Sri Pasupatheswarar Temple - Paadal Petra Sthalam — Attraction in Vadakuiruppu

Tiruvetkalam Pashupsteshwar Temple Temple is located in Chidambaram, Cuddalore district. The temple is in Annamalai University campus. This is one of the 276 Padal Petra Sthalam Temple timings: 0630 am to 1130 am 0530 pm to 0830 pm The Temple is significantly linked to Mahabharata's most important warrior "Arjun" and God Shiva. Here Shiva is worshipped as Pashupatheshwara alongwith his consort Devi Satgunambal and Devi Nalla Nayaki. It is believed that Arjuna received the Pashupata astra(arrow/ weapon) here, from God Shiva. The story is narrated in paras ahead. God Krishna had advised Arjuna to perform penance to seek weapon from God Shiva. It is believed that this place was densely populated with bamboo trees. Arjuna commences his penance in this place. Duryodhana sends a demon mookasura in the form of wild boar to disturb the penance of Arjuna. Shiva, knowing the design of Duryodhana, set out with Devi Parvati to kill the Boar. Shiva disguised as a hunter releases the arrow on the boar and it is said at the same instant an arrow released by Arjuna also hits the boar. Both debate as to establish the primacy of killing mookasura, the boar demon. Shiva and Arjuna engage in a fight. Arjuna lands a blow on Shiva with his bow. Parvati is enraged, however Shiva placates her. Shiva, with his toe, tosses Arjuna into Krupa Samudram. Arjuna meanwhile realises that the person with whom he was engaged in a fight is Shiva in the disguise of hunter. Shiva pleased with Arjunas penance and tenacity grants him the weapon Pashupata astra. The murti is swayambhu. The lingam is said to bear a scar of the bow hit by Arjuna on Shiva. The Pallavas buit thus Temple. In 1914, Pedda Permal Chettiar renovated the Temple. Keep this on your itinerary, and to do list whole exploring the enchanting Tamil Nadu. The temple maintenance especially toward the exterior need more impetus. Source: Wikipedia,...

The temple is praised in the Thevaram hymns of three Saivite saints. “Are you determined to surrender to Lord of Tiruvetkalam Wearing the crescent Moon, wealthy blessing you ever Then your woes would vanish, fate will not follow you Develop that skill of devotion, that is purpose of life.” - Tirunavukkarasar This is the second temple on the northern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns. Chithirai first day being Tamil New Years day falling almost on April 14; Vaikasi Visakam in May-June; Aani Tirumanjanam in June-July; Vinayaka Chaturthi in August-September; Purattasi Navarathri in September-October; Deepavali in October-November; Maha Shivrathri in February-March and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple. Thillai Chidambaram is the first of sacred Shiva Sthalas praised in Thevaram hymns followed by Tiruvetkalam. Lord is a swayambumurthi. The temple is open from 6.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 5.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. The temple is built by Pallava kings strictly following the temple architecture rules with bricks. In the year 1914, this was renovated with stones by Peddha Perumal Chettiar of Kanadukathan. Presently, the temple is facing east with a three tier Rajagopuram. In the four pillars in Ambica shrines, there are sculptures depicting Arjuna storing his weapons, Arjuna performing penance standing on one leg, Lord Shiva in the guise of a hunter and Arjuna fighting with Lord. Lords Nardana Vinayaka, Siddhi Vinayaka, Anugraha Dakshinamurthy are in the prakara. Sun and Moon are next to each other. Worshipping the planets during eclipse times is devotionally followed...

Arjuna, the Pandava prince in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, performed severe penance at this place to appease Lord Shiva. One day, Arjuna saw a wild boar rushing to attack him. When he shot the boar with an arrow, another hunter claimed to have shot the animal first. A fight for supremacy began between the two. Arjuna shot the hunter with an arrow, the impact of which was felt by all living beings in the world. The hunter then kicked Arjuna with his toe, which fell into the ocean of grace. It took time for Arjuna to realize that it was Shiva in the form of the hunter who had attacked him. Shiva's consort Parvati was angry that Arjuna had attacked her husband, but Shiva pacified her. They both bestowed upon Arjuna the weapon called Pasupada as a boon. Since Shiva had offered Pasupada at this place, he came to be known as Pasupadeeswarar.

The 8th-century Tamil Saiva saint Sambandar praised Ucchinatha in ten hymns in the first Thirumurira compiled Thevaram. [5] The temple is considered a hymn-bearing temple because of its devotion to the Thevaram, and is one of the 276 temples mentioned in the Saiva Niyati.

It is considered the fourth temple in a series of temples on the northern bank of the Cauvery River. The temple is also known as the Bhairava Temple. It is believed to be the place where sages Agastya and Valmiki are believed to have received blessings. The image of Sivagami is depicted with her consorts Vijaya...