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Vyagra Pureeswarar Temple

The Tirupperumpuliyur Vyakrapureeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple situated in Perumpuliyur, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped here as Vyakrapureeswarar, while his consort is Soundaryanayaki. This temple is one of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams—Shiva temples celebrated in the early medieval Tevaram hymns composed by the Tamil Saivite Nayanar, Tirugnanasambandar. It is also notable for being one of the temples located on the northern banks of the River Kaveri.

Timings

Morning 10:00 AM to Evening 11:00 PM

Entry Fee

No entry fee is charged

Sage Vyakrapada, known for his tiger legs, learned about the glory of Lord Nataraja of Chidambaram from his father, Mathiyandan. He worshipped Lord Tirumoola Nathar in Chidambaram and performed his Shiva puja with great devotion, using only the purest flowers, which he inspected using eyes on his fingernails. In the Nataraja shrine at Chidambaram, Vyakrapada is honoured on one side, with Sage Patanjali on the other. Vyakrapada worshipped Lord Shiva at five locations, all ending with the suffix "Puliyur," including Tirupathiri Puliyur, Perumpattra Puliyur (Chidambaram), Erukatham Puliyur, OmamPuliyur, and Perum Puliyur.


Sthala Puranam:



Sage Vyaghrapada, meaning "tiger-footed," learned about the glory of Lord Shiva from his father, Mathiandan. To worship Lord Shiva in Chidambaram with the freshest flowers, untainted by bees, he faced the challenge of walking on thorny paths in the early morning with limited light. To overcome this difficulty, he prayed to Lord Shiva and was granted the feet of a tiger, enabling him to gather flowers without injuring his feet.

The sage worshipped Lord Shiva at five sacred locations, all named with the suffix "puliyur" (which means "tiger" in Tamil). These locations are Perumpatrapuliyur (Chidambaram), Tirupathiripuliyur, Erukathampuliyur, Omampuliyur, and Perumpuliyur (this temple).

In temple iconography, Vyaghrapada is depicted with a human body and tiger’s feet, often shown alongside Patanjali, who has a human body and a snake’s tail. Both sages are said to have witnessed Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance at Chidambaram.

The temple itself is simple yet elegant, with the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) slightly elevated on a padma peetham (lotus pedestal), supporting the Lingam baanam.

In the western koshtam (niche) of the garbhagriha, instead of the usual Lingodhbhavar or Mahavishnu, there is a murti of Ardhanareeswarar.

Typically, the Navagrahas (nine planets) are arranged with Surya (the Sun) facing east, and the other planets facing different directions. However, in this temple, Surya faces west towards the Lord, and all other Navagrahas face Surya.

This temple is a Paadal Petra Sthalam, celebrated in the Thevaram hymns, and a Tiruppugazh temple where Saint Arunagirinathar composed hymns in praise of Murugan.

While the temple dates back to the early Chola period, significant improvements were made during the reign of Raja Raja Chola I, with inscriptions in the temple confirming these renovations.

Do's and Don'ts

  1. Pray to your Ishta Devata (personal deity) before embarking on a pilgrimage to the temple.
  2. Contact the Temple Devasthanam Information Center for inquiries, temple details, and pooja schedules.
  3. Reserve your travel and accommodation at the temple well in advance.
  4. Bathe and wear clean clothes before entering the temple.
  5. Focus on God and Goddess during your visit inside the temple.
  6. Maintain silence and recite your Ishta Mantra to yourself while in the temple.
  7. Follow the ancient customs and traditions observed in the temple.
  8. Deposit any offerings in the hundi (offering box) only.
  1. Do not visit the temple for any reason other than the worship of God and Goddess.
  2. Do not smoke inside the temple premises.
  3. Do not consume alcoholic beverages at the temple.
  4. Avoid eating non-vegetarian food in the kshetram (sacred area).
  5. Do not approach mediators for a quick darshan as it may inconvenience others.
  6. Do not carry any weapons inside the temple.
  7. Avoid wearing headgear like helmets, caps, turbans, or hats inside the temple premises.

Dress Code

For Men: Men are expected to wear traditional attire such as dhoti or veshti when entering the temple. Shirts should be removed inside the sanctum, while modest upper garments like shawls are allowed.

For Women: Women are encouraged to wear traditional Indian clothing like sarees, salwar kameez, or half-sarees. It is important to dress modestly and avoid tight or revealing clothes.

How to reach

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By Bus: The nearest bus station to the temple is Thiruvaiyaru, which is well-connected by local buses from nearby towns and cities.

By Train: The nearest railway station is Thanjavur, located about 16.9 kilometres from the temple. From there, you can take a bus or taxi to reach Tirupperumpuliyur.

By Air: The nearest airport is Trichy International Airport, about 75 kilometres from the temple. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach the temple via Thanjavur.

Nearby Cities and Rivers

River :

  1. Cauvery River : Flows near the Tirupperumpuliyur Vyakrapureeswarar Temple, providing spiritual significance and serving as a source of sacred water for temple rituals.


Cities :

  1. Thanjavur: A prominent historical city known for its rich cultural heritage and proximity to several important temples.
  2. Kumbakonam: A renowned temple town, famous for its religious sites and festivals, located close to the temple.
  3. Chidambaram: Another key spiritual city known for the Nataraja Temple, which has connections to the legends of this temple.