About trip

About Temple: This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 20th Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai). 
Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).

History:

• This is one of the 44 Paadal petra sthalams where the “Moovar” (the three saints - Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) had rendered their Pathigams.
• The Nandhi in this temple is huge and is placed a little distance away from its regular position to give a good view of the lord to Nanthanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars, from outside the temple.
• This east facing temple has three corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
• The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 03.05.1974.
• According to legend, in ancient times, this region was a forest densely covered with Punga trees. Hence this place gets the name Thiruppungur.
• There are 5 stone inscriptions available here which date back to the period of Pallava Kings Sakalabhuvana and Kopperunsinga Devar. As per these inscriptions, this temple was renovated by these two kings.
• The historical name of this place is “Karinchaaranyam” and the lord is praised as “Sri Sivalokamudaya Nayanar”. 
• Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of lords Sundara Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Somaskandar, Natarajar, Gajalakshmi, Nagar, Nalvar, Kalikkama Nayanar, Suryan, Lingams worshiped by Suryan and Agasthiyar can be seen in the corridors.
• There are four Shivlingams in the inner corridor. Each of this lingam is said to represent one of Lord Shiva’s faces – Thathpurusha, Aghora, Vamadeva and Sadyojatha.
• The idols of Ganapathy, Mahavishnu, Mahalkshmi and Durgai are placed in a row in the inner corridor.
• In the outer corridor, “Kulam Vettiya Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Brahma lingam, Pancha lingams, 7 Santhana Nagars, Navagraham, Bairavar, Chandran can be seen.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Nagapattinam Sightseeing

Proceed towards Nagapattinam. Then transfer to Hotel. Hotel Check In. Then proceed to visit Dutch Fort. Kayarohanaswamy Temple. Sikkal Singaravelar Temple. Come back to Hotel. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 2 - Nagapattinam Sightseeing

Morning Breakfast at Hotel. Check out from Hotel. Then Proceed towards Sri Shivalokanathaswamy temple at Thiruppunkur Soundaryaraja Perumal Temple. Nellukadai Mariamman Temple. Finally drop at Railway Junction / Airport.