Thenupureeswarar and Durgai amman temples — Attraction in Tamil Nadu

Within 30 minutes drive from Kumbakonam. Large temple complex with beautiful Chola architecture. Ample parking is available.

Presiding deity is Sri Dhenupureeshwarar and Sri Gnanambika. Kamadhenu is believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva here and hence the name as Dhenupureeshwarar. Gnanambika bestows one with gnana (divine knowlege). People born under Uttarattadhi/Uttarabhadrapada/Uttaraproshtapada nakshatra should visit the temple for best results, as Kamadhenu is the deity for this nakshatra. Offer ghee lamps in the Shiva temple without fail for best results.

The famous Patteeswaram Durga Devi temple is also part of the temple complex. One should visit Ganesha, Shiva, Gnanambika, Bhairava and then visit the Durga shrine. I had visited Durga shrine many years back and it was just in a praakaaram (corridor) and the Ambal was graceful as ever - zero crowd. Now it has become famous, and has been expanded into a huge temple of its own. The priests are pleasant to interact with, just like before.

Durga is the atidevata for Rahu in Navagrahas, and hence anyone with malefic/weak Rahu in their horoscope, going through Rahu dasha/bhukti etc or have sarpa dosha should visit this Durga temple and pray to Her for relief and protection. If you have issues like marriage delay, enemies, evil eye/black magic issues etc - you can visit and pray to Patteeswaram Sri Durga. Once your prayer is answered, you can offer a red saree (10 yards) to Durga and do an abhishekam, offer mala etc as a sign of gratitude.

People flock here these days in huge numbers and offer lemon mala, red arali mala, betel leaf mala etc and pray for their well being. Durga Devi protects one like a fortress and helps one win over enemies (although for the dharmic righteous causes). The Durga here is Ashta Bhuja Durga of a peaceful nature with 8 Hands holding different types of weapons, while standing on the Mahishasura's head. Prayers are answered and protection is assured for sure!

Devotees having specific prayers must light pure cow ghee lamps in the temple. It is believed that cow ghee lamps lit in such potent temples bestows one with all the goodness & ward off the malefic effects of the navagrahas. Our prayers are answered when we light pure cow ghee lamps in such places.

Validate/check the authenticity/purity of ghee in the lamps sold in/near temples (or) best to carry your own lamp set with ghee, lamp, wick,...

Patteeswaram is the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva; the deity here is Sri Dhenupureeswarar. The temple is close to Sri Durgai, a popular place near Kumbakonam. The Goddess who resides in Patteeswaram is Gnanambikai.

Patteeswaram derived its name from Patti, the girl calf of the cow Kamadhenu. The legend says that once Parasakthi was in search of a peaceful place to perform her tapas. She then found this place and started her penance.

Kamdhenu, the sacred cow, got to know about it and sent her daughter to help Parasakthi with everything. Lord Shiva became pleased with the penance of Parasakthi and gave her Darshan. Patti, the daughter, witnessed this, and she also installed a Shiva Linga and started worshipping it. Shiva also became pleased with the worship of Patti and blessed her; since then, the place has got its name, "Patteeswaram."

on his battle again Ravana.

This is also the place where Sage Viswamithra uses the Gayathri Mantra. Hence he was called "Brahma Rishi" by Saint Vasishta.

Here the Goddess Durga is seen having three eyes and eight hands in which she holds her weapons. Her legs rest on the demon Mahishasura who the Goddess killed. The Goddess holds all the weapons, but she has such grace and mercy on her face that a mother has for her children.

Durga here remains in a standing posture of about six feet in height. She is draped in a Madisar saree and wears lemon and arali garland. Her smiling face is welcoming to the devotees; the Goddess resides with her mount lion, standing and facing right.

Most devotees come on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays during Rahu kalam. This is because the Goddess here is worshipped during Rahu kalam to receive more benefits and blessings. By praying to the Goddess here, we cut our bad karma and gain the forgiving nature of the Goddess; our doshas get removed, and we attain peace in our life.

To worship the Goddess, one should light a lamp during Rahu kalam. Durga is also considered elder to her brother Vishnu; hence, Ashtami and Navami days that are important to worship Lord Vishnu are also considered essential to worship the Goddess. Additionally, one can also worship her on Amavasya and Pournami.

Many people also visit here to pray for their offspring, and the Goddess blesses them...

This is the only temple with goddess durga in a separate pragharam. One must visit this temple while visiting Kumbakonam. Excellent temple of goddess Sri Durga , Must see temple when you are at Kumbakonam. Durga temple is part of the Siva temple.

Durgai Amman Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Durga located in Thenupuriswarar Temple, Patteeswaram near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India.

Meenakshi was the Ista devata to Pandya dynasty while Durga to Chola dynasty. Mangayarkkarasiyar and Kundavai Pirāttiyār was very fond of her and worshipped her.2] Goddess Durga was the family deity of Rajaraja I and other Chola kings and they used to worship her and pray fervently to her before fighting a war. She was kept north of Patteeswaram during the Chola reign and was their ‘Kaaval Deivam’, the protecting deities. The kings used to go by her divine decree regarding battle and other state affairs, and respected her arul vaakku, blessings. After the fall of the Cholas, she was consecrated in Thenupurisvara Temple in Patteeswaram.[3]

Speciality

Durga is considered to be the combined force of all Gods to destroy the evil forces. She is considered as Shanta Swarupi (calm or peaceful countenance). She has eight hands on which she is holding conch, discus, bow, arrow, sword, shield, and a parrot. She is in tribanga posture.[1 The poses of her eight hands express the following

Sl NoPostureMeaning1AbhayamudraAssuring safety to devotee2ShankhaShow the way3Sudarshana Chakra (discus)Destroy the enemy4ArrowGoal the right direction5ShieldThe shield will protect6ParrotThe hand holding parrot will tell what would happen

The temple is full to overcrowding during Rahukalam on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, especially on Aadi Ashadha month. Muthupandhal is the biggest festival of...