Ponjai Shiva Temple Punjai, Nagapattinam

SRI NATTRUNAI APPAR TEMPLE

Punjai, Nagapattinam, Tamilnadu, India

God

The main deity of this temple is Natrunaiyappar, who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva facing East direction is a swayambhu.

Goddess

Goddesses Parvathaputhiri and Malayan Madanthai are consorts of Natrunaiyappar.

Interesting Facts

The rays of Sun fall on the lord from 7 to 13 Chithirai month.
This is the 43rd sthalam on the southern side of river Cauvery.

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit this temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to March.

Weather

Highest - April to June (38°C during day and 26°C during night)Average - May (37 °C during the day and 21 °C during night)Lowest - October to February (30 °C during day and 18 °C during night)Monsoon season - August to September

Dress Code

For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
These rules are applicable for foreigners also. Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.
Pilgrims/visitors will not be allowed inside the temple if dress code is not followed.

Do's & Dont's

Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.

Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the temple premises.

transport connections

Name	Distance	Contact Number
Akkur Bus Stand	10 KM	1800-419-4287
Nidur Railway Station	13 KM	139
Puducherry Airport	109 KM	0413-2255506

Railway Station Name	Distance	Contact Number
Nidur Railway Station	13 KM	139

Airport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Puducherry Airport	109 KM	0413-2255506

Architecture

The temple is facing East direction and built in Dravidian style of architecture which has a sanctum sanctorum is very big in size that facilitated an Elephant to worship lord directly inside. On temple wall Vijayalaya Chola statue can be found. The sanctum sanctorum and the mandapas speak volumes of the aesthetic sense and architectural skill of ancient sculptors of Tamilnadu. There is a koneru named as Swarna theertham. Here Idol of Nataraja is made of bronze.

Religious Significance

The First Rajendra Chola has created a town Gangaikonda Cholapuram with most beautiful and rare sculptural techniques. It’s similar to earlier creation of Rajaraja emperor’s temple. The Chola conquest of Kadaram (Kedah) and Srivijaya and their continued commercial contacts with the Chinese Empire, enabled them to influence the local cultures. So that Emperor Rajendra Chola also called “Poorva Desamum Vendra Koparakesari Varman”. So this place named Kadarankondan, later name has been corrupted into Kidarankondan. Saint Tirugnasambandar (7th – 8th century C.E.) praises Lord Shiva in his following Thevaram hymn. “Devotion to Lord Shiva is but chanting his five lettered Mantra-Name – Na Ma Shi Va Ya - day in and day out without fail, for he made nectar of the poisonous food offered by the Jains. This is 43rd Shiva temple in the Southern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.

History

The temple was built in 9th century A.D. by Raja Raja Chola and King Panranthaga Chola.

Temple Timings

Day	Timings
All Days	05:00 AM - 12:00 PM	04:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Tours

Airports

Airport Name	Distance
Shamshabad	40 KM
Lorem Ipsum	12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name	Distance
Secunderabad	10 KM
Nampally	12 KM
Begumpet	6 KM
Lingampally	20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name	Distance
MGBS	35 KM
CBS	28 KM
kukatpally	20 KM
Lingampally	30 KM
Uppal	35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Private Transport	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757