Rare and Unique Shivalokanathar Temple ( Thirupungur )

This place was once surrounded by Punga trees and hence it is called as Thirupungur.

This is one of the three places where Nandhi Shifted aside to show darshan of Lord to devotees (Thirupanthuruthi – Appar, Patteeswaram – Gnanasampanthar, Thirupungur – Nandhanar).

In this temple lord shiva and Nandi are Swayambhu.

Nandanar was born in a family who were tanning leather to be used for making drums. He was denied to enter into any temple because of his Profession. His ambition was to visit the temple at Chidambaram. He was also working in the fields of a Landlord, who did not give him permission to visit the temple. However, one day, he told Nandanar that he would be granted the wish if Nandanar would achieve of by plough the forty acres of his paddy field overnight. A disappointed Nandanar prayed the Lord to grant him the wish of visiting Chidambaram. Lord was pleased by his sacred love towards him and showed a miracle of ploughing all the forty acres overnight. The next morning the Landlord and Nandanar astonished to see the miracle. The landlord realised his mistake and pleaded forgiveness. Nandanar set out to Chidambaram, on the way he stopped at Thirupungur to have a darshan of the Lord. He was not able to have the darshan as the Nandi was blocking his view. He started singing in praise of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva wanted to know who the devotee was. The dwarapalakas informed him that it was Nandanar. Immediately, Lord asked Nandi to move aside to facilitate him to show a clear darshan to Nandanar. You can see the Nandi at this temple is shifted to a side. Also the Nandi is not hanging out the tongue as is usually. You can also see the dwarapalaks craning their necks as if to hear the orders of Lord.

Nandhanar decided to build a pond near the temple for the anointing Lord Shiva by Goddess Parvathi but it was a huge task for him, hence he prayed the Lord to help him. Lord Shiva asked Lord Ganapathi to help him to build a pond and hence Ganapathi called as Kulam vettia Vinayagar here.

Five stages Rajakopuram welcomes us, in the first prahar. Kulam vettia Vinayagar, Subramaniyar Shrine, Sthalavrishkam, Five lingas with nandhi worshiped by Parvathi, Brahma lingam and Vasantha mandap are there.

Inside the premises Kodimaram, A big Nandhi shifted to aside, Dwara Vinayagar, Suriyan, Nalvar with Kalikamar, Sundara Vinayagar, Somaskandhar, lingams worshiped by agni, Arumugar, Tathpurushar, Agora, Vamadeva, Sathyojaga, Navagraham, Bairavar and chandran Shrines are seen.

 PANCHA LINGAMS

The story goes that once upon a time, there was an interesting debate between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi as to who looks more charming, Lord took out a Darbhai and made three 'knots', throwing down the earth, Swami added wherever this Darbhai falls, I will make a statement on your beauty. The Darbhai fell on the ground and got converted as 'Pancha lingams'. These 'Panchalingams' are situated in this temple is something special to worship. According to legends, worshipping these Panchalingams removes marriage problems, serpent related sins. 

Highlights

Removing Naga dosha and poorva janma sins in this temple. Worshipping Shivalokanathaswamy for marriage hurdles, unemployment, poverty, unhappiness. He removes these hurdles and fulfils the wishes of Aasthikas. The main deity at the Sanctum Sanctorum is anointed with Vibuthi, Lime Juice, tender coconut, milk, Dravya powder abhishekams. Devotees perform special puja by offering Neyvedhyams and distribute to the visitors.

IMPORTANT NOTES ON THIS TEMPLE

Nandanar story is famous in this Shiv sthal. Lord Shiva asked Nandi (holy Bull) to step aside to pave way for Nandanar to see HIM directly (as he was not allowed inside temple due to his caste) In most of the temples, Nandi will have tongue, in this temple Nandi does not have a tongue. In all the temples, Dhwarabalakas at the entrance will be standing straight, but in this holy temple, Dhwarabalakas' face is slightly tilted and positioned diagonal. This is so because Dhwarablakas inform the Lord that "Nanadanar has come to have a darshan and is waiting outside to see YOU" Mahaganapathi is called "Kulam vettiya Vinayagar" (The God who dug pond), and the pond is believed to have been dug up by Lord Ganesh by using his Gana-boothas overnight for Nandanar to take bathe.