Moolavar: Sri Thalapureeswarar(Panangattu Easwarar) & Krubapureeswarar
Amman: Sri Amirthavalli & Krubanayaki
A padal petra sthalam and the 19th Shiva Temple in Thondaimandalam region praised in Thevaram hymns. Sundarar has praised this temple in his hym refereing the place as Panangattur. The temple is easily over 1000 to 1500
While traveling this region Sage Agasthyar desired to worship lord Shiva in this place and did so with his mind set on the Lord. An ashariri voice of the lord told that he was there as a Swayambu Linga nearby under a neem tree. Agasthyar saw another sage in meditation. When enquired about theShiva Linga, the Sage showed Agasthya the Linga and turned into meditation again. But Agasthya had no water to perform the puja. Knowing the Sage’s difficulty, Lord poured the Ganga water from his head which also became a holy theertham named Jada Ganga Theertham – spring that came from the tuft of Lord. When Agasthya wanted fruits to offer the Lord for nivedhana, Lord dropped the palm fruits. Pleased with the pujas of Sage Agasthya, Lord granted darshan to him. As Lord dropped palm fruits, He is also named Thalapureeswarar, Thalam-Palm tree.
There are two sacred palm trees, one male and the other female. While Sage Agasthya installed Thalapureeswarar, his disciple Pulasthya installed another one nearby named Krubapureeswarar on a square Avudayar . Both are considered as the presiding deities as one Shiva. Thalapureeswarar, worshipped by sage Agsthya is worshipped as the first and prominent deity. The main entrance is opposite Krubapureeswarar shrine. Both are under Gajabrushta vimana. On the ghoshtam of Thalapureeswarar sanctum are Lingodhbavar, Durgai. Vishnu is behind the sanctum of Lord Krubapureeswarar with Chandikeswara on the left. There is only one Palliarai. Both the Ambals are in separate shrines facing south. Sri Amirthavalli is slightly taller than Sri Krubapuri Ambal.
Lord Dakshinamurthy appears differently with his left leg folded with Nandhi below him. In the Vinayaka shrine, there is a serpent deity left of Lord Vinayaka shrine while another Vinayaka on the right has Mother on His lap. Sani Bhagwan is under the Vanni tree outside the temple. People do archanas to him with vanni leaves for relief from the planet’s adverse effects. Nearby is Saint Yogananda Muneeswarar in a separate shrine under the neem tree. Before worshipping Lord Shiva, devotees worship Muneeswarar.Sri Vinayaka of the temple is praised as Big Vinayaka-Peria Vinayakar.
The Dwarapalakas in Krubapureeswarar shrine are standing on a lotus shaped peeta. A Nandhi on Sun God, a crescent moon on Moon himself, Aiyappan on elephant appear different from traditional forms.
Saint Sundarar was on his way to this place from Kancheepuram. When it was midday, he and his followers were hungry and became tired. Lord Shiva came there as an old man and served them food. Sundarar asked him for water. The old man said that he and his men would have it and moved. A spring came up there with sweet water. When Sundarar asked him who he was, the old man simply disappeared saying he was a resident of Panangadu who earlier stopped his marriage. Sundarar, with the privilege of a friend sang in praise of the Lord in funny words. The spring created by the Lord is a little away from the temple. It never goes dry. Special pujas are performed here as “Kattamudhu” during the Brahmmotsavam festival.
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