Vriddhapureeswarar (Pazhampathinathar) Temple, Thiruppunavasal

Shiva as Vriddhapureeswarar / Pazhampathinathar, with goddess Periyanayaki temple · Thiruppunavasal, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, India

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The Vriddhapureeswarar Temple, known in Tamil as the Pazhampathinathar Temple, stands at Thiruppunavasal (Thiruppunavayil) in the Avudaiyarkoil area of Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu, close to where the Pambar river meets the sea. Shiva is worshipped here as Vriddhapureeswarar, 'Lord of the ancient town', and the goddess as Periyanayaki.

The temple is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, the Shiva shrines sung in the Thevaram hymns; Wikipedia counts it as the seventh of the Thevaram shrines of the Pandya country. It is best known for the very large base (avudaiyar) of its lingam and for a series of Pandya-period inscriptions.

By the HinduTone Editorial Team · Last reviewed 1 November 2026. Editorial policy & corrections

Faith & Tradition

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Religious Significance of Vriddhapureeswarar (Pazhampathinathar) Temple, Thiruppunavasal

Dinamalar, Nakkheeran and Tamil Wikipedia record that Thirugnanasambandar and Sundarar sang Thevaram hymns on the deity here. Medieval inscriptions call him 'Thiruppunavayiludaiya Nayanar', the lord of Thiruppunavayil, according to the Nakkheeran report. The name Vriddhapureeswarar refers to the antiquity of the place, and Pazhampathinathar is its Tamil equivalent.

According to the temple legend given by Dinamalar and Tamil Wikipedia, Brahma, having lost his role as creator after failing to explain the meaning of the Pranava mantra, installed a lingam here with four faces (Chaturmukha lingam), dug a tank for its abhisheka, now called the Brahma Theertham, and regained his position. Wikipedia and Tamil Wikipedia also record the belief that the four Vedas, Lakshmi, Vishnu, Indra, Surya, Chandra and sages including Vasishtha and Agastya worshipped Shiva here, and that the temple holds fourteen lingams, which tradition links with the fourteen Pandya-country Thevaram shrines.

The temple is also regarded as a parihara (remedial) shrine connected with the planet Mars (Sevvai). Dinamalar relates the tradition that Mars himself worshipped Shiva here to be freed from a curse, and Wikipedia describes it as a parihara sthalam for Mangala dosha; these are matters of belief. Dinamalar also lists four sacred trees, which Tamil Wikipedia associates with the four yugas and with the place's names in each age.

Heritage

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History of Vriddhapureeswarar (Pazhampathinathar) Temple, Thiruppunavasal

The area has an ancient history. A Nakkheeran report quoting V. Rajaguru of the Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Institute identifies Thiruppunavayil with Punalam Pudhavu, a place named in the Sangam anthology Purananuru as ruled by the chieftain Evvi. The same report lists five Pandya inscriptions at the temple, published in South Indian Inscriptions Volume 8 (nos. 209–213), ranging from 1263 CE (the 13th regnal year of Sundara Pandya I) through grants of the reigns of Veera Pandya and Maravarman Sundara Pandya III to 1417 CE under a Vikrama Pandya. They record gifts of land for worship, for the priests and for renovation.

Rajaguru suggests that an earlier shrine was rebuilt on a large scale under Sundara Pandya I, whose inscription is the oldest at the temple. Dinamalar likewise credits a King Sundara Pandya with building the temple, while Tamil Wikipedia names Sundara Pandya II; the exact king is therefore uncertain. The report also notes that the inscriptions show Pandya rulers remained active in this region after Madurai had fallen.

Architecture and sacred features

The lingam is about 9 feet tall, but its base (avudaiyar) is about 82.5 feet in circumference, according to Dinamalar, Nakkheeran and Tamil Wikipedia. Nakkheeran calls it the largest avudaiyar in Tamil Nadu, and both reports compare it with the taller lingams of Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram. Dinamalar says the dhoti offered to the deity is about 90 feet long and that abhisheka is performed from ladders set around the base. Dinamalar gives the rajagopuram as about 65 feet tall and describes a blend of Chola and Pandya styles.

Nakkheeran reports small sculptures of Murugan on a peacock, Bhairava, Kali and Shiva on the bull in the niches of the vimana, and crowned seated figures on the subsidiary shrines that Rajaguru suggests may represent the Pandya king and queen who built them. Dinamalar lists shrines for the Pancha Vinayakas, Dakshinamurthy, Murugan with Valli and Deivanai, Brahma, Chandikeswara and Gajalakshmi; the goddess Periyanayaki faces east in her own shrine, with a Kudavarai Kali shrine opposite.

Plan Your Visit

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Darshan and Visitor Information

This is a functioning village temple with morning and evening worship and a midday closure. Dress modestly, follow the priests' instructions and ask before photographing inside. The Vaikasi Visakam festival is the temple's main annual event. Confirm current timings and any arrangements with the temple office or the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department before travelling.

Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.

Sacred Calendar

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Festivals at Vriddhapureeswarar (Pazhampathinathar) Temple, Thiruppunavasal

Vaikasi (May–June)

Vaikasi Visakam festival

An eleven-day festival, according to Dinamalar; a special worship is held on the Visakam star day, when sunlight is said to fall on the presiding deity.

Location

How to Reach Vriddhapureeswarar (Pazhampathinathar) Temple, Thiruppunavasal

Dinamalar advises travelling to Pudukkottai via Tiruchirappalli and then to Aranthangi, from where buses run to Thiruppunavasal, about 42 km away; travellers from Madurai can reach Aranthangi via Karaikudi. It names Aranthangi as the nearest railway station and Tiruchirappalli as the nearest airport.

The temple lies near the coast: according to Dinamalar and Tamil Wikipedia, the Pambar river flows to its south and the sea is about 3 km away.

Location: Thiruppunavasal, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, India

Nearest airport: Tiruchirappalli (per Dinamalar)

Nearest railway station: Aranthangi (per Dinamalar)

More in Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu · Shiva as Vriddhapureeswarar / Pazhampathinathar, with goddess Periyanayaki temples · Temples in Thiruppunavasal · Temples in Avadaiyarkoil Taluk · Temples in Pudukkottai District

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Questions

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Vriddhapureeswarar (Pazhampathinathar) Temple, Thiruppunavasal: Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the deity at Thiruppunavasal?

Shiva, worshipped as Vriddhapureeswarar or Pazhampathinathar, with the goddess Periyanayaki.

Is Thiruppunavasal a Paadal Petra Sthalam?

Yes. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams; Thirugnanasambandar and Sundarar sang Thevaram hymns on the deity here.

How large is the lingam at Thiruppunavasal?

The lingam is about 9 feet tall, and its base (avudaiyar) is about 82.5 feet in circumference, according to Dinamalar and Nakkheeran.

How old is the Thiruppunavasal temple?

Its oldest known inscription dates from 1263 CE, in the reign of Sundara Pandya I, and the shrine was sung in the Thevaram centuries earlier. Five Pandya inscriptions from the 13th to 15th centuries are recorded.

Why is the temple associated with Mars?

According to temple tradition, Mars (Sevvai) worshipped Shiva here to be freed from a curse, so devotees regard it as a parihara shrine for Mangala dosha.

Where is Thiruppunavasal and how do I get there?

It is in Pudukkottai district near the coast, where the Pambar river meets the sea. Buses run from Aranthangi, about 42 km away, which is also the nearest railway station.