Poovananathar Temple, Tirupuvanam
Location
Tirupuvanam
Deity
Poovananathar, Mangalanathar, Pithru Muktheeswarar
Female Deity
Mangalaambikai
Pathikam
Tirunavukarasar - 1, Sambandar - 2, Sundarar - 1
Gallery - Poovananathar Temple
How to Reach
This Shiva temple, situated 20 km southeast of Madurai, is well connected by road and rail. On the Madurai–Manamadurai route of the Southern Railway, Tirupuvanam Station serves as the nearest stop. Railway Station: Trains halt at Tirupuvanam Station, located on the Madurai–Manamadurai section of the Southern Railway. Bus Services: The temple is easily reachable by road, with regular bus services operating between Madurai and Tirupuvanam.
Temple Address
Tiruppuvanam Post
Sivaganga District
PIN – 623611
Temple Hours
Morning : 6:30 - 12:00
Evening : 4:30 - 8:00
Temple Significance
Located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River, Tirupuvanam holds a unique place among the sacred Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu. The temple is considered as holy as the ancient city of Varanasi (Benares), as the Vaigai River flows northward at this spot before turning eastward—a rare and auspicious feature in Hindu tradition. Tirupuvanam is also the only one among the fourteen Paadal Petra Shivasthalams of Pandya Naadu to have been glorified in the Thevaram hymns of all three principal Saivite saints—Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar. Adding to its historical significance, the temple received the reverence and patronage of the three crowned Tamil dynasties: the Cheras, Cholas, and Pandyas. The temple is further associated with one of the celebrated 64 Thiruvilayadals of Lord Somasundara of Madurai, who is believed to have appeared here in the form of a Siddha and blessed a devout woman named Ponnaiyal by granting her gold.
The Legend of the Leaning Nandi
When Tirugyanasambandhar came to this place, he needed to cross the Vaigai River to reach the temple. The sands on the riverbed appeared to him like a Shiva Lingam, and unwilling to step on it, he remained on the riverbank. From there, he sang a Pathikam in praise of Pushpavaneshwarar at Tirupuvanam. However, he could not see the deity, as Nandi blocked his view.
Seeing Sambandhar unable to view Him, God Shiva then instructed Nandi to lean slightly to the left so that Sambandhar could have a clear view. Obeying His command, Nandi gently tilted to the left, bowing her head and body, allowing Tirugyanasambandhar to behold the deiy. Even today, the Nandi here can be seen leaning slightly to the left. The spot from where the three Nayanmars sang the Pathikam is now called Moovar Mandapam, located across the river.
Temple Architecture
Rajagopuram
The temple has an east-facing, five-tiered Rajagopuram. Entering the prakaram through this gateway, we encounter a series of mandapams—Kambathadi Mandapam, Nalamaharaja Mandapam, Tiruvacchi Mandapam, and a hall supported by six pillars. Adjacent to the six-pillared hall is the Mahamandapam, which leads to the sanctum, enclosed within the Artha Mandapam.
Swayambhu Lingam
The presiding deity, Pushpavaneshwarar, is a Swayambhoo Lingam adorned with a crown of matted hair and a trident. Behind the Lingam are clay lamps known as “Moksha Deepam”, which are lit to guide the souls on their onward journey.
Soundaranayaki
The Goddess, Soundaranayaki, is enshrined in a separate sannidhi within the temple complex. Both the sanctum of the presiding deity and that of the Goddess are surrounded by individual prakarams, enabling devotees to perform pradakshina around each shrine. The temple's sacred sthala vruksham is the jackfruit tree, while its revered theerthams include Manikarnika Theertham, the Vaigai River, Vasishta Theertham, and Indra Theertham.
Temple Sannidhis
The inner prakaram houses several sannidhis including:
- Bhaskara Vinayaka
- Subramanya
- Surya (Planetory god for sun)
- Sayanaperumal
- Four Nayanmars
- 63 Nayanmars
- Saptha Matha
- Mahalakshmi
- Dakshinamurthy
- Chandra (Planetory god for moon)
- Navagrahas
A magnificent and exquisitely crafted idol of Nataraja is one of the highlights of the temple. Sage Vyagrapadha and Sage Patanjali are depicted standing on either side of Nataraja, symbolizing their devotion and their vision of Shiva’s cosmic dance. The temple flourished under the generous patronage of the Pandya kings and continued to receive support from the Nayak rulers of Madurai, who contributed significantly to its development and upkeep.
Tiruvilayadal Puranam - Ponnanaiyal's Devotion
One of the most celebrated legends associated with Tirupuvanam is that of Ponnanaiyal, a devoted worshipper of Lord Poovananathar. Every day, she would bathe in the Vaigai River, offer flower garlands to the Lord, and express her devotion through dance before the deity. Deep in her heart, she nurtured a desire to create a golden idol of Shiva, but lacked the means to do so. Moved by her unwavering devotion, Lord Shiva appeared before her in the guise of a Siddhar and claimed to possess the power to transform metal into gold. Trusting him completely, Ponnanaiyal handed over all the metal vessels she owned. The Siddhar sprinkled sacred ash upon them and assured her that they would turn into gold by the following day.
When Ponnanaiyal returned the next morning, she found that the vessels had indeed been transformed into gold. Overjoyed, she took them to a goldsmith and commissioned a beautiful idol of Lord Poovananathar. The resulting image was so exquisitely crafted that, overwhelmed with love and devotion, she affectionately pinched the Lord’s cheek. It is believed that the mark of her touch remains visible even today on the golden Somaskandar idol, known as Azhagiya Nayakar, serving as a lasting testament to the Lord’s grace and the devotee’s boundless love.
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