recites this pathigam with intention, he will live with increasing prosperity

Lord of the temple is praised by Saints Tirugnana Sambandar and Tirunavukkarasar in their Thevaram hymns.   Says Gnanasambandar, “No miseries would peep in to the life of those worshipping my Lord gracing from Semponpalli with Mother on His left and holding in His hand the Mazhu (axe) and His long hair glittering as golden thread. This is the 42nd Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.

The rays of Sun fall on the presiding deity for 12 days in Chithirai (April-May) in the morning hours when special pujas are performed in the temple. On the ninth day a car festival is celebrated called Soura Mahotsav. Shivalinga in the temple is on a 16 petal lotus designed Avudayar-the peeta. Lord is a swayambumurthy. Rays of Sun fall on the Lord in Chithirai month from 7 to 18.

Sri Semponnarkoil Swarnapureeswarar Temple, Somponpalli – 609309, Nagapattinam district.

It is noteworthy that Sri Mahalakshmi performed penance on Lord Shiva of this temple to have the hands of Vishnu as Her Lord.   Hence, the place has the name Lakshmipuri.  It is also called Indirapuri as Indira worshipped Lord Shiva here to get the weapon Vajrayutha to kill demon Vruddhasura.  The third name of the place is Kandapuri as Lord Muruga worshipped Lord Shiva to destroy demon Tharakasura.

The devotee is at liberty to appeal to Lord for any boon he/she needs.  Those practicing Yoga pray here.

A story goes that when Lord Shiva refused to receive Mother Parvathi back after visiting Her father’s Yajna against His advice, Lord Muruga came to the Mother in the form of Shiva and imparted good advices in this place.  Based on this story, Lord Muruga appears in the temple with an Akshamala.  Shiva appeared in this place only as Veerabadra.  Rathi worshipped Lord Shiva here to get back her husband Manmatha.  Lord Vishnu too had worshipped Lord Shiva here.

Mother Sugantha Kundalambica is praised by many names -Pushpalaki, Dakshayani, Suganthalaki, Suganthavana Nayaki and Maruvar Kuzhali.  It is advised that a dip on the new moon day in Chithirai and Vaikasi Tamil months – April-May and May-June, the devotee can wash off all his/her sins.

Daksha, son of Brahmma gave his daughter Dakshayani to Lord Shiva in marriage.  Yet he intentionally failed to invite Lord Shiva for a yajna he performed.  Mother Dakshayani wanted to correct Her father by visiting the yajna.  But clouded by arrogance and pride, Daksha humiliated his own daughter and Her Lord.  Furious Dakshayani cursed her father that his yajna would not go on.  She also begged Her Lord to destroy the yajna.  Lord Shiva created Veerabadra, Badrakali and others to destroy the yajna along with Daksha.  Dakshayani to wash off Her sin as the daughter of a Shiva opponent performed penance here sitting around five types Agni-fire.  Lord, pleased with Her penance named Her Sugantha Kundalambikai and took Her to bless devotees along with Him in the temple.

Thirumurai 1.025 திருச்செம்பொன்பள்ளி

பாடல் எண் : 1

மருவார் குழலி மாதோர் பாகமாய்த்

திருவார் செம்பொன் பள்ளி மேவிய

கருவார் கண்டத் தீசன் கழல்களை

மருவா தவர்மேன் மன்னும் பாவமே.

பாடல் எண் : 2

வாரார் கொங்கை மாதோர் பாகமாய்ச்

சீரார் செம்பொன் பள்ளி மேவிய

ஏரார் புரிபுன் சடையெம்மீசனைச்

சேரா தவர்மேற் சேரும் வினைகளே.

பாடல் எண் : 3

வரையார் சந்தோ டகிலும் வருபொன்னித்

திரையார் செம்பொன் பள்ளி மேவிய

நரையார் விடையொன் றூரும் நம்பனை

உரையா தவர்மே லொழியா வூனமே.

பாடல் எண் : 4

மழுவா ளேந்தி மாதோர் பாகமாய்ச்

செழுவார் செம்பொன் பள்ளி மேவிய

எழிலார் புரிபுன் சடையெம் மிறைவனைத்

தொழுவார் தம்மேற் றுயர மில்லையே.

பாடல் எண் : 5

மலையான் மகளோ டுடனாய் மதிலெய்த

சிலையார் செம்பொன் பள்ளி யானையே

இலையார் மலர்கொண் டெல்லி நண்பகல்

நிலையா வணங்க நில்லா வினைகளே.

பாடல் எண் : 6

அறையார் புனலோ டகிலும் வருபொன்னிச்

சிறையார் செம்பொன் பள்ளி மேவிய

கறையார் கண்டத் தீசன் கழல்களை

நிறையால் வணங்க நில்லா வினைகளே.

பாடல் எண் : 7

பையா ரரவே ரல்கு லாளொடும்

செய்யார் செம்பொன் பள்ளி மேவிய

கையார் சூல மேந்து கடவுளை

மெய்யால் வணங்க மேவா வினைகளே.

பாடல் எண் : 8

வானார் திங்கள் வளர்புன் சடைவைத்துத்

தேனார் செம்பொன் பள்ளி மேவிய

ஊனார் தலையிற் பலிகொண் டுழல்வாழ்க்கை

ஆனான் கழலே யடைந்து வாழ்மினே.

பாடல் எண் : 9

காரார் வண்ணன் கனக மனையானும்

தேரார் செம்பொன் பள்ளி மேவிய

நீரார் நிமிர்புன் சடையெந் நிமலனை

ஓரா தவர்மே லொழியா வூனமே.

பாடல் எண் : 10

மாசா ருடம்பர் மண்டைத் தேரரும்

பேசா வண்ணம் பேசித் திரியவே

தேசார் செம்பொன் பள்ளி மேவிய

ஈசா வென்ன நில்லா விடர்களே.

பாடல் எண் : 11

நறவார் புகலி ஞான சம்பந்தன்

செறுவார் செம்பொன் பள்ளி மேயானைப்

பெறுமா றிசையாற் பாட லிவைபத்தும்

உறுமா சொல்ல வோங்கி வாழ்வரே.

having a lady who has fragrant tresses of hair, on one half.

sins will rest permanently with those who do not approach the feet of Civaṉ who has a black neck and who dwells in cempoṉpaḷḷi of abundant wealth.

having a lady wearing a bodice on her breasts, on one half.

Karmams will join people who do not meditate upon our Civaṉ who has a twisted golden caṭai of excessive beauty and who dwells in cempoṉpaḷḷi of great eminence.

the defects will not leave those who do not praise Civaṉ who rides on a white bull and who dwells in cempoṉpaḷḷi where the waves in the river poṉṉi in which the sandal-wood and the eagle-wood trees that are found in the mountain come along with the floods, are full.

holding the weapon of a battle-axe.

and having a lady on one half.

there will be no sufferings for those who worship our Civaṉ having a golden twisted caṭai of excessive beauty, who dwells in campoṉpaḷḷi which is very fertile.

being united with the daughter of the mountain.

Karmams will cease to exist, if one worships with the steady mind during night and day, with leaves and plenty of flowers, Civaṉ in cempoṉpalli who has a bow from which he shot an arrow on the forts (of enemies)

the Karmams will not remain if one worship with a steady mind the feet of Civaṉ of dark black neck, who dwells in cempoṉpaḷḷi where in the river which brings with its floods dashing against the banks, eagle-wood also.

along with a lady who has a waist resembling the hood of the cobra.

if one pays obeisance by their bodies to the god who holds in his hand a trident and dwells in cempoṉpaḷḷi where fields are in plenty.

Karmams will not reach him (Even if one does not worship with intention Civaṉ will grant his grace).

placing on the growing golden caṭai a crescent that shines in the sky.

Be happy and save yourselves by reaching the feet themselves of the god who leads a life of wandering to receive alms in the skull which has flesh, and who dwells in cempoṉpaḷḷi which has plenty of honey.

Māl whose colour is like the sable cloud and Piramaṉ whose colour is like gold.

could not know him.

the faults of those who do not meditate with melted hearts upon our blemishless Civaṉ on whose golden caṭai there is water, and who dwells in cempoṉpaḷḷi.

when the camaṇar who have dirty bodies and the buddhists who hold a vessel resembling in shape the skull wander about talking slander which is not fit for talking.

if one says, Civaṉ who dwells in cempoṉpaḷḷi of brilliance.

sufferings will not remain with him.

Nyṉacampantaṉ, a native of pukali which has abundant honey.

these ten verses which were composed with music in order to realise Civan who dwells in cempoṉpaḷḷi full of fields.

if one recites them with intention he will live with increasing prosperity.