20. PAIYANOOR

ETTEESWARAR TEMPLE

Distance:  8kms from Mahabalipuram, 22kms from Chengulpet and 52 kms from Chennai

Shiva: Etteeswarar

Ambaal: Ezhilaarkuzhali

Theertham: Bhairavar Kulam

Speciality:

This temple was built by Vijaya Nandhi Vikrama Varma Pallavan in the year 773AD. He named the Shiva as Paiyanoor Etteswaramudaiyanayanaar.  

The temple was built with had stones.

Paiyanoor was earlier known as Rajakesari Chadurvedhi Mangalam. 

Kangaayan a chieftain of the Kulothunga Chola the first donated lands of the temple.

Idaikattu Sidhdhar of Thiruvannamalai have worshipped lord Etteeswarar. We can see his idol just outside the temple.

The Nandhikeswarar here is an Apoorva Nandhikeswara. The Nandhi is seen with erected ears. People believe that he is listen to everything going around. 

Sarabeswarar is found in a separate shrine.

There are 3 inscriptions about this temple. 

The temple has been built in the Gaja Pradhashta style. 

We find the idols of Vallalar and Agasthya also. Lord Agasthya have worshipped here. The navagrahas are seen with her consorts. 

The ancient sculpture is obviously seen in the temple. The temple is more than 2000years old.

The Etteeswarar temple built by the Pallavas carry historical importance and speak about temple architecture. 

History:

During the days of the Pallavas Mahabalipuram was a commercial capital. One person called Naagan was a tenant of a piece of the temple land. He was a devotee of lord Etteeswarar. He cleaned the Paiyanoor lake at his own cost. Apart from Naagan many villagers were also tenants of the temple land. They paid dues to the temple Properly. They worked for the king and the Grama Saba paid them wages. This incident happened around 8th century. Though Naagan worked sincerely wages were not paid to him properly. He shed tears before Lord Etteeswarar saying about his sufferings. When the wage day came the Grama Saba cheated Naagan again. He pleaded before them and when he was chased out he told the Lord in front of everyone that the Lord should make them pay a heavy price for their injustice. The people around him were afraid to help him. Suddenly a voice spoke that they should pay the wages due to Naagan or they and their families would have to terribly suffer. They turned to the direction of the voice and they found a beam of light slowly disappearing as it entered the shrine of Lord Etteeswarar. The Gramasaba understood their mistake and paid all the dues to Naagan. They requested Naagan to appeal for them to the Lord and pleaded him to pardon them. Naagan expressed his gratitude to the Lord who saved him. 

Recently a Shiva linga has been obtained from near by land and has been kept behind this temple. This Linga should have been a moolavar of some temple in a village near by in those days.