பனங்காட்டீசுவரர் திருக்கோயி்ல், பனையபுரம்
An ancient Sivan temple dating back to Pallava times, it is less than an hour west of Pondicherry. It is a Paadal Petra Sthalam and Thirugnasampanthar composed the pathikam for this temple.
விண்ணமர்ந்தன மும் மதில்களை வீழவெங்கணையாலெய் தாய்விரி
பண்ணமர்ந்தொலிசேர் புறவார் பனங்காட்டூர்ப்
பெண்ணமர்ந்தொரு பாகமாகிய பிஞ்ஞகா பிறைசேர்நுதலிடைக்
கண்ணமர்ந்தவனே கலந்தார்க்கு அருளாயே
In those times this place was called Puravaar Panangattur - புறவார் பனங்காட்டூர் - which means a palmyrah forest. Together with a number of other temples in this region and beyond, it venerates the palmyrah palm tree which has played such an important role in Tamil culture.
There are several inscriptions here belonging to Rajendra Cholan, Rajendran II, Athirajendran, Kulothungan I, Jadavarman Sundarapandian and Vikrama Pandian I. During Chola times this village was called Paravaipuram after Paravai, the personal assistant and confidante of Rajendran I, who hailed from this place.
Rajendran I rebuilt this temple which was again renovated by Kulothungan I. It has a 4 tier rajagopuram that does not have any stucco images. The large lingothbavar in the rear koshtam of the moolasthaanam is impressive and classic Cholan. Lot of history here. It almost got destroyed a few years ago during expansion of the national highway system and had to be saved by a lot of effort by locals and others. The highway eventually got rerouted. The temple is under HR and CE control and needs better care.
It is located about 60 km or 1 hour west of Pondicherry. We visited in May 2023. We were based in Pondicherry.
Credits: Google Maps
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