Satchinatheswarar Temple in Tiruppurambiyam, Tamil Nadu, India, is also one of the ancient “Shiva stalams” dedicated to Paramasiva, under the administration of the Shyamalapeetha Sarvajnapeetham. Tiruppurambiyam is also known as Tiruppirampiyam.
The Temple
Sri Sakshinatheswar Radiating His Divine Grace as the Presiding Deity The present name of the presiding deity Lord Paramasiva is “Satchinathar” and His eternal consort, “Kuraivilla Azhagi” (beauty unsurpassed). Legend has it that Paramasiva appeared here as a witness (meaning “Saakshi” or “Satchi”) to defend and protect his devotee, and hence the name.
The Sanctum of the temple was built by the regent King Rajaraja Chola I. The sanctum wall contains beautiful sculptures of Parivara Devatas (attendant deities of Paramasiva).
The Amman (Cosmic Mother and Divine Consort of Paramasiva) shrine is housed in the 2nd Prakaram (circumambulation path) while Paramasiva’s sanctum is reached past the Mahamandapam (the great stage) housing all the relevant Parivara Devatas. Dakshinamurti’s shrine is located on the Southern bank of the temple tank. There is also a shrine to Sattanathar (Guardian God) here.
Most of the stone inscriptions here go back to the days of the Imperial Cholas (Parantaka I and his descendants), detailing the grants that were made to the temple. There are inscriptions also from the Raja Raja’s and the Vijayanagar kings’ period.
Tiruppurambiyam was the fierce battlefield of the “Purampaya war” in the 9th century deciding the bright future of the Cholas dynasty. The victorious Chola king Aditya I revived the brick temple into a blue metal stone temple in the sweet remembrance of the turn of the tide in his favor and renamed it as Aditeshwaram. Also this temple has about 230 acres of agricultural and horticultural farms as revealed by a stone inscription researcher V.Sadashiva Pandarathar in its sthala varalaru (published history of the temple). His writings about the history of “Tirupurampaya Devasthanam” (title of the publication that means “Tiruppurambiyam Temple”) was published in the year 1946.
Historical happenings in the Satchinathar temple
Rich Sculptural Heritage of Satchinathar Temple
Paramasiva as the primordial Guru
This temple is one of the rare 24 temples among the “24 Guru Sthalams” (24 centers dedicated to the primordial Guru Dakshinamurti) and is surrounded by the Manniyaru, Kollidam and the Kaveri rivers.
Dating back to the 5th century A.D., the presiding deity of this temple is Paramasiva in his incarnation as Dakshinamurti (one who sits facing South), the primordial Guru, who imparted the ultimate spiritual instruction through deep silence to the four great Saints, “Sanakadi”– Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanat Kumara under a sacred banyan tree on the banks of the Brahma Teertam (sacred water body named after Lord Brahma, from where he took water to offer ritualistic worship to Paramasiva), facing South. Seated as Dakshinamurti, history has it that Paramasiva gave darshan (appeared and gave a divine glimpse) to a woodcutter who was taking fuel to the temple from the banks of the tanks in the East of the temple.
Where Power manifestation happened
It is believed that the child-incarnation Tiru Jnanasambandar, one of the four visionary Poet-Saints (Nayanmars) of the Saiva Siddhanta (Divine doctrine of Paramasiva) tradition, performed a number of miracles through spiritual power manifestation at this ancient temple, sanctifying and energizing the space.
Brahma worshiped Paramasiva here
Lord Brahma, one of the divine holy Trinity of Hindu Gods (of Paramasiva, Brahma and Vishnu), is also said to have worshiped Paramasiva here.
King cured of Muyalaka disease
A King named Haridwajan of the Magadha Desam (country named Magadha which is modern day Bihar in the East of India) was cured of the ‘Muyalaka’ disease at this temple.
Ganesha who saved the world from the great Deluge
Lord Ganesha as “Pralaya Katha Vinayagar” consecrated by Lord Varuna made from sea shells and special oceanic herbs
The temple also has a very special Ganesha deity called “Pralayam katha Vinayagar” meaning “The Ganesha who saved the world from the great deulge”. The history behind this name: In the Krita yuga or the Satya Yuga (the Golden Age of Truth), Lord Paramasiva asked his son, Lord Ganesha (also called Vinayagar) to save the world from the great deluge. Ganesha created a well on the eastern side of the temple tank (Teertham) and channeled all the seven seas into that well, controlled the deluge and saved the world.
After this, Lord Varuna, the God of the oceans, created a deity of Lord Ganesha from sea shells and other materials obtained from the sea and worshiped him as “Pralayam Katha Vinayagar” (literal meaning – “pralayam” – deluge, katha – “saved”, Vinayagar – another name for Lord Ganesha). Remarkably, even today this Ganesha deity is majestically seated, proving true this extraordinary happening.
As the temple’s shrine stayed unaffected by this great deluge, the name “Purambiyam” came into being (“puram” – meaning an “exception” to a natural rule), and the Vinayakar (Ganesha) is revered till date as “Pralaya Katha Vinayakar”.
On the night before Vinayaka Chathurthi, a day celebrating the happening of Lord Ganesha, a special abhishekam (sacred oblations) with 100 kgs of honey is done to this Ganesha. The abhishekam with honey is performed throughout the night. It is said that all the honey that is poured during the abhishekam is absorbed by the deity. No abhishekam is performed during the rest of the year.
The well created by Lord Ganesha, Vinayagar, that drank the 7 seas to save the world
This grand feat is proven by the temple well that still remains in the temple complex, reminding us to be established in the faith for the Divine’s grace and protection under any situation or circumstance.
Praying and offering worship to this “Pralayam Kaatha Vinayagar” naturally brings us under the protective divine umbrella, removing any dangers, negativity and obstacles from our life.
Paramasiva as “Satchinathar”
The Garba Graha, Sanctum of “Ever-witness” Lord Satchinathar is visited by the 292nd and 293rd Pontiffs of the Shyamala Peetham for worship
Once a trader who was returning to Madurai from Kaveri Poompattinam died due to snake bite. Heeding to the prayers of a trader woman who was accompanying him to the Lord in this temple, the trader was graced back to life by the poet Saint Tiru Jnanasambandar who happened to be there at that time. Tiru Jnanasambandar also conducted the marriage ceremony of both the traders in the Presence of Paramasiva as an eyewitness. He also engaged a Vanni tree and a well that were present there alongwith the temple madapalli (kitchen), as witness to the whole happening. After returning to Madurai with his new wife, the trader’s first wife abused him and did not accept his second wife. To clear her doubts and show the Lord’s causeless mercy on His devotee, Paramasiva Himself appeared along with the entire set up of the Vanni tree, the well and the temple Madapalli (kitchen) amidst which the scene happened, and told the truth as it happened, and declared himself as a witness to the incident. Therefore, He is called Satchinatheswarar Swami, “Satchi” meaning “witness” – the witnessing God in this temple.
This entire witnessing divine play has been mentioned in the epic “Silappathigaram” as “Vannimaramum, Madapalliyum saandraga munniruthi kattiya moikuzhalal”, meaning, “the Lord placed as witness, the Vanni tree and the temple kitchen.” This incident is also wonderfully described in Perumpatrapuliyar Nambi’s “Thiruvilayadal Puranam 62” and Paranjothi Munivar’s “Tiruvilayadal Puranam 64”, both of which describe the Divine deeds of Paramasiva.
Glory of the Temple
The Poet-Saint Appar is also said to have sung many Thevaram songs in praise of Paramasiva at this temple, and hence this temple is known as a “Thevara Sthalam” or “Padal petra sthalam” meaning the temple that has received the songs of glory of the Nayanmars. It has been glorified by the hymns of “Thevaram”, the 7th century great Tamil literature, sung by the enlightened poet Saints called Nayanmars – devotees of Paramasiva who are 63 in number. This temple is the 46th in that series of temples that have been glorified by the songs of these great Poet Saints called the Nayanmars (servitors of the Lord), the chief of them being Tiru Jnanasambandar, Appar and Sundarar.
This temple has also been mentioned as “Purambayamathanil Aram Pala Aruliyum” in the verses called “Keerti Tiru Agaval” of the larger composition “Tiruvasagam” by Manickavasagar, who is also one of the 63 Nayanmars. This temple also finds a place in the compilation “Tiruvilayadal Puranam” which outlines the 64 divine deeds of Paramasiva, compiled by Paranjyothi Munivar. It also features in the famous Saint Pattinathar’s literary works.
Pandit Sundaresa Wandayar composed the Purambiya malai in which 10 verses are available on the glory of this temple.
Festivals
There are 4 daily worship services performed in this temple. Besides this, the annual Brahmotsavam (10-day festival) is celebrated in the Tamil month of Maasi (Feb-Mar) and the annual Vinayagar festival is observed in the Tamil month of Avani (Aug-Sep). In the Vedic month of Aippasi (Oct-Nov), the Annabhishekam is celebrated where the deity is offered abhishekam (sacred bath) with large amounts of steamed rice. In Margazhi (Dec-Jan), the Tiruvadhirai or Arudra Darisanam festival is celebrated. The other festivals celebrated here are Kartikai Deepam (the festival of lights that dispels the darkness the ignorance), Vishu, Aadipooram, Navaratri, Skanda Shashti and Thai poosam.
Temple Facts
Lord Paramasiva worshiped as – Satchinathar or Sakshinathar (also called as Punnaivana Nathar)
Devi, Paramasiva’s Divine Consort – Karumpadu Solli (also called Kuraivila Azhagi)
Vriksham (Sacred Tree) – Punnai
Teertham (sacred water body) – Saptasagara Teertham (well)
Pathikam (10 glorifying verses) by – Tiru Jnanasambandar, Appar, Sundarar
Pooja timing:
Kaalai Sandhi (morning) – 09.00 am, Utchi Kaalam (noon) – 12.00 noon
Sayaratchai (evening) – 06.00 pm, Artha Jamam (night) – 09.00 pm
Location: It is located at 7 Kms to the North of Kumbakonam at a Village named Thirupurambiyam. It is 3 Kms from the famous Swamimalai temple. It is also located near Innambar, Tiruvaiyaru, on the northern banks of the Manni river, around 8 Kms from northwest of Kumbakonam.
Nearest airport – Tiruchirapalli (Trichy)
Bus numbers to reach Tiruppurambiyam from Kumbakonam – Bus No. 6 and 18 (subject to change)
Nearest Railway stations: Kumbakonam Rail Way Station, Darasuram Rail Way Station
Postal and Contact information
Arulmigu Satchinathar Alayam, Tirupurambiyam. Tirupurambiyam (Post Office), Kumbakonam (Taluk), Thanjavur (District), Tamilnadu, Phone : 0435 2459519, 9444626632
Travel Base – Thanjavur district