Sri Padikkasunatha Swamy Temple

1. This Temple is considered as one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams glorified in the early mediaeval Thevaram hymns. 
2. This Temple is the 183rd Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 66th Sthalam on the south side of Cauvery River in Chozha Nadu. 
3. This Temple is considered as one of the 44 Paadal Petra Sthalams where the Moovar (the three saints namely Thirugnana Sambanthar, Thirunavukkarasar and Sundarar) had rendered their Pathigams. 
4. Azhagaputhur was called as Arasil Karai Puthur in ancient times.
5. Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
6. This is the birthplace of Pugazhthunai Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars.
7. This is one of the “Moovar paadal petra sthalams”.
8. Padikasu Nathar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Azhagaputhur, a village in the outskirts of Kumbakonam Town in Kumbakonam Taluk in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu, India. 
9. The Temple is also called Swarnapureeswarar Temple. 
10. The Presiding Deity is called as Padikasu Nathar / Swarnapureeswarar / Kubera Lingam and Mother is called as Azhakaambigai / Soundara Nayaki. 
11. The Temple is situated on the southern banks of Arasalar River. 
12. This Temple is considered as one of the Mada Temples built by Kochengata Chola, an early Chola Emperor.

PURANIC SIGNIFICANCE:

Pugazh Thunai Nayanar:

1. Alagaputhur is the birthplace of Pugal Thunai Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. Pugazh Thunai Nayanar was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. 
2. He is generally counted as the fifty-sixth in the list of 63 Nayanars. 
3. The life of Pugazh Thunai Nayanar is described in the Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar (12th century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars. 
4. One of the most prominent Nayanars, Sundarar (8th century CE) venerates Pugazh Thunai Nayanar in the Tiruthonda Thogai, a hymn to Nayanar saints.
5. Pugazh Thunai Nayanar was born in Seruviliputhur, presently known as Alagaputhur and located in the Thanjavur district of the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. 
6. He belonged to Adi Shaiva sub-sect of Shaivism and belonged to the Brahmin (priest) caste. 
7. The Nayanar was a staunch devotee of Shiva, the patron god of Shaivism. He worked as the pujari (temple priest) at the Shiva temple. 
8. The temple is identified as Padikasu Nathar Temple of Alagaputhur.
9. As per his daily priestly duties, he used to bathe the Lingam (aniconic image of Shiva and central icon in the temple) with cool and fragrant water. 
10. Once, a famine struck the region and however continued to fetch water and worship the god. 
11. His body became emaciated.
12.  Finally, he succumbed to the pangs of hunger and fainted; 
13. The pot of water fell on the lingam and broke.  
14. Lord Shiva appeared in Pugazh Thunai Nayanar's dream and said that he would leave a gold coin daily as a wage so that the Nayanar can sustain himself till the end of the famine.
15. Hence, Lord Shiva of Azhagaputhur came to be called as Padikasu Nathar (Padi means allowance & Kasu means money in Tamil).
16. Pugazh Thunai Nayanar found a gold coin daily at the foot of Lingam. 
17. He continued his services even after the famine till end of his life, when he attained Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva after death. 
18. Sundarar recalls the legend of Pugazh Thunai Nayanar in a hymn in honour of the Padikasu Nathar Temple. 
19. Pugazh Thunai Nayanar is also worshipped with his wife Lakshmi in the front mandapa of the Padikasu Nathar Temple. 
20. His descendants continue to serve as the temple priests.
21. In honour of Pugazh Thunai Nayanar's tale, devotees place two coins at the foot of the lingam and take home one of the coins. 
22. Pugazh Thunai Nayanar is worshipped in the Tamil month of Avani, when the moon enters the Ashlesha nakshatra (lunar mansion). 
23. He is depicted with folded hands and sometimes holding a pot of water. He receives collective worship as part of the 63 Nayanars. 
24. Their icons and brief accounts of his deeds are found in many Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu. 
25. Their images are taken out in procession in festivals.

Lord Muruga punished Brahma for not knowing the meaning of Pranava:

1. As per legend, Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, disrespected Muruga (the son of Lord Shiva) at the time of visiting Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. 
2. The child Muruga got angry with Brahma and asked him how he was creating living beings. 
3. Brahma said that he was creating living beings with the help of the Vedas (Hindu scriptures). 
4. On hearing the reply, Muruga asked Brahma to recite the texts from Vedas. Brahma started to recite the text with the holy word called Pranava Mantra, "Om".
5. At that time Muruga stopped Brahma and asked him to explain the meaning of the Pranava Mantra. Brahma could not reply and hence Muruga knocked Brahma on his forehead with his clenched fists and punished him with imprisonment. Muruga took up the role of the creator. 
6. The Devas (celestial deities) were surprised by the absence of Brahma and they requested Vishnu to negotiate with Muruga to release Brahma.
7. Lord Vishnu could not help and as the last resort, Lord Shiva went to the rescue of Brahma. 
8. Lord Shiva came to Muruga and asked him to release Brahma from imprisonment. Muruga refused to release him stating Brahma was unaware of the meaning of the Pranava Mantra (AUM). 
9. Lord Shiva asked Muruga to explain the meaning and Muruga extolled to Shiva the meaning of the Pranava Mantra.
10. As per the instruction of Lord Shiva, Muruga returned Brahma to his post.  
11. Though he was right, Lord Muruga regretted that he punished an elder and to make amends, he performed penance in this place. 
12. Lord Shiva appeared before Muruga and said that it was right to question anyone when he / she commits a mistake but wrong to punish them.

Lord Muruga with discus & conch:

1. Lord Shiva planned to end the increasing atrocities of the demons, sent Lord Muruga to destroy them.  
2. When Muruga began the march, Lord Shiva and Devas offered many powerful weapons to him. Lord Vishnu gave his discus and conch. 
3. With all these weapons, Muruga destroyed the demons. So that Lord Muruga appears here with discus and conch. 
4. He graces the devotees on the Indra peacock with his consorts Valli and Deivanai. He is praised as Kalyana Sundara Shanmuga Nathar. 
5. The Thiruvatchi (a metal frame made aesthetically around the deity) is of OHM letter shape.

Mada Kovils:

1. Kochengat Chola was an early Chola king and one of the 63 Nayanmars (Saivite saints) of Saivism. 
2. He is believed to have attained the spiritual rebirth of a spider that fought with an elephant in its previous birth over the worship of the Lord Shiva. 
3. He had red eyes during birth as he remained in his mother’s womb a little longer. 
4. His mother, looking into the baby's red eyes said Kochengkannano (in Tamil Ko=king, Cheng=red, Kan=eyes), which literally means king with red eyes and hence he was named Kochengat Cholan. 
5. After becoming a king, he followed Saivism and built 70 Maadakovils, temples with elevated structures where elephants cannot reach the sanctum, in the Chola empire. 
6. It is believed that this is one of the temple built by him. 
7. Saint Thirugnanasambanthar mentions about Kochengata Chola’s worship in one of his hymns praising Lord Shiva of this temple.

Arasil Karai Puthur:

1. This temple is situated on the southern bank of Arasalaru River. 
2. Hence, the place came to be called as Arasil Karai Puthur (Arasil refers to Arasalaru River, Karai refers to the banks and Puthur means Village in Tamil).

People worshipped Lord Shiva here:

Sage Unmaiyananda and Ananda Muni had worshipped Lord Shiva of this Temple.

ADMINISTRATION:



This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE).