Temple Legend - The legend of Parvati and Shiva's game of ball at their heavenly abode of Kailash provides a mythological explanation for the origin of the Pashupathynathar temple in Pandu-Anai-Nallur. According to the tale, Parvati desired to play a game of ball one day, so Shiva obligingly transformed the four Vedas into four balls for her amusement. Parvati became so immersed in the joyful game that she continued playing without pause. To facilitate her ceaseless play, Surya the sun god provided perpetual light, not setting as he normally would. This prevented the sages from performing their customary Sandya vandhanam rituals at dusk. Perturbed, they appealed to Surya to set, but he feared incurring Parvati's wrath. As a last recourse, they brought their plight before Shiva himself. Shiva approached Parvati to discuss the matter, but she, absorbed in her game, failed to notice his arrival. Angered by this disrespect, Shiva kicked the ball and cursed Parvati to be reborn as a cow. Repentant, Parvati sought redemption from the curse. Shiva revealed that by worshipping the Shiva Linga located beneath the 'sarakondrai' tree where the kicked balls had landed, and pouring her milk over it, she would be freed. Mahavishnu then assumed the form of a cowherd to guide Parvati-as-cow to the appointed place. He let her graze by day, and by night gave her milk to the sage Kanva Maharishi, who lived near by. One fateful day, the cow discovered a Shiva Linga in a snake pit and poured all her milk over it, leaving none for Kanva Maharishi. Following the cow to ascertain the cause of the missing milk, he found her veneration of the Linga. Incensed, he beat her, causing the startled cow to stumble and place her legs in the snake pit. In that instant, the cow and cowherd transformed back into Parvati and Mahavishnu. Redeemed, Parvati expressed her desire to wed Shiva, who instructed her to first perform penance facing northward. She did so and they were married. The main sanctum's 'swayambhu murthy' of deity Kalyana Sundarar bears hoof prints on the Shiva Linga to this day, marking where the fateful ball fell. Thus, the place came to be known as Pandu-Anai-Nallur, and the presiding deity as Pashupathynathar, the lord who became husband to the cow.
Temple Layout - The rajagopuram of this temple, an ornate and towering gateway structure, immediately captures the eye with its striking five-tiered architecture adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures. Directly opposite the temple lies the serene and sacred Surya theertham pond, at the center of which stands the neerazhi mandap, a raised platform used for ritual ablutions and ceremonies. Passing through the main entrance, one enters a spacious enclosure housing several important structures - the nandi, the balippetam, the dwajasthambam, and the south-facing sannidhi dedicated to the goddess Venu-bhujambikai, the female consort deity of the temple. Adjacent to Venu-Bhujambikai's sannidhi is an additional shrine for the goddess Kali. Proceeding further, the next gateway one encounters is named in honor of the saint Tiru-Naavukkarasar. To the right of this gateway is the sannidhi for Lord Muruga accompanied by his consorts Valli and Deivanai. Upon entering through the Tiru-Naavukkarasar gateway and turning left, the sannidhi dedicated to the four foremost Nayanmars, the Saivite saints, comes into view. Circumambulating the inner prakaram pathway, one passes by the shrines of Nruthi Ganapathy, Sri Subramanya with Valli and Deivanai, as well as the sannidhis of goddesses Gajalakshmi, Annapurni and Saraswathy. Further along the prakaram are the shrines of all 63 Nayanmars and the 'Dasa Lingas' - ten Shiva Lingas representing different aspects of Lord Shiva. Adjacent to Lord Bhairava's sannidhi, the nine planetary deities, the Navagrahas, are enshrined in a single row. Nearby are the sannidhis of Chandra the Moon god, Surya the Sun god, and Lord Vinayaka. In a separate dedicated shrine within the complex resides Lord Adi-Kesava-Perumal, a form of Lord Vishnu, along with his consort Parimala-valli.
The entrance to the sanctum of the temple is named after the renowned 7th-century Tamil saint and poet, Tirugyanasambandar. Upon entering through this gateway and paying respects to the guardian deities or dwarapalakas stationed at the threshold, devotees are greeted by the captivating sight of the swayambhu linga, a self-manifested representation of Lord Shiva in his form as Pashupathy Eeswar. This sacred linga is distinguished by its short bana or shaft and is perpetually shrouded by a pot-like container, as it is believed to have emerged from a snake pit. Within the spacious artha mandap or hall preceding the sanctum, an array of exquisite urchava or processional idols are reverently displayed, among which the sculpture of Bikshadanamurthy stands out for its unparalleled artistry and grace. The temple is also renowned for a remarkable astronomical phenomenon that occurs annually on the 19th, 20th, and 21st days of the Tamil month of Avani. During this period, the sun's rays align perfectly to illuminate the presiding deity, bathing the sanctum in a resplendent glow and creating an atmosphere of spiritual significance for the assembled devotees.
This ancient shiva temple holds a significant place in the annals of history due to its association with the Kaamboja dynasty. According to legend, the son of King Kaamboja was cured from his blindness. Overcome with gratitude for this divine intervention, the king named his son Pashupathy in honor of the presiding deity and became a generous patron of the temple. As a lasting testament to this momentous event, the bathing area of the holy pond, with steps descending into the waters, bears the name of the Kaamboja king to this day. In subsequent centuries, the Chola kings, renowned for their patronage of art and architecture, also recognized the spiritual significance of the Pashupathy temple and extended their support to its maintenance and embellishment.
The actions and karma of one's ancestors can have a profound impact on an individual's life, manifesting in the form of misfortunes, obstacles, and even physical ailments. This ancient temple, whose sacred tree is the 'sarakondrai', serves as a powerful spiritual destination for those seeking to alleviate the burdens of ancestral curses, known as 'Pithru Shapa Nivruthi'. Moreover, the temple is renowned for its efficacy in addressing ophthalmic issues, improvements in vision and relief from various eye-related illnesses. The presiding deities, Sripasupadeeswarar and Srivenupujambika, are believed to bestow a range of blessings upon their devotees. As the temple priest elucidates, Sripasupadeeswarar is invoked for matters related to justice, particularly in cases involving property disputes, debt resolution, and business growth. Devotees facing legal challenges or financial struggles often turn to this deity for divine intervention and guidance. Meanwhile, Srivenupujambika is associated with the bestowal of wisdom, education, and fertility.
Pond outside the temple
5 level Gopuram
Balipeetam, Nandi, Kodimaram
Sculpture depicting the temple legend
Outer prakaram, Vimanam
Subramanya Sannidhi
Subramanya with Valli, Deivanai
Line up of 63 Nayanmars
10 Lingas
Navagrahas