Chakkarapalli

Padal Petra Sthalam, Thanjavur District

God

Chakkaravageswarar, facing east

Goddess

Devanayagi, facing south

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Lingotbavar, Brahma, Durga, Muruga, Surya, Chandra, Bhairava, Nalvar

Chakkarapalli is a small temple in a large campus. There is an entrance arch and some Mantapas inside. The campus is overgrown with weeds and looked unattended when we visited in 2011. The Shiva Linga here is a tall and majestic one. The temple is considered one of the Sapthasthalas worshiped by the Sapthamadar (7 Divine Girls) – Brahmi, Maheswari, Gaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Mahendri and Chamundi.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Kaga Theertham (River Cauvery)

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Not known

History

Thirugnanasambandar (7th Century CE) has rendered Thevaram hymns here at Chakkarapalli. Stone inscriptions refer to Chakkarapalli temple as ‘Kulothunga Chola Valanadu, Vilanadu and Rajendra Chola Chadurvedamangalam. A stone inscription dating back to Kulothunga Chola III’s period (1178 to 1218 CE) mentions the rules and guidelines for the village council membership and functioning.

Mythology

Lord Vishnu is believed to have worshiped Lord Shiva here at Chakkarapalli and received his Chakra (Disc Weapon). Jeyanthan – Indra’s son, Devas and Sapthamadar are said to have worshiped here at Chakkarapalli.

Directions

Chakkarapalli (village name is Ayyampettai) is about 15 kilometers from Thanjavur on the Kumbakonam road and about 7 kilometers before Papanasam.

Stay and Food

Only tea shops available locally. Thanjavur and Kumbakonam are the closest.

Padal Petra Sthalams