Lord Ponvaithanathar put gold coin on the doorsteps of the temple

Moolavar : Ponvaithanaathar (Swarna Sthaapaneswarar)
Historical Name: Thiruccirremam
City : Chithaaimur
District : Tiruvarur

Appar, Sampantar Thevaram

The Lord of this place appears as a swayambu murthi. Long ago, sage Brahma rishi was dutifully performing the ‘arthajaama pooja’ (midnight worship). Once, the doors of the temple were closed before he arrived. Hence, he took the form of a bee, went through a small hole and worshipped the Lord. The other rishis also likewise worshipped the Lord. Even today, we can see the beehives in the ardha mantapam of the temple. Poojas are performed every day for these beehives.

Arulmigu Ponvaithanaathar Tirukkoil, Chithaaimur – 610 203, Tirukkuvalai taluk, Nagapatinam District.

Those who pray here for normal delivery are sure to be blessed.  The belief is that if one worships the Lord Ponvaithanaathar, he will become certainly wealthy.

Those who pray here for normal delivery are sure to be blessed.  It is said that as per the request of the chettiar girl and because of the grace of Ambal, women in this area and those who pray have only normal delivery.  This is the holy place where the Lord blessed the chettiar girl with gold coins to wipe out her poverty and so the belief is, if Lord Ponvaithanaathar is worshipped a person becomes rich.

In the Chetti Street of this place lived a person, Sankaran, a great devotee of Lord Siva.  His wife was Anbirperiyaal.  A few days after the marriage, her husband went to the neighbouring country on business.  During those days with her husband, she had become pregnant. Everyday this lady used to sweep and mop the floor of the temple, and keep it clean.  She also prepared garlands for the deity.  The happy Lord satisfied with her service, put a gold coin every day on the doorsteps of the temple, for her expenses.  Hence, this Lord came to be known as ‘Ponvaithanaathar’.  After a few months, people came to know about her pregnancy.  None knew about the Lord giving her gold coin. Her husband was out of station.  Then, how did she have money for her expenses? How did she become pregnant? –  people began doubting her.  So, they ostracized her.  This chaste, bold woman surrendered herself to the Lord and stayed in the temple itself.  The confinement date was nearing.  She had none to help her.  She prayed to the Lord to save her.  The Great Mother, Goddess Akilandeswari, the Mother of all created beings, conducted the delivery for this abandoned woman.  The baby was born; her husband who went on business also returned.  The citizens of the place told him that they doubted his wife’s character.  Pained by these words, he enquired his wife about this charge.  But, she categorically replied that the Lord was the witness for her purity.  Her husband put strange conditions to her:  “If you are a sincere person, the closed doors of the temple should open on its accord.  The Arthajaama pooja (the midnight pooja) should happen on its own arrangement.  The sacrificial peetam behind the Nandi image should be placed before the Nandi statue.  The sacred tree behind the temple should grow in front of the temple”.  The shocked woman deeply prayed to the Lord, who wholeheartedly accepted her prayers.  

Accordingly, in the presence of the people the closed temple doors opened, the sacrificial peetam moved before the Nandi, the sacred tree also grew before the temple and the midnight pooja happened without the priest.  The surprised citizens  understood  that these miracles were performed by the Lord Himself and so blessed the woman.  Even today we can see the Nandi statue outside the temple and the altar before the Nandi.

Thirumurai 3.42 திருச்சிற்றேமம்

பாடல் எண் : 1 பண் : கொல்லிக்கௌவாணம்
நிறைவெண்டிங்கள் வாண்முக மாதர்பாட நீள்சடைக்
குறைவெண்டிங்கள் சூடியோ ராடன்மேய கொள்கையான்
சிறைவண்டியாழ்செய் பைம்பொழிற் பழனஞ்சூழ்சிற் றேமத்தான்
இறைவனென்றே யுலகெலா மேத்தநின்ற பெருமானே.

மாகத்திங்கள் வாண்முக மாதர்பாட வார்சடைப்
பாகத்திங்கள் சூடியோ ராடன்மேய பண்டங்கன்
மேகத்தாடு சோலைசூழ் மிடைசிற்றேம மேவினான்
ஆகத்தேர்கொ ளாமையைப் பூண்டவண்ண லல்லனே.

நெடுவெண்டிங்கள் வாண்முக மாதர்பாட நீள்சடைக்
கொடுவெண்டிங்கள் சூடியோ ராடன்மேய கொள்கையான்
படுவண்டியாழ்செய் பைம்பொழிற் பழனஞ்சூழ்சிற் றேமத்தான்
கடுவெங்கூற்றைக் காலினாற் காய்ந்தகடவு ளல்லனே.

கதிரார் திங்கள் வாண்முக மாதர்பாடக் கண்ணுதல்
முதிரார்திங்கள் சூடியோ ராடன்மேய முக்கணன்
எதிரார்புனலம் புன்சடை எழிலாருஞ்சிற் றேமத்தான்
அதிரார்பைங்க ணேறுடை யாதிமூர்த்தி யல்லனே.

வானார்திங்கள் வாண்முக மாதர்பாட வார்சடைக்
கூனார்திங்கள் சூடியோ ராடன்மேய கொள்கையான்
தேனார்வண்டு பண்செயுந் திருவாருஞ்சிற் றேமத்தான்
மானார்விழிநன் மாதொடும் மகிழ்ந்தமைந்த னல்லனே.

பனிவெண்டிங்கள் வாண்முக மாதர்பாடப் பல்சடைக்
குனிவெண்டிங்கள் சூடியோ ராடன்மேய கொள்கையான்
தனிவெள்விடையன் புள்ளினத் தாமம்சூழ்சிற் றேமத்தான்
முனிவு மூப்புநீக்கிய முக்கண்மூர்த்தி யல்லனே.

கிளருந்திங்கள் வாண்முக மாதர்பாடக் கேடிலா
வளருந்திங்கள் சூடியோ ராடன்மேய மாதவன்
தளிருங்கொம்பு மதுவுமார் தாமஞ்சூழ்சிற் றேமத்தான்
ஒளிரும்வெண்ணூன் மார்பனென் உள்ளத்துள்ளான் அல்லனே.

சூழ்ந்ததிங்கள் வாண்முக மாதர்பாடச் சூழ்சடைப்
போழ்ந்ததிங்கள் சூடியோ ராடன்மேய புண்ணியன்
தாழ்ந்தவயற்சிற் றேமத்தான் றடவரையைத்தன் றாளினால்
ஆழ்ந்தவரக்க னொல்கவன் றடர்த்தவண்ண லல்லனே.

தனிவெண்டிங்கள் வாண்முக மாதர்பாடத் தாழ்சடைத்
துணிவெண்டிங்கள் சூடியோ ராடன்மேய தொன்மையான்
அணிவண்ணச்சிற் றேமத்தா னலர்மேலந்த ணாளனும்
மணிவண்ணனுமுன் காண்கிலா மழுவாட்செல்வ னல்லனே.

வெள்ளைத்திங்கள் வாண்முக மாதர்பாட வீழ்சடைப்
பிள்ளைத்திங்கள் சூடியோ ராடன்மேய பிஞ்ஞகன்
உள்ளத்தார்சிற் றேமத்தா னுருவார்புத்த ரொப்பிலாக்
கள்ளத்தாரைத் தானாக்கியுட் கரந்துவைத்தான் அல்லனே.

கல்லிலோத மல்குதண் கானல்சூழ்ந்த காழியான்
நல்லவாய வின்றமிழ் நவிலுஞான சம்பந்தன்
செல்வனூர்சிற் றேமத்தைப் பாடல்சீரார் நாவினால்
வல்லராகி வாழ்த்துவா ரல்லலின்றி வாழ்வரே.
 
as Umai with a bright face which is like the white full moon, sings.
Civaṉ has a desirable nature of dancing wearing on the long caṭai a white crescent.
who dwells in ciṟṟēmam surrounded by fields and verdant gardens in which bees with wings hum like the music produced in yāḻ.
is the god who stands to be praised by all the people of this world as `the supreme god` the singing of Umai and Civaṉ dancing to that time is mentioned in the following verses.

as Umai, who has a bright face like the full moon shining in the sky, sings Civaṉ who performed the dance of pāṇṭaraṅkam and who desired dancing, wearing a crescent on his long catai.
Civaṉ who desired to dwell in ciṟṟēman, surrounded on all sides by crowded gardens which seem to dance in the clouds by their branches.
is he not the superior god who adorned his chest with a beautiful shell of a tortoise?

as Umai with a bright face like the white moon which is above the sun;
Civaṉ has the nature of dancing, wearing a curved and white crescent on his long caṭai.
Civaṉ in ciṟṟēman surrounded by fields and verdant gardens in which the humming bees produce music like the music of the yāḻ.
is he not the god who killed the cruel and dreadful god of death by his foot?

as Umai, the lady with a bright face like the full moon which has manyrays, is singing.
the god with a frontal eye, and the god with three eyes who has the nature of desiring dancing wearing a crescent.
the Lord in ciṟṟēmam whose ruddy caṭai is made beautiful by the water which he received on it.
is he not the primordial god who has a visible form and has a bull with tender eyes, and a roaring sound produced by bellowing?

as Umai, the lady with a bright face like the moon in the sky, sings.
the god who has the nature of dancing, wearing on the long caṭai a curved crescent.
Civaṉ who is in ciṟṟēmam, where there is abundant wealth and where the bees which drink the honey hum melody-types.
is he not the youth that rejoiced in being united with a good lady who has trembling looks like the deer?

as Umai, the lady with a bright face like the cool and white moon, sings Civaṉ has the nature of dancing wearing a white and curved crescent on catai, a combination of many hairs interwoven who has an white bull which has no equal.
who is in ciṟṟēmam where flocks of birds surround like a garland and fly.
is he not the god who has a visible form with three eyes, and who has removed dislikes and old age, to his devotees?

as Umai, the lady with a bright face like the brilliant moon, sings the great sage who has the nature of dancing wearing a crescent that waxes and has no destruction.
Civaṉ in ciṟṟēmam surrounded by garlands which have abundant fresh leaves, small twigs and honey.
is he not inside my heart, who wears on his chest a shining white sacred thread?

as Umai, the lady with a bridge face like the moon which revolves round the mountain mēru.
the embodiment of virtues who desired to dance wearing a crescent that appears to be cut from the moon, on the caṭai surrounding the head.
Civaṉ who dwells in ciṟṟēmam which has deep fields.
is he not the superior god who crushed to make the arakkaṉ lose his valour who sank under the big mountain with his foot?

as Umai, the lady with a bright face like the cool white moon, sings.
Civaṉ, the ancient god, who desired dancing wearing a white crescent on his caṭai which is hanging low.
who is in ciṟṟēmam of artificial beauty.
is he not the god who has the weapon of a battle-axe and who could not be seen by the brahmin on the lotus flower Piramaṉ and Māl who has the colour of sapphire, long ago?

as Umai, the lady with a bright face like the white moon, sings.
the destroying god who desired dancing wearing a crescent on his caṭai which is hanging low.
who dwells in the hearts of all.
is he not the god who create the buddhists form and the amanar whose deception is unequalled, and concealed himself from their hearts?

ñāṉacampantaṉ who speaks sweet and refined tamiḻ and a native of kāḻi surrounded by cool sea-shore gardens where the waves of the sea are surging and dashing against the stone-walls of the fort.
those who praise, being able by their eminent tongues with the verses on ciṟṟēmam, the place of Civaṉ.
will live a life without sufferings.