Sri Padikasu Nathar Swamy Temple | Kumbakonam | Lord Shiva Temples

About Padikasu Nathar Temple

Sri Padikasunathar Swamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva is located near Kumbakonam, arranged on the southern side of the river Arasalaru, henceforth the spot gets the name "Arasil karai puthur" ("Arasil" the river, "Karai" signifies bank and "Puthur" signifies town).

The Presiding Deities are Sri Padikkasu Nathar, Sri Swarnapureeswarar, Sri Kuberalingam Ambal, and Goddess Sri Azhakambigai, Sri Soundara Nayaki. The temple is adorned with Theertham (Holy water) as Amirtha Pushkarani and Arasalaaru and Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree) as Vilvam. 

Deities in the Shrine

Deities like Swarna Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Gajalakshmi, Sorna Bairavar, Kala Bairavar, and Navagraham can be found in the halls. Narthana Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durgai, and Chandikeswarar in the Koshtam.

Lord Murugan here is lauded as "Sri Kalyana Sundara Shanmuga Subramaniar". He shows up with 12 hands, situated on his peacock mount, holding a conch (Sangu) on his one hand and a disk (Chakra) on another hand. This type of Lord Murugan is exceptional as it can't be seen elsewhere. 

The Thiruvatchi (the casing around Lord Murugan) is tastefully planned to look like the Tamil letter "OHM". In the front lobby, there is a delightful figure of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy situated on their bull mount. This is one of the 44 Paadal petra Sthalams where the "Moovar" (Thirugnanasambanthar,  Thirunavukarasar (Appar), and  Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) had delivered their Pathigams.

Sthala Purana/ History

Once, the evil spirits had begun threatening the devas in heaven. At the point when their abominations expanded to a disturbing degree, Lord Shiva trained Lord Murugan to annihilate them. When Lord Murugan started getting ready for the conflict, Lord Shiva and the Devas gave him numerous weapons. Lord Mahavishnu gave him his disk and conch. With this load of weapons, Murugan obliterated the evil spirits. In this temple, he is displayed with this load of weapons in his grasp. 

Another legend is that of Pugazhthunai Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. This is his origination. He was the minister of this temple and kept on serving the Lord even in his advanced age. During that time there was a dry season and this spot was under the hold of serious starvation. In spite of the difficulty, he proceeded with his support of the Lord. Consistently he would bring a pot of water from the river Arasalaru to offer Abishekam to the Lord. At some point, he was frail to such an extent that while playing out the Abishekam, the pot fell on the lingam. He felt that he had submitted a sin by hitting the Lord and fell oblivious. The Lord showed up in his dream and disclosed to him that he had not submitted any sin. Also, The Lord revealed to him that as long as the dry season remained, he would give him a gold coin each day.

Consistently, Lord Shiva put a gold coin on a stage in the sanctum sanctorum as a stipend for Pugazhthunai Nayanar's administrations ("Siva Thondu"). Henceforth the Lord is called Sri Padikkasu Nathar ("Padi" signifies stipend, "Kasu" signifies cash in Tamil). In the wake of serving the Lord for quite a while, the Sage achieved salvation here.

It is accepted that King Kochengat Chola revamped this temple and worshipped the Lord here. In his psalm of this shrine, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar specifies Kochengat Chola's devotion. Also, Sage Unmaiyananda has revered the Lord here. Lord Murugan performed repentance here to look for alleviation for the transgression he had submitted by rebuffing Lord Brahma.

Temple Timings & Address

The temple remains open from 8 am to 12.00 Noon and from 4.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

Address

Sri Padikkasu Nathar Temple, 
Azhakaputhur Post, 
Sakkottai Via, 
Kumbakonam Taluk, 
Tamil Nadu - 612 401.

Contact/Phone Number

0434-2466939, 9943178294.