful damsel.

Lord Brahma after conceding an argument with his consort Saraswathy over which act is superior – giving life or infusing knowledge in a living being, is believed to have come here to do a penance after bathing in the theertham created by him. Hence this place is also called Brahmapuri and the lord as Brahmapureeswarar. He also created a theertham called Amirtha Pushkarini and eprformed ablutions to the lord and his consort.

The lord and his consort are said to have reinstated a terrible Asura – Virupakshan, when he died of a curse for killing and devouring the meat of a young brahmin lad, after the Asura’s wife (Jallikai), a staunch devotee of Shiva, lamented and prayed for his life. She bathed in the Amirtha Pushkarini and worshiped the goddess giving it another name as Mangalya(symbol of wedlock) Pushkarini.

Navagrahas are believed to have worshiped here giving it a name as Navagrahapuram. It is also called Vilwaranyam due to the profusion of Vilwa trees here in ancient days.

Nine great Sages – Agastya, Vamadevar, Kasipa, Athri, Bharadwaja, Gowthama, Viswamitra, Jamadagni and Vasishta are believed to have created 9 theerthams, installed Shiva Lingams and worshiped the lord individually. The lord pleased with them appeared and performed his Ananda Thandavam and blessed them with Mukthi.

Directions

Piravi Marundeeswarar, Thiruthuraipoondi is about 28 kilometers south of Thiruvarur.

Stay and Food

Tea and snack shops available locally.

Saivite Temples

Thiruvarur Temples

Tamilnadu Temples