let me go tomorrow

Saints Tirugnana Sambandar, Tirunavukkarasar and Sundarar had sung the glory of Lord in their Thevaram hymns.  This is the 20th Lord Shiva temple on the northern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.

Sri Shivaloka Nathar Temple, Tirupunkur-609 112, Nagapattinam district.

Devotees throng the temple for relief from the adverse aspects of serpent planets and sin effects of past birth.  They pray to Lord Shivalokanathar in anthill form for mental peace, employment opportunity, development in professions and it is the strong faith of the devotees that He would not fail them

The temple was earlier known as Punkur temple as it was dense with Punga trees.  Lord is in the form of an anthill, small in size.  Nandhi came a little later.  The first Linga and Nandhi alone brought name and fame to the temple.  As Lord is in the form of an anthill, the Kuvalai- to cover the anthill Linga- is removed on Mondays at about 8.30 p.m. for offering the punugu paste.  Devotees can have the darshan of the Lord only with Kuvalai cover. Once a contest arose between Lord and Mother about their beauty.  Lord said that He would drop a Durba grass with three knots and would accept that she was more beautiful at the place where the grass fell.  This grass fell as five Lingas-Pancha Lingas.  The power of these Lingas are such that they bless the devotees with wedding boon and freedom from curses of past births etc. This is also the temple where Lord directed Nandhi to move a little to grant His darshan to His devotee Nandanar.  Nandhi in the temple has no tongue.  We see Dwarapalakas in all temples with their heads raised.  Here they are polite bowing as if to receive Nandanar the choice devotee of Lord. There is a shrine for Kulam Vettiya Pillayar meaning Lord Vinayaka who dug the tank with the help of Boodhas in a single night to enable Nandanar to have his bath to be blessed with the darshan of Lord. 

Nandanar a farm worker belonging to backward community was a staunch Shiva devotee harbouring a desire to worship Shiva in Chidambaram.  But his boss denied him leave.  He was hoping Naalai Pogalam-let me go tomorrow.  That tomorrow came when his boss granted him leave.  Nandanar was passing through this place where he desired to have the darshan of Lord Shivalokanathar but Nandi was in the way.  The Dwarapalakas informed the Lord that Nandanar was there for His darshan.  Lord ordered Nandhi to move a little so that Nandanar could have a comfortable darshan.  This is a temple that honoured a devotee of highest standard of Bhakti.

Moolavar : Shivaloka Nathar
Amman / Thayar :  Soundarya Nayaki
Thala Virutcham :  Punga tree
Theertham : Vrushba, Devendra and Nandanar theerthams
Agamam / Pooja : Karana Agama
Old year : 1000-2000 years old
Historical Name : Punkur
City : Thirupunkur
District : Nagapattinam

Thirumurai 1.27

திருப்புன்கூர்

பாடல் எண் : 1

முந்தி நின்ற வினைக ளவைபோகச்

சிந்தி நெஞ்சே சிவனார் திருப்புன்கூர்

அந்த மில்லா வடிக ளவர்போலும்

கந்த மல்கு கமழ்புன் சடையாரே.

பாடல் எண் : 2

மூவ ராய முதல்வர் முறையாலே

தேவ ரெல்லாம் வணங்குந் திருப்புன்கூர்

ஆவ ரென்னு மடிக ளவர்போலும்

ஏவி னல்லா ரெயின்மூன் றெரித்தாரே.

பாடல் எண் : 3

பங்க யங்கண் மலரும் பழனத்துச்

செங்க யல்கள் திளைக்குந் திருப்புன்கூர்க்

கங்கை தங்கு சடையா ரவர்போலும்

எங்க ளுச்சி யுறையும் மிறையாரே.

பாடல் எண் : 4

கரையு லாவு கதிர்மா மணிமுத்தம்

திரையு லாவு வயல்சூழ் திருப்புன்கூர்

உரையி னல்ல பெருமா னவர்போலும்

விரையி னல்ல மலர்ச்சே வடியாரே.

பாடல் எண் : 5

பவள வண்ணப் பரிசார் திருமேனி

திகழும் வண்ண முறையுந் திருப்புன்கூர்

அழக ரென்னு மடிக ளவர்போலும்

புகழ நின்ற புரிபுன் சடையாரே.

பாடல் எண் : 6

தெரிந்தி லங்கு கழுநீர் வயற்செந்நெல்

திருந்த நின்ற வயல்சூழ் திருப்புன்கூர்ப்

பொருந்தி நின்ற வடிக ளவர்போலும்

விரிந்தி லங்கு சடைவெண் பிறையாரே.

பாடல் எண் : 7

பாரும் விண்ணும் பரவித் தொழுதேத்தும்

தேர்கொள் வீதி விழவார் திருப்புன்கூர்

ஆர நின்ற வடிக ளவர்போலும்

கூர நின்ற வெயின்மூன் றெரித்தாரே.

பாடல் எண் : 8

மலைய தனா ருடைய மதின்மூன்றும்

சிலைய தனா லெரித்தார் திருப்புன்கூர்த்

தலைவர் வல்ல வரக்கன் றருக்கினை

மலைய தனா லடர்த்து மகிழ்ந்தாரே.

பாடல் எண் : 9

நாட வல்ல மலரான் மாலுமாய்த்

தேட நின்றா ருறையுந் திருப்புன்கூர்

ஆட வல்ல வடிக ளவர்போலும்

பாட லாடல் பயிலும் பரமரே.

பாடல் எண் : 10

குண்டு முற்றிக் கூறை யின்றியே

பிண்ட முண்ணும் பிராந்தர் சொற்கொளேல்

வண்டு பாட மலரார் திருப்புன்கூர்க்

கண்டு தொழுமின் கபாலி வேடமே.

பாடல் எண் : 11

மாட மல்கு மதில்சூழ் காழிமன்

சேடர் செல்வ ருறையுந் திருப்புன்கூர்

நாட வல்ல ஞான சம்பந்தன்

பாடல் பத்தும் பரவி வாழ்மினே.

my mind!

Think of tiruppuṉkūr of Civaṉār, so that accumulated karmams and karmas done in the present birth and yet to bear their fruits in future births may go away from you.

the god who does not know death is the Lord who has golden matted hairs which is naturally fragrant and the fragrance increases due to the flowers worn on it.

He is the chief besides being the trinity of Piramaṉ, Māl and uruttiraṉ the god who is said to be the deity dwelling in tiruppuṉkūr and who is worshipped by all the teVar in the proper manner is he who burnt the three forts of the enemies with a single arrow.

in the fields where lotus flowers blossom.

in tiruppuṉkūr where red carp fish are found playing always.

the god on whose matted hair the Kaṅkai stays is the Lord who dwells on the crown of our head.

the great one who is well-known by his fame and who dwells in tiruppuṉkūr surrounded by fields where along with the waves pearls and big precious stones shedding light move about on the banks.

has red feet on which are strewn flowers of good fragrance.

the god who is praised as the beautiful one who dwells in tiruppuṉkūr so that his sacred form which is like the colour of the coral might shine well.

is the god with a twisted golden matted hair, praised by all.

the god who dwells in tiruppuṉkūr, choosing it as an eminent shrine for him, where in the fields purple indian water lilies are prominent to attract the attention of people, and red paddy crop which has become ready for harvest.

is the one who adorns on his shining and spreading matted hair a white crescent.

in tiruppuṉkūr where in the streets car festival is conducted, which is worshipped and praised by the people of this world and the celestial world.

the god who is suitable to that place is the one who burnt the three forts in which cruelty stayed permanently.

the Lord in tiruppuṉkūr who burnt the three cities of the enemies who were as strong as mountains, with a bow.

he felt joy in having removed the pride of the strong arakkaṉ by the mountain (of Kailācam)

the god who can dance in tirupuṉkūr where he dwells; and who stood as a column of fire to be searched by the Piramaṉ on the lotus flower and Māl, who were skilled in searching for him is the supreme one who practises singing and dancing.

Being at the summit of mean character and having discarded dress (being naked) Do not pay heed to the words of the mad men who eat balls of cooked rice being particular about them.

(People of this world!

) worship with joined hands the Lord Kapāli in tiruppuṉkūr where the flowers open their petals as the bees hum.

on tiruppuṉkūr where great men and wealthy persons dwell.

composed by Nyāṉacampantaṉ who is a native of Kāḻi surrounded by walls of enclosure where there are many storeys, and who is capable of seeking god earnestly.

Live happily by praising God with these ten verses.