Shiva Temples-Pancha Aranya Sthalams- Avalivanallur

The Five ShivaTemples which collectively make the Pancha Aranya Sthalams are:

Name	Location	Vanam
1. Sri Mullaivananathar Temple	Tirukkarugavur	Mullai
2.  Sri Satchi Nathar Temple	Avalivanallur	Paadhiri
3. Sri Paathaaleswarar Temple	Tiru Aradaipperumpazhi	Vanni
4. Sri Aapathsahayeswarar Temple	Tiru Erumpoolai[Alangudi]	Poolai
5. Sri Vilvavaneswarar Temple	Tirukkollampudur	Vilvam

Lord Shiva

These Temples signify the Five Temples of Lord Shiva,  surrounded by forest. 

Pancha - 5 , Aranyam,Vanam - Forest

It is believed that one should see all the five Pujas in these five temples in a single day and get the Blessings of Lord Shiva.   One can make a tour of these temples called PANCHA ARANYA STHALANGAL. in a single day by keeping to the following timings:  

• 6.00 am – Mullaivananathar—Thirukkarugavur.
• 8.00 am – Satchinathar swamy –Aavalivannallur
• 12.00 pm – Paathaaleswara swamy—Tiruaradai Perumpazhi [Haridwara Mangalam]
• 5.30 pm –Aapathsahayeswarar Temple, Tiru Erumpoolai [Alangudi]
• 8.30 pm – Vilvavaneswarar- thirukkollampudur

More on the temple[Avalivanallur] which falls second among the five Pancha Aranya Sthalams.

2.  Avalivanallur

Avalivanallur

Avalivanallur is the second among this group of temples to be visited between 9.30 and 10a.m..

It was once situated in a forest of Trumpet Flower trees called Pathiri Vanam in Tamil.  This is an ancient temple and according to the Sthala Puranam, Lord Shiva was worshipped here and at Haridwaramangalam nearby during his avatar as Varaha- the Boar.

Name of the Temple: Satchi Nathar Temple, TiruAvalivanallur


Period of origin: Before 6 th Century. Appar and Thirugnanasambandar had sung in Devaram.

Name of deity: Moolavar[ Lord Shiva also known as]: Satchi Nathar

Ambal[Female Deity]:Soundaranayagi

Sthala Theertham: Chandra Theertham

Stalavriksham: Paadhiri [Trumpet Flower trees]

Sthalapuranam: 

One of the Pancha Aranya Sthalam known to be "Paadhiri Vanam" the Second in order.

Once the priest of this temple soon after his marriage, decided to visit Kashi, leaving his wife behind. Meanwhile, his wife fell sick, and her sister arrived to assist her. When the priest returned home after number of years, he saw two women in the house one sick and the other a healthy, resembling his wife. He immediately assumed that the healthy one was his wife. Lord Shiva realised the mistake of his devotee, and appeared in front of the priest, informed him about his wife's illness, and explained that the healthy one was his sister-in-law, not his wife.

Since Shiva is said to have played the role of a witness in resolving the marital dispute of priest family he is named Sakshi Nathar . The priest, his wife, and his sister-in-law are all immortalized in the temple, with their statues in the prahar along with the other deities.

This temple is known to be the 100 th in the series of Devara Stalams in the Chola region south of the river Kaveri. 

Images of Shiva and Parvati on the Rishabha vaahanam are seen behind the Shivalingam in the sanctum.

This east facing temple has a south facing ambal shrine. It has no Rajagopuram, Vinayagar, Atkondar and voikondar near the sanctum are seen.

Inside the premises Vinayagar, Nalvar, Kanava muni with paravai, Veerabathirar, Saptha Kanniyar, 63 nayanmars.

The procession idols Somaskandhar, Vinayagar, Sivagami, Nalvar, Arumugar, Mahalakshmi are there.

The shrine for Natarajar, Kumaralingam, kasiviswanathar, Visalakshi, Tapas Ambal, Kala Bairav, Suriyan, Chandikeswarar and Navagraha are seen.

In Kostham Agasthiyar, Dakshinamoorthy, Lingothpavar, Brahma and Durga are seen. 

Thai Amavasai, Navaratri, Skanda Sashti, Mahasivarathri are the major festivals celebrated here.

Location of the Temple: ThiruAvalivanallur.

Temple Timings:

6.30 am to 11.30 am and 4 pm to 7 pmTemple Address:

Arulmigu Sakshinathar Alayam.
Avaliyanallur [P.O]
Valangaiman [Taluk]
Tiruvarur [Dist]
Tamilnadu
India.