Chokkalingeswarar, Panayapatti
God
Chokkalingeswarar, facing east
Goddess
Meenakshi Amman, facing east
Other Deities
Entrance – Mapillai Vinayaka, Bala Dhandayudhapani. Kannimoola Ganapathi, Muruga with consorts, Gajalakshmi, Naalvar, Surya, Chandran, Aadhi Chokkalingeswarar, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Kala Bhairava
Chokkalingeswarar Panayapatti is an east facing temple. A temple tank is outside the 3 tiered gopuram on the east side. There are 2 Prakarams. The inner Prakaram is covered and houses the shrines. The Outer Prakaram has the shrines of Aadhi Chokkalingeswarar and Kasi Viswanathar. Outside the 3 tiered south gopuram, on either side are shrines for Lord Rama and Krishna. Lord Rama is seen with his consort Seetha and brother Lakshmana.
Holy Water – Temple Tank
Holy Tree – Vilwam (Aegle marmelos)
History
Chokkalingeswarar Panayapatti is an old temple built and administered by the Nagarathar Community of the Pudukottai region. Nagarathar are a community who are believed to have originally lived in pre-historic Naganadu which was either north or north-west of Kancheepuram, said to have been destroyed by nature’s fury. They migrated to different places prominent of which are Kancheepuram, Poompuhar and Karaikudi regions. Over time they became an important and successful mercantile community and contributed a lot to various charities including temples. They went abroad in the ships of the Cholas and did business in various countries in Southeast Asia. They had good relationships with the Cholas and Pandyas.
Legend
No information
Directions
Chokkalingeswarar Panayapatti is about 19 kilometers southwest of Pudukottai on the road going to Ponnamaravathi.
Food and Stay
None locally. The places of food and stay would be Pudukottai.