Kalyāna Sundareswarar temple, TiruNallur
Location: Tiru-Nallur
Deity known as: Pancha-Varneshwarar, Kalyāna Sundareswarar
Female Deity: GiriSundari, Kalyāna Sundari
Pathikam: TiruNāvukkarasar - 2, TiruGyānasambandhar - 3
Gallery - Pancha-Varneshwarar Temple
How to reach
This Shiva temple is located close to Papanasam on the Thanjavur-Kumbakonam highway, about 28 km from Thanjavur and 16 km from Kumbakonam. From Papanasam, the route towards Govindakudi passes through the village of Valaippazhakadai, where a branch road leads to the temple. The temple lies about 1 km along this road.
Temple Address
Tiru-Nallur Village
Tiru-Nallur post
(Via) Sundara Perumal Temple
Valangaiman Taluk
Tiruvarur District
PIN - 614208
Temple hours
Morning: 6:00 - 1:00
Evening: 4:00 - 8:00
📢 Notice: All information and photographs have been updated following our visit to the temple in October 2025.
Near by Temples
| 1 | Tiru-Chakkara-Palli - 13 kms | |
| 2 | Tiru-karukavur - 8.7 kms | |
| 3 | TiruPālaithurai - 4 kms | |
| 4 | Avur Pasupatheeswaram - 8 kms |
Temple History
Long ago, a contest of strength arose between Adisesha, the celestial serpent, and Vayu, the lord of winds. Adisesha, with his thousand mighty hoods, wound himself tightly around Mount Kailash, holding it fast in his embrace. Vayu, assuming the form of a tempest, unleashed his furious gales to shake the immovable mountain. The heavens trembled, and the gods, struck with fear, prayed for peace. At their plea, Adisesha eased his grip ever so slightly. In that very moment, Vayu seized the chance, tore away two peaks of Kailash, and carried them southward. One he placed at Tirunallur and the other at nearby Avur. The peak that descended at Tirunallur became the sacred spot upon which Panchavarneswarar manifested in divine splendor. Thus this place came to be hailed as Then Kailayam - the Southern Kailash.
Temple Architecture
Mādakovil
This temple is one of the Mādakovils constructed by King Kochengat Cholan, with the sanctum of the presiding deity set upon an elevated platform. A majestic five-tiered Rājagopuram graces the entrance, while the inner gopuram rises in three tiers. Passing through the gateway, one enters a spacious courtyard where the sacred, armoured flagstaff (Dwajasthambam) stands, with Kodimaram Vināyaka enshrined in front of it. To the north lies the Vasanth Mandap, and to the south is the Thula Mandap, where Amarneethi Nayanār was seated upon a balancing scale.
Goddess Giri Sundari
The sanctum of the female deity GiriSundari is in a dedicated sannidhi oriented towards south.
Other Deities
The prakaram houses sannidhis for various deities and sages; Sage Agastyā, Kāsi Viswanāthar, Gananāthar, Kāsi Vinayakā, Bānalingā, Murugā, the four primary Saivite saints (Nālvar), Kunti Devi, Dakshināmurthy, Lingodbhavā, Brahmā, Durgā, Chandikeswarar, and Natarāja.
Sacred Tree
The temple's sacred tree (Sthala Vriksham), the Vilvā tree, is of great antiquity and is revered as the 'Aadhi Maram' (the primordial tree).
Amarneethi Nayanār
Tirunallur is sanctified as the abode where Amarneethi Nayanār, one among the 63 revered Saivaite saints, attained eternal union with God Shiva. Amarneethi Nayanār, together with his devoted wife and son, was taken into divine grace and granted mukti. To this day, within the temple, devotees can behold the idols of Amarneethi Nayanār, his wife, and son, alongside God Shiva who manifested here in the guise of a Brahmin to bestow His boundless compassion.
Special feature
The presiding deity of this temple is Panchavarneswarar. The Shiva Linga here is unique, for it changes color five times during the course of a single day, once every six naazhigai (roughly 2 hours 24 minutes). The hues appear in sequence - copper, then light crimson, followed by molten gold, then emerald green, and finally a mysterious shade that defies description. It is for this wondrous phenomenon that the deity is adored as Panchavarneswarar, (the One of Five Colors.) The Swayambhu Linga (self-manifested) form, is on a square-shaped pedestal (Chathura Avudaiyar), facing east. It bears small cavities said to have been formed when Sage Bringi worshipped the deity in the form of a bee. Behind the sanctum, a stucco image of Kalyāna Sundarar can be seen, depicting the divine wedding form in which the deity granted darshan to Sage Agastya. On either side stand Vishnu and Brahma, while the sage is shown in humble worship.
Tiruppugazh Temple
Muruga enshrined in the temple has been glorified in Saint Arunagirinatharâ€'s Tiruppugazh. Muruga is enshrined here facing east, with a radiant divine countenance and four graceful arms, accompanied by His consorts Valli and Deivanai. In the Tiruppugazh, a dedicated song praises the glory of this temple’s Murugan, adding to the sanctity of the temple.
The Wedding
During the wedding of Shiva and Parvathy on Mount Kailash, beings from all realms gathered to witness the divine marriage. The weight of the immense gathering caused the northern hemisphere to sink and the southern to rise. To restore balance to the world, God Shiva instructed Sage Agastya to journey south. The sage, grieved that he would miss beholding the sacred wedding, was consoled by God Shiv who assured him: “At any place and time you desire, I shall grant you the vision of My marriage.†True to this divine promise, Tirunallur is among one of the places where Agastya was blessed with the vision of the celestial wedding. Overjoyed by this grace, Agastya installed and worshipped a separate Lingam to the right of Sundara Lingam. In the sanctum, behind the Deity, devotees can behold the stucco image of Kalyana Sundarar accompanied by the divine assembly.
See also:- Places visited by Sage Agasthya in his journey to south - 1) Tirukodunkundram, 2) Tirupanankattur, 3) Tirukallil, 4) Tiruvotriyur, 5) Tiruverkaadu, 6) Tiruvanmiyur, 7) Achirupakkam., 8) Tiru-Nallur
Saptha Sagara Theertham
Kunti Devi, mother of the Pandavas, was afflicted with dosha because she had borne children through the Pancha Bhoothas (five elements) and later abandoned Karna in the river. Distressed, she prayed to God Shiva for relief. She then came to know that bathing in the waters of all seven seas in a single day would free her from sin and bring peace of mind. Troubled by the impossibility of such a feat, she was blessed with the knowledge that in Tirunallur of the South lies the Sapta Sagara Theertham, where the sanctity of all seven seas unites in a single holy tank. Kunti came here, worshipped God Shiva, and bathed in this sacred Theertham, thereby attaining peace and absolution. Born under the star Magham, Kunti bathed here on an auspicious day of Maasi Magham, and her sins were dispelled. Thus, the Puranas declare that a ritual bath in the Sapta Sagara Theertham bestows the very merit of bathing in the Mahamagham tank at Kumbakonam. To affirm this legend, the temple also houses a sculpture of Kunti performing Shiva Puja.
Tiru-Navukarasar Pathikam
At Tiru-Shakthi-Mutram, Tirunavukkarasar (Appar) sang a hymn beseeching God Shiva to place His divine feet upon his head. Shiva, in His infinite compassion, chose to grant this boon at Tirunallur. Here, He placed His sacred feet upon Appar’s head, blessing him with supreme grace. Overwhelmed with joy, the saint fell in adoration and sang hymns of praise, extolling the glory of the deityâ€'s feet in every verse. Because of this divine episode, a unique tradition arose in this temple. Just as the 'Jatari' is ceremonially placed upon devotees in Vishnu temples, here too, a Jatari inscribed with the feet of God Shiva is reverently placed upon the heads of devotees. Thus, the blessings once bestowed upon Appar are symbolically shared with all who come to worship at this temple.
Gallery
