Pazhavoor Temples

Why does this hidden gem of Tamil Nadu, nestled around the Tirunelveli/Tiruchendur regions, remain undiscovered? Why do people persist in revisiting sites extensively documented in countless texts? The village of Pazhavoor, tucked away in the embrace of water bodies, fields, gardens, and hills, unveils itself as a haven. True to its name (Pazhavoor, meaning an ancient site), it stands untouched by modern technology, preserving its age-old charm. Pazhavoor is indeed Tirunelveli's best-kept secret.

Within this village lie three temples from the Pandya era. The first temple houses Dharma Shasta, accompanied by Poorna and Pushkala. The exquisite iconography suggests a Pandya-era origin. Tirumeni Azhagar, the charming deity with a beautiful physique, captures our attention, making it hard to look away. The icon is ancient but the temple is a modern-day temple. It also hosts other deities such as Ganesha, Karuppu Swami, Madan, and Peichi, recent additions to the sacred space.

Adjacent to the Shasta temple stands the Srinivasa Perumal temple, where Srinivasa, in a standing posture, is flanked by Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. This temple, from a later Pandya era, underwent recent renovations. Following the Pandya region's tradition, the outer walls of the sanctum feature hollow niches without images, while bas-relief images of Dakshinamurti, Yoga Narasimha, and Brahma adorn the toranas above the Koshtas. Garuda faces the main shrine with devotion.

The third and oldest temple, nestled amidst banana gardens, dates back to the Jatavarma Kulasekhara Pandya period. Thazhuvakkuzhaintheesar is the presiding deity, accompanied by his consort, Perun Devi, also known as Samaya Valli. Legend has it that Durvasa Rishi installed the Shiva Linga in Karisoolnda Nalloor, designating it the Southern Kalahasti. Eight Shiva Lingas were then installed in eight directions around the temple, with Pazhavoor Thazhuvakkuzhaintheesar positioned to the north.

According to another tale, Uma Devi crafted a Shiva Linga with sand and worshipped it. When Tamraparani threatened to wash it away, Devi embraced the Linga, ensuring its preservation. The Linga was named Thazhuvak Kuzhainteesara, and Devi, recognized as Samayavalli, symbolized her timely protection.

Pazhavoor stands as an unexplored trove housing three exquisite temples. Make it a point to include this hamlet in your itinerary during your next exploration of the region.

Happy travelling!