About Temple:
The Lord sent his bhoodaganas to decorate the streets with beautiful Muthu pandal. The bhoodaganas prepared the pandal without Sambandar’s knowledge. Sambandar was astonished by the reverrence of God and enjoyed the shade offered. Inorder that Sambandar has a view of the Sanctum sanctorum from outside, Shiva ordered Nandi to shift position. The Lord is reverred by the hymns of Thirugnana Sambandar.
Speciality:
Mother Durga appears with 8 hands. She is also called Vishnu Durga, Durga Lakshmi, Navasakthinayaki, Navayoganayaki and Navarathri Nayaki.
The Chola kings including the Great Rajaraja Chola were staunch devotees of Durga Devi. She was the protecting deity of the Cholas in the northern side of their palaces centuries back. Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga and Lord Bhairava were also protecting the kings from other entrances. When the kings had to take some important decisions or to face a war, they worshipped Durga for her grace before venturing into action. After the end of the Chola regime, the Durga is installed in Thirupatteeswaram temple.
Unlike in other temples, the Durga here is very soft in look and grace (Shanta Swarupi). Sitting on her vehicle Lion, placing the feet on the head of Demon Mahishasura, the Gooddess appears in a Tribanga stature, eight hands, three eyes and jewels in the ears. Generally, the Lion carrying Kali would be looking on the right side. But the Shanta Swarupi Durga’s Lion here faces the left side. In her hands, the mother holds, conch, wheel, bow, arrow, sword, shield and a parrot.
Pearl Umbrella
Visiting the Shiva Temples in the state, once saint Gnanasambandar came to Thirumazhapadi – Patteeswaram. It was summer. The Sun was at his peak. To protect Gnanasambandar from the scorching Sun, Lord Shiva sent a Pearl Umbrella (Muthupandal) through his Bhudaganas. The Lord wanted to enjoy the childish walking movement of child saint ordered Nandi to move from his place. Gnanasambandar’s joy knew no bounds and sung a pathigam (10 songs) beginning with the word Marai. The incidence is remembered each year during the Tamil Ani Month June-July) with all festive celebrations.
Reputation:
The name Patteeswaram was derived from the daughter of the Divine Cow Kamadenu PATTI WHO worshipped the lord here.
The Lord asked his vehicle Nandi to move a little so he could see Gnanasambandar coming to have his Darshan.
Sri Rama was relieved of Sayagathi dosha.
Goddess herself performed penance here.
A brahmin Darma Sharma belonging to to Malava Kingdom was relieved of the curse of Rishi Medhavi when a drop from the Holy Gnanavavi theertham fell on him.
It was in Patteeswaram; Rishi Viswamitra was admitted in the company of Brahma rishis with the backing of Gayatri Mahamantra.
Markandeya worshipped here.
The Durga is all-powerful. Large number of devotees throngs the temple to worship Mother Durga. Ganasambandar praises the Temple in his Thevaram hyms. The temple has the arts of the Nayakkar period and also paintings of Maratha period. A very ancient temple. The temple administration can be contacted on telephone No. 91-435-2416976.
General Information:
Thirupatteeswaram is 8 kms from Kumbakonam, 40 from Tanjore and 4 from Swamimalai.
Accomodation is available in Kumbakonam, charges ranging from Rs. 150 to 600. There are private lodges in the district headquarters Tanjore, Hotel Tamilnadu-phone Nos. 21421, 21024, 21325: Hotel Ganesh-22789: Hotel Sangam-24895, Hotel Parisuddham-212466: Hotel Oriental Towers – 31467: charges ranging from Rs. 200 to Rs. 2000.
Transport convenience is comfortably available to Patteeswaram from Kumbakonam and also Darasuram route. Nearest railwaystation is mKumbakonam and airport Trichy.
Festivals:
As mentioned above the most important festival of the temple is remembering the Pearl Umbrella event. (June-July). During the festival, at 12.00 noons, Gnanasambar is taken in prcession under the shadow of pearl Umbrella while the Lord along with His Consort comes in another pearl umbrella.
Vaikasi Visaka (May-June) on Visaka star day, the Panchamurthys are taken to Thirumalairajan river to bring water and leave the river at night in a procession.
In the month of Margazhi (December-January) on the new moon day, the Panchamurthys come in procession and offer the holy water. It is here that Sri Rama was relieved of his Sayahathi Dosha.
Ani Thirumanjanam (June-July) for Lord Nataraja, Adi Pooram in Adi month (July-August) and Ganesh Chaturthi are other important festivals of the temple. Masi Magam, Mahasivarathri, Panguni Uthiram, monthly Pradosha days, Deepavali, Pongal New year days of both tamil and English Calendars are observed with all festivities drawing huge crowds.
History:
Goddess Parasakthi wanted to perform penance in a calm place and chose this place. A forest was created in the belt areas of Thirupatteeswaram, The Devas took the form of trees and plants. Divine Cow Kamadenu sent her daughter Patti and served the Goddess in her penance. Lord Shiva gave dharsan to the Goddess and here and assumed the name Kabardeeswarar.. Knowing the reputation of the place, Patti also wanted to worship the Lord and made a Linga of sand.and worshipped as rules. She bathed the God with her milk and Gnanavavi theertham. The Lord was greatly pleased with the worship of Patti and incarnated himself in the Linga. The place came to be known as Patteeswaram after Patti, daughter of Kamadenu.
Unlike in other temples, the Durga here is very soft in look and grace (Shanta Swarupi). Sitting on her vehicle Lion, placing the feet on the head of Demon Mahishasura, the Gooddess appears in a Tribanga stature, eight hands, three eyes and jewels in the ears. Generally, the Lion carrying Kali would be looking on the right side. But the Shanta Swarupi Durga’s Lion here faces the left side. In her hands, the mother holds, conch, wheel, bow, arrow, sword, shield and a parrot.
Patteeswaram (8 km): Lord Shiva was worshipped by Patti, one of the daughters of Kamadhenu here. The Lord is known as Dhenupureeswara and the Goddess is Gnanambika. Devi Vishnu Durga is enshrined on the northern side of the temple.
Here, Lord Shiva gave a canopy of pearls (Muthu Pandal) to Shaivite saint Sambandhar on a hot summer day and made the Nandi to move aside to see His devotee enter the shrine.
Visiting the Shiva Temples in the state, once saint Gnanasambandar came to Thirumazhapadi – Patteeswaram. It was summer. The Sun was at his peak. To protect Gnanasambandar from the scorching Sun, Lord Shiva sent a Pearl Umbrella (Muthupandal) through his Bhudaganas. The Lord wanted to enjoy the childish walking movement of child saint ordered Nandi to move from his place. Gnanasambandar’s joy knew no bounds and sung a pathigam (10 songs) beginning with the word Marai. The incidence is remembered each year during the Tamil Ani Month June-July) with all festive celebrations.
The name Patteeswaram was derived from the daughter of the Divine Cow Kamadenu PATTI WHO worshipped the lord here.
The Lord asked his vehicle Nandi to move a little so he could enjoy seeing the Child Gnanasambandar coming to have his Darshan.
Sri Rama was relieved of Sayagathi dosha for killing Vaali.
Goddess herself performed penance here.
It was in Patteeswaram; Rishi Viswamitra was admitted in the company of Brahma rishis with the backing of Gayatri Mahamantra.
Markandeya worshipped here.
All the Navagrahas here face the Sun. And they are positioned as per the “Aagama” tradition
