Pallavaneecharam, once known as the legendary Kaveri Poompattinam, was a flourishing port city, and is described in Tamil literatures as the capital of the early Chola kings. Gyanasambandhar describes this vibrant coastal hub as a sight to behold. Everywhere, beautiful storied houses rose up, their intricate architecture reaching towards the sky, surrounded by high walls that seemed to touch the heavens. The well-kept gardens were alive with the buzzing of bees and beetles, sipping nectar from the colorful flowers that bloomed in abundance. Shimmering pools, filled with water drawn up from the deep ocean, hosted floating lotuses that opened their delicate petals to the sun. The women of Kaveri Poompattinam were a sight to behold, their sharp, spear-like eyes and graceful movements captivating all who laid eyes upon them. And the air would have been filled with the harmonious sounds of men and women's voices raised in song, as crowds gathered to watch the talented performers entertain. This was a town that bravely faced the surging tides of the sea, a resilient place where people of the highest moral character made their homes. Kaveri Poompattinam, in its heyday, must have been a truly wondrous and vibrant coastal capital, a jewel of the Chola kingdom.
The Shiva temple at Pallvaneechuram stands as a captivating testament to the region's ancient maritime history, a legacy that has endured despite the ravages of time and nature. Legends suggest that a portion of the once-thriving port has been lost to the relentless power of a devastating tsunami, leaving only this revered temple as a tangible link to the area's storied past. As we approach the temple, the towering, five-tiered gopuram, commands our attention. Passing through the gateway, we can see Athikara Nandi, Shiva's sacred bull, standing guard to the left. Stepping into the outer prakaram, or courtyard, we find sannidhis dedicated to the sun god Surya, while nearby are four Shiva lingas. Adjacent to these, we find the sannidhi of Pattinathar, the humble saint, his hands folded in the namaskara mudra, a gesture of reverence and humility. The Subramaniya idol within the sannidhi adjacent to the sannidhi of Vinyaka, is of a colossal size. Next is the sannidhi of Gajalakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. Last but not least, are Sani, the planet Saturn, Bhairavar, and Chandra, the moon god, all within a single sannidhi.
As we venture into the outer enclosure or Mandap, the sannidhi of the female deity is situated to the right. Directly across the Mandap lies the sannidhi of the presiding deity, Pallavaneswarar, whose majestic Linga stands tall with an impressively wide 'Baanam'. The 'Sabapathi Sabha' within the inner enclosure is a must-see, as it remarkably resembles the iconic structure found in the renowned Chidambaram temple. All the navagraha, or nine planetary deities, in their respective sannidhis are facing westward, oriented towards the primary deity. Lord Muruga within the inner prakaram, or courtyard, stands in a powerful, upright posture alongside his consorts, though without the familiar peacock mount. In the 'goshta' we can see two durga as well as a sannidhi with two Chandikeshwarar deities. The confluence of the mighty Kaveri River with the ocean is near to this sacred site, and the confluence is considered a revered water body associated with the temple.
Kaveri Poompattinam is the birthplace of the revered saint Pattinathar. In a north-facing sanndhi, the iconic figure of Pattinathar stands in a reverential namaskara mudra, hands folded in a gesture of humble veneration. Crowning this sanctum is an ornate vimana, its spire adorned with intricate sculptural depictions of Pattinathar himself, as well as his wife, mother, and Lord Shiva who was raised as his son. Unlike many other temples, this place does not celebrate the traditional Brahmotsava festival. Instead, it is the "Pattinathar festival" that takes center stage, observed for a full twelve days. The tenth day of this festival is especially auspicious, commemorating the divine moment when Lord Shiva bestowed upon Pattinathar the ultimate gift of moksha. It was from this very birthplace that Pattinathar embarked on a pilgrimage, eventually attaining that blessed state of mukthi, at the temple of Tiruvotriyur in the Thondai region. It is for this reason that the revered saint was given the name "Pattinathar" - for he was born in the lands of Kaveri Poompattinam.
The pathikams composed by Tirugyanasambandhar is in first and third tirumurai.
View of the temple
South entrance
Inside view
Pattinathar sannidhi
Dakshinamurthy
Muruga with his consorts
Navagraha sannidhi
Pallavana Nathar Sannidhi
Brahma
Goddess Durga