Paataleeswarar Temple, Tiruppathiripuliyur
Location: Tiru-Pathiri-Puliyur (better known as Cuddalore)
Deity known as: Pataleeswarar, Thondraathunai Nathar
Female Deity: Periya Nayaki, Thogai Nayaki
Pathikam: Tirunavukarasar - 1, Sambandar - 1
Gallery - Paataleeswarar Temple
How to Reach
This Shiva temple is situated in Tiruppadiripuliyur, Cuddalore, about 175 km from Chennai. It lies just 1 km away from both the Cuddalore bus stand and the Tiruppadiripuliyur railway station.
Nearby Temples
| 1 | Tirumaanikuzhi - 9 kms | |
| 2 | Tiruvathigai - 25 kms | |
| 3 | Devanathaswamy Temple, Tiruvahindipuram - Divya Desam - 5 kms |
Temple Address
Tiruppadiripuliyur
Tiruppadiripuliyur Post
Cuddalore
Cuddalore District
PIN 607002
Temple hours
Morning: 6:00 - 12:00
Evening: 4:00 - 9:00
Temple Layout
Main Structure
This east-facing temple features a beautifully sculpted Rajagopuram that stands tall behind a pillared mandapam at the entrance. The towering gateway is adorned with intricate and exquisite carvings that enhance the temple’s grandeur.
Temple Pond
Nearby lies the temple’s sacred pond, known as ‘Shivakaratheertham’. Devotees can easily access it through well-laid steps leading down to the water.
Shivakaratheertham - Temple Pond
Outer Prakaram
Entering through the gateway, we reach the outer prakaram, where the copper-armoured Dwajasthambam, Balipeetam, and Nandi stand majestically on an elevated platform. During the ‘Pradakshina’ around this prakaram, one notices the absence of other sannidhis.
Inner Prakaram
An inner gateway, guarded by Vinayaka and Subramanya as Dwarapalakas, leads into the inner chamber of the temple. Upon entering and turning left within the inner prakaram, one can see the sannidhi of Chandra, the planetary deity for the Moon, the Urchava idol of Saint Tirunavukkarasar, and the sanctum of the presiding Deity. A distinctive aspect of this temple is the portrayal of Saint Tirunavukkarasar seated with folded hands — a depiction rarely seen elsewhere.
As we proceed along the inner prakaram, we come across the idols of the 63 Nayanmars. Following them is the Sthala Vinayaka, known as Kanni Vinayaka, depicted holding a Padhiri Malar (flower of the yellow snake tree) in his hands. It is believed that Kanni Vinayaka assisted Goddess Parvathi during her penance here.
Other deities in this prakaram include the Urchava idols, a Linga worshipped by sages Vyagrapadha and Agasthya, Meenakshi Sundareshwarar, and Muruga. Muruga is enshrined in a north-facing sannidhi, seated gracefully with one leg folded upon a peacock. His consorts, Valli and Deivanai, stand on either side. Saint-poet Arunagirinathar has composed one Thiruppugazh hymn in praise of this Muruga.
Sacred Trees and Main Sanctum
The Sthala Vruksham of this temple is the Pathiri (yellow snake tree), which is fenced and well maintained. The sanctum of the presiding deity, Pataleeswarar — a Swayambhoo Linga — is guarded by majestic Dwarapalakas.
Palli-Arai (Sleeping Quarters)
The Palli-Arai (sleeping chamber) is usually situated near the shrine of the female deity. In some temples, such as the Thiruvanaikka Jambukeswarar temple, a Palli-Arai may not be present. However, in this temple, the Palli-Arai is located close to the Swamy Sannidhi, and every day, the Ambal is ceremoniously brought here.
Temple Legend
Parvathy's Penance
Once, at Mount Kailash, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy were engaged in a game of dice. Overjoyed by her repeated victories, Parvathy playfully blindfolded Shiva. In that moment, darkness enveloped the entire world, bringing all activity to a standstill. Realizing the gravity of her act, Parvathy sought forgiveness from Shiva. He then instructed her to choose a place on earth for her penance — one where she would feel divine vibrations on her left eye and shoulder.
When Parvathy arrived at Tiruppadiripuliyur, gentle vibrations stirred in her left eye and shoulder, revealing it as the chosen site for her penance. Taking on an invisible form, she began her devoted austerities here — the very spot, now sanctified, lies within the temple’s inner prakaram.
Arunthava Nayaki Sannidhi
The inner prakaram surrounding the sanctum houses a sannidhi for Goddess Gajalakshmi. Adjacent to this shrine and the Goshta Murtha of Goddess Durga is the sacred spot where Parvathy Devi performed her penance. In the sannidhi of Arunthava Nayaki, there is no idol or physical image; instead, a small pedestal (peetam) marks the very place where Parvathy Devi sought forgiveness through her penance.
Another Legend
Tirunavukkarasar's Miracle
The Jain monks, unable to tolerate the growing fame of Saint Tirunavukkarasar, conspired to end his life with the help of King Mahendra Varma Pallava (CE 600–630). As part of their plot, Tirunavukkarasar was bound to a heavy rock and cast into the sea. Unfazed, he sang the Pathikam — 'Katroonaipootti or kadalil paaichinum natrunaiyaavathu Namachivayave'. To everyone’s astonishment, the rock did not sink; instead, it floated gently across the waters and finally reached the shores of Cuddalore. The very spot where Saint Appar (Tirunavukkarasar) emerged from the sea can still be seen today. The Pathikam he sang on that occasion is revered as the Nama-Shivaya Tiruppathikam.
Origin of "Thondrathunai Nathar"
Tirunavukkarasar then visited the sacred Tiru-Pathiripuliyur Pataleeswara Temple and rendered a Pathikam beginning with “Eendraalu Mayenak Kenthiyu Maayudan Thondrinaraai”. In this hymn, he praises the deity with the line “Thondraa Thunaiyaai Irunthanan Than Adiyargalukke”, and from this verse, the presiding deity, Pataleeswarar, came to be revered as Thondrathunai Nathar.
'Puliyur' Significance
Pancha Puliyur Temple
Sage Vyaghrapada, known in Tamil as Pulikkal Munivar (the Sage with Tiger’s Feet), learned of the glory of Nataraja of Thillai from his father, Mathiyanthinar, and came to Chidambaram to worship Nataraja daily. It was his practice to pluck freshly blossomed flowers and offer them to the Deity. However, since bees would drink the nectar in the morning and affect the purity of the flowers, he began collecting them the night before. To help him in this task, Shiva blessed him with the feet of a tiger to climb trees with ease and the eyes of a tiger to carefully examine the flowers in the dark. Thus, he came to be known as Vyaghrapada (in Sanskrit, Vyaghra means tiger), and in Tamil, he was revered as Pulikkal Munivar.
The temples where Vyaghrapada worshipped are collectively known as the Pancha Puliyur Temples. They are :-
- Tiru-Erukkattam-Puliyur
- Tiru-Paathiri-Purliyur
- Perum-Patra-Puliyur (Chidambaram)
- Tiru-Perum-Puliyur
- Omam-Puliyur
This temple is one among the sacred Pancha Puliyur temples worshipped by Saints Patanjali and Vyaghrapada. The Sthala Vruksham of this temple is the Pathiri tree, from which the temple derives its name — Pathiri Puliyur.