Tamilnadu is located on the southern part of India. It is bounded by the Bay of Bengal on the east, and by Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh states on the other three sides.
Thenupureeswarar Temple, Tirupatteeswaram
| Location of the temple | Tirupatteeswaram |
| Lord Shiva known as | Thenupureeswarar, Patteeswarar |
| Female deity known as | Sri Gnanambikai, Sri Palvalainayagi |
| Pathigam | Sambandar |
| How to reach | This temple is located 8 Kms south-west of Kumbakonam and about 3 Kms south-east of Swamimalai. Bus facilities are available from Kumbakonam and Thanjavur. The nearest railway station (2 Kms) Darasuram is situated on the Thanjavur - Kumbakonam section of the Southern Railway. |
The Shiva temple at Tirupatteeswaram is fairly a big temple measuring 650 feet east-west and 295 feet north-south. There are 5 tall gopurams and 3 prakarams. The sanctum sanctorum of the main deity Thenupureeswarar is located in the central mandapam of the first prakarams. There are shrines for Chandikeswarar, Natarajar, Sun god Sooriyan etc. To the north of the main sanctum sanctorum is the main shrine for the female deity Sri Gnanambikai.
According to the legend, Divine Cow Kamadhenu's calf Patti is said to have worshipped the God Shiva here and hence this Sthalam is called as Patteeswaram. Sage Viswamitirar got the tile of Brahmarishi at this Sthalam. Sri Ramar is said to have worshipped Shiva at this sthalam to absolve himself of the Chaayadosham which he got by killing Vaali.
Durga's shrine here is of great importance. The Kodi Theertham well in the temple is said to have been created by Sri Ramar. Sri Ramar is said to have worshipped Shiva with the water from th is well to get rid of the sin of killing Ravanan. This Kodi theertham is considered to be equivalent to Dhanushkoti. Shiva is said to have blessed Sambandar by sending through his Shivaganas an umbrella made with pearls (Muthu Pandal), to protect him from the scorching summer sun when he was coming to Patteeswaram. It is said tha t God Shiva asked Nandi to move aside so that He can see Sambandar while he was coming to this temple to have darshan of God Shiva. The Nandi in this temple is not in a straight line facing the sanctum sanctorum to substantiate the above.