Panchavarneswarar Temple — Attraction in Tiruchirappalli

PANCHAVARNEESHWARAR TEMPLE – WORAIYUR – TRICHIRAPALLI DISTRICT - TAMILNADU

Uraiyur or Tirumukkeeswaram, was one of the oldest capitals of the early Chola kings (3020 BC to 245 CE) as noted by the Greek traveler Ptolomy in the 2nd CE. The 7th century Shaiva canonical work Tevaram by Tirugnanasambandar mentions the place as "Tirumukeechwaram”. Uraiyur is an area of Tiruchirapalli in Tamilnadu, sometimes spelt as Urayur, this location is also known as Thirukkozhi, Nikalaapuri, Uranthai, and Kozhiyur. It has a history dating back to before 200 BCE There is definite mention of the Cholas, and their capital in Ashokan inscriptions in Orissa pushing back the antiquity of the Cholas as well as Uraiyur to 272–232 BCE, which was the period of Ashoka (ca. 304–232 BCE) who was ruler of the Maurya Dynasty of Patliputra (modern Patna). Inscriptions and rock edicts of Ashoka and the Satavahana describe Urayur as "the citadel and centre of the Cholas". Uraiyur was ruled by Karikala Cholan.

Karikala Cholan travelling from Kaveripumpattinam was riding his majestic elephant in a procession in the town of Urayur, when the elephant got enraged and became uncontrollable. Suddenly a Cock (Kozhi) appeared and pecked the elephant in its head, making it calm. The elephant retreated and the king understanding the significance of the place built a city and converted it as his capital. The Cock dug up the earth, where a Shivalingam was found. A temple was built around it. It would be very difficult to assess the age of the original Temple (between 2000 – 1000 years), as there has been many additions and renovations, the inscriptions of Raja Raja Chola would be around the start of the 10th Century.

One of the eight inscriptions dated the fourth year of a ruling Chola king records a gift of the village Atigunakapaganallur to the maintenance of the temple. The introduction of Chola king Rajendra Chola 1 can be traced in the inscription. Another inscription on the north wall of the presiding deity during the seventh year of Raja Raja Chola 1 mentions Rajasraya-Chaturvedimangalam in Uraiyur-kurram, a subdivision in Keralankata-valanadu. The temple is mentioned as Udaiyar tirundaitalai Mahadeva at Tiru-uraiyur.

The presiding diety is Mahadev in the form of a swayambhu lingam facing east, known as PanchaVarnaswamy in Sanskrit ( Panch= five, Varna=Colour, Swamy= Lord). The Panchavarna signifies the Panchabhootam, Prithivi( Earth), Jal ( Water), Agni (Fire), Vayu ( Air) & Akasha ( Ether).There are many legends attached to the temple, one such legend says, Shiva is believed to have appeared in five different colours for Sage Udanga( Uttanka) and hence the presiding deity came to be known as Panchavarneswarar ("Lord of five colours"). Karkotakan the Naga king was carrying the images of five different Lingams which all got merged into one as the presiding deity at this temple.

Mahadev’s Consort Devi Parvathi is known as Gandhimathi Amman and is facing north towards the left of the Lord in a separate sanctum.

Panchavarnaswamy temple complex has three Praharams (outer courtyard) and a five-tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower). The central shrine faces east and holds the image of Panchavarnaswamy (Shiva) in the form of a swayambhu lingam. In the inner precinct leading to the sanctum, Sculptures of Ganesha, Karthikeya,Nandi and Navagraha idols are located. As in other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the walls around the sanctum of Panchavarnaswamy has idols of Dakshinamurthy (Shiva as the Teacher), Durga (warrior-goddess) and Chandikeshwarar (a saint and devotee of Shiva).

The Mukhamandapam has the shrine of Bhagavathi, Sage Uthanga, Mahalakshmi. The raised Pillar hall is exquisitely designed with unique sculptures of Mahakali, Thandavamurthy, five faced Ganesh, & caricatures of women looking like a Horse and Elephant when viewed from an angle.

In the compound entering the temple is the Nandi Mandapam with a 6 ft Nandi facing the lord, along with a deep well known as...

Hi guys I am from Bangalore and I visited this Beautiful Temple on 20/7/25.

1. Panchavarneswarar Temple is located woraiyur which is just 6kms from TPJ. 2)Tirumukkeeswaram, was one of the oldest capitals of the early Chola kings (3020 BC to 245 CE) as noted by the Greek traveler Ptolomy in the 2nd CE. 3)It has a history dating back to before 200 BCE There is definite mention of the Cholas, that Uraiyur was ruled by Karikala Cholan.
2. The age of the original Temple between 2000 – 1000 years 5)The presiding diety is SHIVA in the form of a swayambhu lingam facing east, known as PanchaVarnaswamy in Sanskrit ( Panch= five, Varna=Colour, Swamy= Lord). 6)The Panchavarna signifies the Panchabhootam, Prithivi( Earth), Jal ( Water), Agni (Fire), Vayu ( Air) & Akasha ( Ether). 7)Here Shiva is believed to have appeared in five different colours for Sage Udanga( Uttanka) and hence the presiding deity came to be known as Panchavarneswarar ("Lord of five colours"). With respect to TIME. 8)SHIVA with Devi Parvathi is known as Gandhimathi Amman and is facing north towards the left of the Lord in a separate sanctum.
3. In the compound entering the temple is the Nandi Mandapam with a 6 ft Nandi facing the lord, along with a deep well known as Shiva Teertham.
4. Temple timings is from 6AM to 12PM and from 4PM to 8.30PM.
5. Parking is NOT available as the Temple is located in Busy Market Area so better to park your vehicles somewhere near and go by AUTO or walk.
6. Number of hotels/ Shops are avavailable for eating and pooja item purposes.
7. Mobile phones are allowed inside the temple.
8. No Dress code but be in...

அருள்மிகு காந்திமதியம்மை சமேத பஞ்சவர்ணேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில் உறையூர்.

இறைவன் சுயம்பு மூர்த்தியாக அருள்பாலிக்கிறார். தங்கம், வெண்மை, செம்மை, கருமை, புகைமை ஆகிய ஐந்து நிறங்களை இச்சிவலிங்கம் பிரம்மனுக்கு காட்டியதால் இவருக்கு ஐவண்ணப்பெருமான் என்ற திருநாமமும் உண்டு. ஒவ்வொரு கால பூஜைக்கும் இறைவன் ஒவ்வொரு நிறமாக மாறுவதை இப்போதும் நாம் காணலாம். இந்த உலகில் எந்த இடத்தில் சிவபூஜை செய்தாலும், சிவ தரிசனம் செய்தாலும் அவையனைத்தும் இங்கு வந்து தான் உறையும் என்பதால் இத்தலம் உறையூர் எனப்பட்டது.இக்கோயில் சோழர்களால் கட்டப்பட்டது.சிவனின் தேவாரப்பாடல் பெற்ற 274 சிவாலயங்களில் இது 68 வது தேவாரத்தலம் ஆகும்.

தலபெருமை: ஒருமுறை நாத்திகன் ஒருவன் கோயிலில் தரப்பட்ட திருநீறை அணிந்து கொள்ளாமல் உதாசீனம் செய்தான். இதற்காக மறுபிறவியில் பன்றியாக பிறந்து சேற்றில் உழன்றான். தன் முந்தைய பிறவி தவறை நினைத்து வருந்தினான். சிவனை வணங்கி, இங்குள்ள சிவதீர்த்தத்தில் நீராடி பாவ விமோசனம் பெற்றான். இங்குள்ள காந்திமதி அம்மன் நாகலோகத்தில் நாககன்னியரால் பூஜிக்கப்பட்டு சோழமன்னனால் பிரதிஷ்டை செய்யப்பட்டதாக வரலாறு கூறுகிறது.

பஞ்சவர்ணேஸ்வரர் பெயர்க் காரணம்: உறையூர் வந்த பிரம்மா, இத்தலத்து சிவனை வணங்கினார். அப்போது சிவன் தன்னிடம் இருந்து பொன்மை (தங்கநிறம்), வெண்மை, செம்மை (சிவப்பு), கருமை, புகைமை (புகை நிறம்) ஆகிய ஐந்து நிறங்களை வெளிப்படுத்தினார். பொன்மை நிறத்திலிருந்து மண்ணும், வெண்மை நிறத்திலிருந்து தண்ணீரும், செம்மையிலிருந்து நெருப்பும், கருமையிலிருந்து காற்றும். புகை நிறத்திலிருந்து ஆகாயமும் வெளிப்படும் என்று அவரிடம் கூறினார். நீராக திருவானைக்காவலும், நிலமாக காஞ்சிபுரத்திலும், நெருப்பாக திருவண்ணாமலையிலும், காற்றாக காளஹஸ்தியிலும், ஆகாயமாக சிதம்பரத்திலும் காட்சியளித்து அருள்புரியும் சிவபெருமான், ஐந்து பூதங்களையும் ஒன்றாக உ