Pathaleswarar Temple, Tiru-Aradai Perumpaazhi
Location
Tiru-Aradai Perumpaazhi (now known as Haridwaramangalam)
Deity
Pathaleswarar
Female Deity
Alankaravalli
Pathikam
Tirugnanasambandar - 1
Paadhaaleswarar Temple Photos
How to Reach
This Shiva temple is situated about 3.5 km east of the Paadal Petra Sthalam of Tiruvalivanallur and approximately 24 km from Thanjavur. It is about 22 km from Kumbakonam and around 10 km west of Alangudi. From the Kumbakonam–Needamangalam road, cross the Vettaru Bridge and take the road on the right to reach Haridwaramangalam. Town buses to Haridwaramangalam are available from both Thanjavur and Kumbakonam. The temple can also be reached from Needamangalam via Ammapettai.
Temple Address
Haridwaramangalam
Haridwaramangalam Post
Kumbakonam Taluk
Thanjavur District
PIN – 612802
Temple Hours
Morning : 6:00 - 12:30
Evening : 4:00 - 8:00
Nearby Paadal Petra Shiva Temples
Temple Significance & History
Temple History
Brahma and Vishnu once had a dispute over who was greater. They agreed that whoever could first behold Shiva’s sacred feet or His crown would be regarded as the greater of the two. Brahma mounted a swan and set out in search of Shiva’s crown, but despite his efforts, he could not reach it. As he was returning, he saw a thazhampoo (screw pine flower) falling from Shiva’s head. Brahma asked the flower to falsely testify that he had seen Shiva’s crown, and the flower agreed. When Shiva came to know of this deception, He cursed the thazhampoo, declaring that it should no longer be used in worship. He also decreed that Brahma should have no temples on earth.
Vishnu assumed the form of a boar, Varaha, and dug deep into the earth in search of Shiva’s sacred feet. Unable to find them, he accepted his defeat and acknowledged the greatness of Shiva. According to the sthala puranam, Vishnu is believed to have pierced the earth at this very place while searching for Shiva’s sacred feet. This is said to be the reason why the place came to be known as Hari-dwara-mangalam. The depression created by Vishnu while digging the earth can still be seen near the sanctum, although it has now been covered with a stone slab. Devotees may request the temple Sivachariyar to show them this spot.
Temple Significance
As Shiva Himself is regarded as the Lord of the Navagrahas, this temple does not have separate sannidhis for the nine planetary deities. It is believed that worshipping Shiva here helps alleviate planetary afflictions and remove various obstacles in life. The temple is also revered for the belief that darshan of the presiding deity at Haridwaramangalam bestows the spiritual benefit of visiting Haridwar. Furthermore, worshipping Paathala Easwarar is believed to provide relief from the burden of debts.
Temple Structure
Rajagopuram & Presiding Deity
The temple faces east and is entered through a three-tiered Rajagopuram. The outer prakaram houses sannidhis for Vinayaka, Nataraja accompanied by Patanjali and Vyaghrapada, Kasi Viswanathar, Sani Bhagavan, Surya, Chandra, Bhairavar, Sambandar, Sundarar, Lingodbhavar and the Sapta Matrikas. The presiding deity is a swayambhu (self-manifested) Lingam facing east. According to temple tradition, Shiva broke off one of the tusks of Varaha, the boar incarnation of Vishnu, and adorned His chest with it.
Ambal Shrine
The sannidhi of the Goddess is situated to the right of Shiva and faces east. Such an arrangement, in which the Goddess is positioned to the right of Shiva, is traditionally referred to as the Kalyana Kolam (wedding posture). Since the Goddess here is regarded as an aspect of Durga, there is no separate sannidhi for Durga in this temple. She is depicted in a standing posture. There is a separate entrance directly in front of the Goddess sannidhi, and the sacred sthala vruksham, the Vanni tree, stands directly opposite this entrance. The serene and blissful atmosphere beneath the tree is so captivating that one feels naturally drawn to sit there in silence and meditate. The Pathikam sung by Thirugnanasambandar in praise of the presiding deity of this place is included in the Third Thirumurai.
Paadhaaleswarar Temple Photos (Continued)
