Visited on: March 30, 2018
Location
Thiru Shakthi Mutham is situated at a distance of about 8 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam to Avoor route. From Swamimalai, it is about 3 kms and from Dharasuram, it is about 4 kms. Both Swamimalai and Darasuram have railway stations.
Shakthi Mutram temple is adjacent to Patteeswaram Sri Dhenupureeswarar / Durgai temple.
Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this place are –
Patteswaram, Thiruvalanchuzhi, Avoor, Pazhayarai, Nallur, Kottaiyur, Innambur, Thiruppurambiam, Thiruvaikavur, Thiruvisayamangai and Kumbakonam (3 temples – Kudamukku, Keezhkkottam and Karonam).
General information
- Moolavar
- Sri Sakthivaneswarar, Sri Sivakozhuntheeswarar, Sri Sakthi Thazhuviya Udayar,
Sri Thazhuvakkuzhaintha Nathar - Ambal
- Sri Periyanayaki, Sri Brahannayaki
- Theertham (Holy water)
- Soola Theertham/Surya Theertham
- Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)
- Vilvam
- Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by
- Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)
- This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 22nd Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai).
- Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).
- Lord Shiva offered a tent lined with pearls (“Muthu panthal”) to Saint Thirugnanasambanthar here.
- This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
- The last consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 10.07.2003.
History of the temple
In ancient times, this place was a part of the Chola capital “Pazhayarai”. The capital consisted of many villages such as Patteswaram, Muzhayur, Udayalur, Shakti Mutram, Cholan Maligai, Darasuram and Ramanathan Koil. Many Chola kings ruled from Pazhayarai.
This temple was renovated and built using granite by the Chola queen Sembian Maadevi. Later it was renovated again by Rajaraja Chola-I.
There are some stone inscriptions in this temple which date back to the periods of Chola kings Kulothungan, Rajathirajan and Kulothungan-III. There are also some inscriptions from the times of the later Vijayanagar kings.
The historical names of this place are Rajarajapuram and Sithimutham.
This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE).


Legend
It is believed that Goddess Parvathi was interested in establishing the power of “bhakti” (devotion). She wanted to prove that bhakti alone is the right way to attain salvation. Lord Shiva advised her to come to this place (Shakthi Mutham) and perform penance here. Goddess Parvathi came to the Surya Pushkarini /Soola Theertham on the southern side of the river Cauvery. She performed rigorous penance here by standing on one leg. Lord Shiva wanted to test the extent of her devotion and thus he delayed his darshan. However, this did not deter her from her resolve. Lord Shiva finally appeared before her in the form of a huge column of fire (“Jyothiswaroopam”). Knowing that this Jyothiswaroopam was nothing but the lord himself, she embraced him and kissed him. Hence the lord here is praised as “Sri Sivakkozhuntheeswarar” and the place gets the name “Sakthi Mutham” (“Sakthi” means Goddess Parvathy and “mutham” means kiss in Tamil). The Shivalingam here has the traces of Agni (“theechudar”) in it.
Another legend is that while Goddess Parvathy was performing her penance here, Lord Shiva caused heavy floods in the river Cauvery. The Shivalingam that Goddess Parvathy had created was about to be destroyed by the flood. She immediately embraced it and protected it from the water. Pleased with her penance, Lord Shiva appeared and blessed her and took her back to Mount Kailash. Hence the lord here is also praised as “Sri Thazhuvakkuzhaintha Nathar”.


Another legend associated with this place is that of Saint Thirunavukkarasar (Appar). He prayed to Lord Shiva that he be blessed with the “Thiruvadi Deeksha”. Thiruvadi deeksha means that the lord’s feet be placed on the devotee’s head. It is believed that Lord Shiva asked him to go to the nearby Nallur temple to receive this deeksha from him.
Another legend associated with this temple is that of Saint Thirugnanasambhanthar. After offering his prayers in this temple, it is believed that the saint wanted to go to the nearby Patteswaram temple. It was a peak summer day and in order to protect him from the oppressive heat, Lord Shiva created a tent lined with pearls (“Muthu panthal”) and sent it through his attendants (“Bhootha ganas”).
It is believed that Goddess Parvathy, Sage Agasthiyar, Saints Thirugnanasambanthar, Thirunavukkarasar, Arunagirinathar and Ramalinga Adigal have worshipped Lord Shiva here.
Deities in the temple
Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Vinayagar with his wife, Murugan with his consorts, Natarajar, Sarabeswarar, Gajalakshmi, the Shivalingams worshiped by Sage Agasthiyar, Kasi Viswanathar, Appar, Thirugnanasambanthar, Suryan, Chandran, Nagar (serpent) and Saneeswarar can be seen in the main hall and in the corridors.
There are two shrines for Goddess Parvathy here. There is no Navagraham in this temple.
At the entrance of this temple, there is a shrine for Lord Vallabai Vinayagar.
There are shrines for Lord Vinayakar and Lord Murugan on either side of the entrance to the second main tower.
Idols of Somaskandar and “Sthala Aideekamurthy” can be seen on either side of the entrance to the sanctum.
In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Vinayakar, Natrajar, Agasthiyar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durgai and Chandikeswarar can be seen.






















Salient features
Saint Arunagirinadhar has sung songs in praise of Lord Murugan of this temple in his revered Thirupugazh.
The sanctum sanctorum is in the form of a semi-circular tank (akazhi in Tamil).
It is believed that Poet Sakthimutram, who wrote the “Narai Vidu Thoothu”, lived here.
Greatness of this temple
Devotees believe that by worshiping the lord here, obstacles from their marriage proposals will be removed. They further believe that worshiping the lord here will lead to removal of sins that they might have accrued in their previous births.
It is believed that those seeking “Santhana Prapthi” (child boon) can pray to the lord here.
It is also believed that worshiping Lord Shiva here will result in the reunion of estranged couples.
Important festivals
Gnanasambanthar’s pearl tent festival is celebrated on the 1st day of the Tamil month of Aani (June-July).
“Ratha Sapthami” is celebrated here in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb).
Some of the other important festivals celebrated in this temple are –
Aani Thirumanjanam in the Tamil month of Aani (June-July),
Aadi Pooram in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-Aug),
Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept),
Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct),
Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov),
Thiru Karthikai and Somavaram (Mondays) in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec),
Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan) and
Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar).
Pradosham and Sankatahara Chaturthi are also observed regularly.
Temple timings
From 06.30 AM to 12.00 Noon and from 04.00 PM to 08.30 PM.
Temple address
Sri Sakthivaneswara Swamy Temple,
Thiru Sakthi Mutram,
Patteswaram Post,
Kumbakonam Taluk,
Tanjure District,
Tamil Nadu – 612 703.
Tele: +91 - 94436 78575, 94435 64221, 0435 -2445237.









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