Sivalokanathar Temple (சிவலோகநாதர் கோயில்)
[ :ta:திருப்புன்கூர் சிவலோகநாதர் கோயில்] is a
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
temple in the
Indian state
India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, with a total of 36 entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into districts and smaller administrative divisions.
History
Pre-indepen ...
of
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of India ...
. It is dedicated to the god
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
. The temple is situated in the village of Tirupunkur or Thirupunkur which lies about 3 miles west of
Vaitheeswaran Koil.
The temple is associated with the legend of the
Saivite
Shaivism (; sa, शैवसम्प्रदायः, Śaivasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions rangin ...
saint
Nandanar
Nandanar (also spelt as Nantanar), also known as Tirunalaippovar (Thirunaallaippovaar (The one who will go tomorrow)) and Tiru Nalai Povar Nayanar,Other names include: Nandan (Nanda, Nantan), Tirunalaipovanar, Nalaippovar, Nalaippovan was a ...
who was one of the 63
Nayanmars
The Nayanars (or Nayanmars; ta, நாயன்மார், translit=Nāyaṉmār, translit-std=ISO, lit=hounds of Siva, and later 'teachers of Shiva ) were a group of 63 Tamil Hindu saints living during the 6th to 8th centuries CE who were de ...
. While being a
Dalit
Dalit (from sa, दलित, dalita meaning "broken/scattered"), also previously known as untouchable, is the lowest stratum of the Caste system in India, castes in India. Dalits were excluded from the four-fold Varna (Hinduism), varna syste ...
, Nandanar was not allowed inside the temple, the idol of ''Nandi'' within the temple precincts moved a few inches at the command of Shiva so as not to obstruct Nandanar's view from the gate of the shrine.
Literary mention
Tirunavukkarasar
Appar, also referred to as ( ta, திருநாவுக்கரசர்) or Navukkarasar, was a seventh-century Tamil Śaiva poet-saint. Born in a peasant Śaiva family, raised as an orphan by his sister, he lived about 80 years and is ...
describes the feature of the deity of Tirupunkur and
Thiruneedur as:
[Tiruanvukkarasar Tevaram, VI: 11: 9]
Notes
References
*
File: Tiruppunkur7.jpg, Main entrance
File: Tiruppunkur1.jpg, Nandhi(front view)
File: Tiruppunkur5.jpg, Nandhi (rear view)
File: Tiruppunkur2.jpg, From inside the temple(Nandhanar shrine next to Rajagopuram)
File: Tiruppunkur12.jpg, Vimana of Nandhanar shrine near Rajagopuram
File: Tiruppunkur13.jpg, Nandhanar shrine outside the temple (Front view)
File: Tiruppunkur9.jpg, Nandhanar shrine outside the temple (Rear view)
{{Mayiladuthurai Topics
Shiva temples in Mayiladuthurai district
Padal Petra Stalam