Lord Palvannanathar - The One Who Has The Grace Of Kamdhenu!


The fourth temple in the list of 276 Paadal Petra Sthalam is the Tirukkazhippalai Palvannanathar temple. This temple is situated in Sivapuri in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity is Lord Palvannanathar in the form of a Lingam and Devi Vedanayaki. 

Legend has it that sage Kabila made a Lingam to worship Lord Shiva. As the king of the region was passing through on his horse, the animal stepped over the lingam and split it into two. Although disappointed and aggrieved, the sage tried to construct another Lingam. Pleased with his devotion, Lord Shiva and Devi Parvathy advised him to worship the damaged Lingam and provided milk from the divine cow Kamadhenu to strengthen the idol. Since Lord Shiva provided milk to strengthen this Lingam, the deity came to be called as Palvannanathar (Pal - milk). 


Apart from the presiding deities, the temple has idols of Nandi, Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga with His consorts Devi Valli and Devi Devyani, Lord Vishnu, Devi Lakshmi and also the devotees of Lord Shiva who called themselves as Nayanmars. There is also an idol of Lord Bhairava which has been fashioned in the same way as that of the idol in the temple in Kashi. Palvannanathar temple is also referred to as Bhairava temple. Another specialty of this idol of Lord Bhairava is that He is not accompanied with His vaahan (vehicle) in this temple. The idol wears 27 skulls, the janeu (sacred thread of Upanayanam), wears a serpent as a belt in His waist and is said to have the teeth of a lion. It is believed that prayers offered to this idol of Lord Bhairava are as effective as those offered to the idol in Kashi. 

The milk that is offered to the Shiva-lingam is said to have curing properties. People wanting progeny are believed to be blessed with the same on consuming this milk. It is also believed to cure diseases of the body caused by excessive heat.

Oh Lord Of Kazhippalai, Lord of the Mother Ganga, You are my king, relieving me of my bonds whenever I think of you from wherever I am. You rush there and protect me! - Hymn dedicated to Lord Palvannanathar, written by Saint Sundarar, one of the Nayanmars. 

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