The Lord of the temple is praised in the hymns of Saint
Tirugnanasambandar. This is the 3rd temple on the southern bank of Cauvery
praised in Thevaram hymns.
Lord Arthanareeswara graces the devotees in the wall behind
the sanctum sanctorum instead of Lord Lingodhbava. Lord
Dakshinamurthy also graces in the Goshta wall. Lord Vinayaka praised as
Parali Vinayaka graces outside the temple in a standing form.
Lord Shiva as Bikshadana graces in the Mandap as a
procession deity. The 12 zodiac signs are drawn on the roof of the
mandap. Worshipping Lord Shiva and Lord Bikshadana standing under
the zodiac sign would relieve the devotee of all the adverse effects caused by
planets, it is believed. Lord Bikshadana also has His place in the
prakara corridor.
In days of yore, the region was a jungle dense with Paraitrees from where the Shivalinga was found and the temple built
here. Lord was named Paraithurai Nathar. There is a Shivalinga
under the Parai tree behind the sanctum sanctorum. It is said that
Lord appeared from this place. Mother Pasumpon Mayilambikai and Lord
Nataraja grace from their shrines in the prakara facing
south. During the Vaikasi (May-June) Brahmmotsavam, Lord Nataraja
comes in procession not accompanied by Ambica. The system seems to
be different here.
The temple is praised in the hymns of Saints
Gananasambandar, Tirunavukkarasar and Arunagiriar. The Cauvery near
the temple is revered as Akanda (wide) Cauvery. The river bifurcates at a
distance of 2 kms from here as Cauvery and Kollidam. Kadai Muzhukku, a
bath in Cauvery at Mayiladuthurai on the last date of Aipasi (October-November)
is taken by devotees while the first on the first Aipasi takes place in
Paraithurai. It is the firm belief of the devotees that this bathing
would cleanse them of their sins. Lord Muruga with His consorts
Valli and Deivanai grace the devotees from a shrine in the prakara sung by
Saint Arunagiriar while Lord Dandayuthapani wearing sandals graces from a
shrine nearby. Those seeking wedding matches worship Varahi, one
among the Saptha Kannikas offering abishek and lighting lamps.
The region was once known as Tharukavanam. The
sages of the place were too proud that they were supreme in all
aspects. Their wives excelled them in pride thinking that they alone
were chaste and most beautiful. Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu decided
to teach them a lesson. Lord Shiva took the form a handsome beggar Bikshadana
while Vishnu appeared with alluring beauty as Mohini. While the
Rishis were enticed by the beauty of Mohini and followed Her, the Rishi Patnies
(wives) followed the beggar shedding their chastity pride. Seeing
their wives following a beggar, the Rishis understood that there was some magic
and began to chase the Bikshadana and fought him with all the skills they had
but failed and were defeated. They understood that the handsome beggar was
none other than Lord Shiva, fell at His feet and begged His
pardon. Lord Shiva became their Guru and appeared here as a
swayambumurthy.
Moolavar: Paraithurainathar, Tharukavaneswarar
Amman / Thayar:Pasumpon Mayilambikai, Hemavarnaambikai
Thala Virutcham:Parai tree
Theertham: Akanda
Cauvery
Pathigam: Thirunavukarasar , Sambandar
Agamam / Pooja:Sivagama
Old year: 1000-2000
years old
Historical Name:Akanda Cauvery
This sivasthalam temple is located at Tirupparaithurai
(near Tiruchirapalli) which is located on the Tiruchi Karur state highway.
The temple is very near to Tirupparaithurai bus stop.
The place was once called Tharukavanam. The sages here
believed that they were supreme in all aspects. Their wives also believed that
they alone were chaste and most beautiful. Lords Shiva and Vishnu decided to
teach them a lesson. Lord Shiva disguised himself as a handsome beggar calledBikshadana while Vishnu disguised himself as an alluring beauty called Mohini. The
Rishis, enticed by the beauty of Mohini, followed Her, whereas their wives
followed the beggar. Noticing their wives following a beggar, the Rishis
understood that there was magic involved and began to chase Bikshadana. The
sages fought him but failed. They realized that the beggar was none other than
Lord Shiva, fell at His feet and begged for pardon. Lord Shiva then became
their Guru and appeared as a swayambumurthy.
Lord Arthanareeswara presides in the wall behind the sanctum
sanctorum. Lord Dakshinamurthy is also present in the Goshta wall. Lord
Vinayaka is known as Parali Vinayaka and is seen outside the temple in a
standing form.
Lord graces here as a swayambu Linga. The rays of Sun fall
on the Lord on 18th Purattasi (September-October).
Vaikasi Brahmmotsavam in (May-June) and the First Aipasi Thula
Snanam in (October-November) are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Lord Paraithurainathar gracefully offers all remedies to all
diseases including skin and cancer. Stammering in children is cured. Those
facing problems in wedding proposals pray to Mother.
Food habit and life style of people decide their
health.People who fail to go for a walk or fail to make an exercise end up in
getting heart diseases.In addition blood pressure, sugar problems cause
additional problems which end up in hospitalization.Financial problems is
another thing that adds to the list.
Due to changing life style and bad food habits cancer is
formed as almost 70% of food are grown using pesticides.People come to
hospital at the severe stage of cancer and it will be a hopeless situation.A
temple which is situated in a place called thiruparaithurai in trichy district
give hopeless cancer patients, a chance for survival.
Speciality: Amman is calledpasumponmayilambigai. Cancer patients offer cloth and abhishegam for lord siva
and ambal to get cured. Children who are having problem in speaking
worship lord siva and unmarried women worship ambal for getting married
soon.People worship lord siva in the form of pichadanar and sivalingam by
standing below a diagram of inscription containing 12 rasiss to get cured from
graga dosha.
Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother offering
vastras.
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to
8.30 p.m.
Sri Paraithurai Nathar Temple, Tiruparaithurai, Tiruchi-639
115. Contact number +9199408 43571
Do:
- Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
- Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
- Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
- Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
- Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
- Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
- Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
- Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
- Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.
Don't s:
- Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
- Do not smoke at Temple.
- Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
- Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
- Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
- Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
- Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
- Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
- Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
- Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
- Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
- Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.