Palaivananathar Temple

🛕 Lord Shiva | 📍 Papanasam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

Temple Tags: Ancient Temple Chola Temple Famous Temple Nayanmar Temple Paadal Petra Sthalam South India Temple Tevaram Temple

✔ Verified by Mandirvaas

📍 Open in Maps

⏰ Darshan

Morning: 06:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Evening: 04:00 PM – 08:00 PM

📅 Best Time to Visit

October to March is generally comfortable for temple travel. For a quieter visit, weekday mornings are preferable. Chitra Pournami and Aani Thirumanjanam are significant festival periods, but they can also bring larger crowds.

📸 Photography

Not Allowed

🔱 Temple Significance

Palaivananathar Temple is an ancient Shiva temple at Tirupalathurai near Papanasam in Thanjavur district. Shiva is worshipped as Palaivananathar/Papanasanathar and Goddess Parvati as Thavalavennayagal. The temple is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams and is associated with the Tevaram hymns of the Nayanmars, particularly Sambandar. It is situated on the banks of the Kudamurutti, a tributary of the Kaveri.

🏛 Temple History

The original temple complex is believed to have been built during the Chola period. The present masonry structure has significant Vijayanagara-period contributions, while inscriptions from the Chola and Vijayanagara periods are found in the temple. One of its notable features is the large circular granary built during the Nayak period by Raghunatha Nayak, which is maintained as a monument of state importance.

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Daily Poojas

Regular temple worship schedule

Kalasanthi

08:00 AM

Uchikalam

12:00 PM

Sayarakshai

06:00 PM

Arthajamam

08:00 PM

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Special Rituals

Sacred offerings and temple rituals

🕉️

No special rituals available currently.

🎉 Temple Festivals

No festivals available.

🧭 Pilgrim Travel Tips

Plan your visit during the morning or evening darshan hours for a more comfortable pilgrimage.
Do not miss the main shrine of Palaivananathar/Papanasanathar and the shrine of Thavalavennayagal.
As a Paadal Petra Sthalam, the temple is especially significant for devotees following the Nayanmar and Tevaram tradition.
Spend some time observing the five-tier Rajagopuram and the two prakarams of the temple.
Look for the shrines/images of Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Durga, Chandikeswarar and the 63 Nayanmars.
A major highlight is the historic Nayak-period granary, which is an important heritage feature associated with the temple.
The temple is located beside the Kudamurutti River, so the riverside setting adds to the pilgrimage experience.
Chitra Pournami and Aani Thirumanjanam are among the important festivals of the temple. Expect larger crowds during major festival days.
Wear comfortable traditional clothing and remove footwear before entering the inner temple areas.
Follow local rules regarding photography, especially around the sanctum and other restricted areas.
The temple can be combined with other important Papanasam, Kumbakonam and Thanjavur-region Shiva temples to make a full-day pilgrimage circuit.
Senior citizens and families should preferably visit during the cooler morning/evening hours and allow sufficient time for walking around the temple complex.
Carry drinking water during the hotter months, especially if visiting multiple temples in the same trip.
Check the current temple timings and special-day arrangements before travelling, as festival schedules can differ from normal days.