Palaivananathar Temple

Getting there

• By road

  Buses on the Thanjavur to Kumbakonam route stop at Papanasam, with services available every 10 minutes.

• By train

  Papanasam railway station is situated between Thanjavur and Kumbakonam.

Why devotees come here

Palaivananathar Temple stands on the bank of the Kudamurutti river in Papanasam, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu. Shiva is worshipped here as Papanasanathar, and the temple is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, Shiva shrines praised in the Tevaram hymns. Thanjavur district lies on the east coast of Tamil Nadu.

The Tevaram, a 7th century Tamil Saiva work of hymns by the Nayanar poet saints, honours the presiding deity here. Legend says Shiva killed a tiger in the forest Darukavana and wore its skin as a sign of victory. Legend also says the Pandava prince Arjuna, in exile, was sent by sage Dhaumya to seek Shiva's blessings in the forest. Devotees believe the deity absolved the sins of Vishnu, Brahma, Rama and Sita, and so he is called Papanasanathar, the one who absolves sins.

The original complex is believed to have been built by the Cholas. The present masonry structure was built by the Vijayanagar kings in the 16th century. Inscriptions from Kulothunga Chola I and Kulothunga Chola III record gifts to the temple in the Chola period. The complex covers about one acre and is entered through a five-tiered gopuram, the main gateway. All the shrines sit inside large concentric rectangular granite walls. Shiva's consort Parvati is depicted here as Thavalavennayagal.

Festivals

• Tamil month of Aani, June to JulyChitra Pournami and Aani Thirumanjanam

  The most important festivals of the temple.

• Weekly on Monday and Friday, fortnightly, and monthlyWeekly, fortnightly and monthly rituals

  Somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday) are weekly. Pradosham is fortnightly. Amavasai, pournami, kiruthigai and sathurthi are monthly.

Tips for your visit

• All the shrines sit inside large concentric rectangular granite walls.
• A brick granary from the Vijayanagar period is maintained as a monument by the state Archaeological Department.

Questions people ask