DaljeetBhutal: made initial place needs work

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{{short description|Temple in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Pushpavaneswarar temple
| image =Thiruppuvanam (1).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|9|49|37|N|78|15|24|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Sivaganga district|Sivaganga]]
| location = [[Sivaganga]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Pushpavaneswarar([[Shiva]])
Soundaranayagi([[Parvathi]])

| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Pushpavaneswarar temple''' (also called '''Poovananathar temple''' or '''Thirpoovanam temple''') in [[Thirupuvanam, Sivaganga|Thirupuvanam]], a town in [[Sivaganga district]] in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]], is dedicated to the Hindu god [[Shiva]]. Constructed in the [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]], the temple is believed to have been built during the [[Cholas]] period in the 7th century. Shiva is worshipped as Pushpavaneswarar and his consort [[Parvathi]] as Soundaranayagi.

The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ''[[Tevaram]]'', written by Tamil saint poets known as the [[Nayanmars]] and classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]''. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a seven-tiered [[Rajagopuram]], the gateway tower. The temple is located on the banks of [[Vaigai]] river.

The temple is open from 6am - 1 pm and 4 - 8:30 pm on all days. Four daily rituals and four yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Vaikasi Visagam celebrated during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Vaikasi'' (May - June), Aaadi Mulaikattu festival celebrated during the Tamil month of ''Aadi'' (August - September), Navaratri during the Tamil month of ''Purattasi'' (September - October) and Aipasi Kolattam festival during the Tamil month of ''Aipasi'' (October - November are the most prominent festivals celebrated in the temple for Pushpavaneswarar being the most prominent festivals. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

== Legend ==
[[File:Thiruppuvanam (10).jpg|Image of Marudhu brothers|200x200px|left|thumb]]
As per Hindu legend, this is one of the 64 places where [[Shiva]] performed his [[Thiruvilayadal]], the divine plays. A dancing girl named Ponanaial was a staunch devotee of Shiva and her only aim in life was to make an idol of Shiva made of gold. She was not able to accomplish due to lack of money. Pleased by her devotion, Shiva appeared in the form of metallurgist named Rasavathi who converted iron, bronze and aluminium to make the golden idol. Impressed by the beauty of the idol, Ponanaial pinched the cheeks of the idol, which is believed to be the mark in the idol.

The [[lingam]] in the temple is believed to have been self-manifested and was worshipped by [[Surya]], [[Yama (Hinduism)|Dharmaraja]], [[Nala]], [[Chandra]], Thirasanan, [[Brahma]] and [[Vishnu]]. Since Shiva appeared under Parijatha tree, the presiding deity came to be known as Pushpaveneswarar.<ref name=Hindu/>

== Architecture ==
Pushpavaneswarar temple is located in [[Thirupuvanam, Sivaganga|Thirupuvanam]], a village located on the banks of [[Vaigai]] river, located {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Madurai]] and {{convert|29|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Sivaganga]]. The temple in its current structure built of stone was built by the Chola king [[Aditya I]] (870 - 907 CE). The temple has a seven-tiered ''[[Rajagopuram]]'', the gateway tower that pierces the rectangular wall that houses all the shrines. The temple tank is located adjacent to the temple. The sanctum sanctorum houses one of the rare images of Pushpavaneswarar in the form of [[Lingam]], an iconic form of Shiva with three faces, said to be of the very few in [[India]]. There is an Ardha [[Mandapa]] and a Mukha mandapa, pillared halls leading to the sanctum. The first precinct has the shrines of [[Vinayakar]], [[Murugan]], [[Durga]], [[Dakshinamurthy]] and [[Chandeshvara Nayanar|Chandikeswara]]. The second precinct has a hundred pillared hall.<ref name=Hindu>{{cite news|title=Namma Madurai: The Lord of Thirupuvanam|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/namma-madurai-the-lord-of-thirupuvanam/article5093118.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|last=S.S.|first=Kavitha|accessdate=4 November 2018|date=4 September 2013}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Thiruppuvanam (2).jpg|250px|Festival images of the temple|thumb]]
The exact year of building could not be ascertained from the inscriptions, but the stone structure of Pushpavaneswarar shrine in its current form, is built during the time of Chola king [[Aditya I]] (870 - 907 CE). The inscriptions on the two sides of the Southern shrine of the temple indicate an endowment from Aditya for perpetual lighting of lamps in the temple. Theerthavari, the sacred bathing of the presiding deity during the auspicious days in the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Puratasi'' (September - October). The temple has another inscription in the second precinct during the time of [[Uttama Chola]] (970-985 CE) for the maintenance and worship of Pushpavaneswarar and Varadaraja Perumal afforded to four able men. During the reign of [[Raja Raja Chola I]] (984-1015 CE), a village named Manali was gifted to the temple - the inscription indicates that the temple was built by Sembiyar Mahadevi. The structure of the Vishnu shrine is believed to have expanded during the reign of [[Rajendra Chola I]] (1012-1044).<ref>{{cite news|title=Of quiet waters and the whirr of wings|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/city-explorer-column-ousteri-lake-bird-sanctuary/article7346044.ece|work=The Hindu|accessdate=8 November 2015|date=23 June 2015}} </ref> It is one of the shrines of the 275 [[Paadal Petra Sthalams]].

== Festival ==
[[File:Thiruppuvanam (7).jpg|200x200px|left|thumb]]
The temple follows Saivite tradition. The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Saivism|Shaivaite]] community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:30 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 11:30 p.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m., and ''Sayarakshai'' between 8:00  - 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Pushpavaneswarar and Amirthambigai.There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The temple is open from 6am - 12 pm and 4-8:30 pm.<ref name="dinamalar"/>

Vaikasi Visagam celebrated during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Vaikasi'' (May - June), Aaadi Mulaikattu festival celebrated during the Tamil month of ''Aadi'' (August - September), Navaratri during the Tamil month of ''Purattasi'' (September - October) and Aipasi Kolattam festival during the Tamil month of ''Aipasi'' (October - November are the most prominent festivals celebrated in the temple. There are other common festivals like Shivaratri, Vinayaga Chaturthi, Vijayadasami and Karthigai Deepam celebrated in the temple.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Pushpavaneshwar temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=719|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=31 May 2014|year=2014}}</ref> There is a wish tree in the compound having [[Naga (Hinduism)|Naga]], a snake representation. Childless ladies pray for the attaining child by placing or installing the stone symbols praying Vakrakali.<ref>{{cite book|title=Ayyanar And Mariamman, Folk Deities In South India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FwUlAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA104|page=103|publisher=Christa Neuenhofer|last=Neuenhofer|first=Neuenhofer|year=2012}}</ref>

== Religious significance ==
[[Campantar|Tirugnana Sambandar]], a 7th century Tamil ''Saivite'' poet, venerated Pushpavaneswarar in ten verses each in ''[[Tevaram]]'', compiled as the ''[[Tirumurai|First Tirumurai]]''. [[Appar]], a contemporary of [[Sambandar]], also venerated Pushpavaneswarar in 10 verses in ''Tevaram'', compiled as the ''Fifth Tirumurai''. The temple also finds mention in the works of [[Sundarar]] As the temple is revered in ''Tevaram'', it is classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]'', one of the 275 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon. The temple also finds mention in the 36th chapter of ''[[Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam]]''.<ref name="dinamalar"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Famous Shiva temples}}
{{Tiruvicaippa and Thirupallandu Talangal}}
{{commonscat|Pushpavananathar temple, Sivaganga}}
[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Sivaganga district]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Sivaganga district]]

Pushpavaneswarar temple - Revision history

DaljeetBhutal: made initial place needs work