INTRODUCTION
Arulmigu Palvannanathar Temple is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva which is situated at Sivapuri in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. Here Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Palvannanathar, and his consort is worshipped as Ma Vedanayaki Amman. This temple is mentioned in the 7th century Tamil Shaivite work, Tevaram, which were sung and written by the nayanmar saints and it is one among the Paadal Petra Sthalam(Temple was glorified through divine songs).
The temple has various other shrines, and among those, the Oondreswarar and Ma Minnoli Amman shrines are the most significant ones. The temple follows three daily rituals at different intervals from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and celebrates four annual festivals. Brahmotsavam festival takes place during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May – June), and it is the main festival celebrated in the temple. Abhisheka (sacred bath), Alangaram (decoration), Naivethanam (food offering) and Deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) are performed on a daily basis for Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati. Somavaram (Monday), Sukravaram (Friday), Pradosham, Amavasai (no moon day, also called as dark day), Pournami (full moon day), Kiruthigai, Chathurthi, Thai Poosam, Navratri, Thiruvadirai and Shiva Ratri are few other festivals celebrated in the temple. The temple also contains an image of Lord Bhairava which looks alike to the one present in Varanasi.
As per ancient legend, Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati appeared before the great Rishi Agastya and Sage Valmiki at this place, and sage Kabila also made a lingam for his daily worship. Since Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati provided milk from the divine cow Kamadhenu to the sages Valmiki, Agastya and Kapila, this temple Lord Shiva came to be known as Palvannanathar. There is also a famous song sung in praise of Lord Palvannanathar, “Palvannanathar thane Pala Vannathil Katchiyalipare, Arulamuda Kadalenum Palaiyum namakku pugatiduvare”, which means, Lord Palvannanathar brightly shines in different colours, and he would shower his grace like the vast ocean”. In Cuddalore, for some Yadava community families, Lord Palvannanathar is their Kula Deva (Family Deity).
“OM SRI PALVANNANATHA NAMO NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR