Thiruvaipadi

Thiruvaipadi - Balukandanathar Temple

The presiding deity is Balukandanathar with the Goddess Periyanayaki. Because the God accepted milk offered by Chandikeswara, he is called Pal Ugandha Nathar or the one who accepted milk. 

Sandesa Nayanar was born to the Brahmin couple Echathathan and Pavithrai.  He had his Upanayana at age 7 according to custom.  The boy had only God Shiva in his thoughts and made a lingam with sand from the banks of the Manniyaru under Athi tree and worshipped him. He did abishek with the milk of the cows grazing there.  In spite of this, the cows owners got their right measure of milk.  But some said that the milk for use in Yagnas was being wasted by Chandikeswar. 

Echathathan was angry and he tried to kick his son and toss the milk pots.  Deep in his shiva worship, Chandikeswar with eyes closed, beat those legs with a stick, not knowing it was his father.  His stick became an axe which cut his father's legs.  Not knowing this, he continued his pooja.  Shiva was pleased and appeared to him along with Parvathi and said that he would be his father from then on. 

Significance of the temple:

v  The temple is praised by Saint Tirunavukkarasar in his Thevaram hymns. This is the 40th Lord Shiva temple on the northern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns (Paadal Petra Sthalam).

v  Chandigeswarar offered worship here. According to inscriptions, the name of the Lord is AappadiUdayar. River Manniyar flows beside this shrine.

v  Chandikeswara among the 63 Nayanmars is the only one with Easwara title.  Seignalur near this place is his birth place. Tiruvaipadi is the place where he installed Linga and worshipped and attained salvation. 

v  The holy tree is the Aathi and Manniyaru is the holy spring.  This temple is about 2000 years old. 

Thiruvaipadi - Sri Palunkanda Nathar Temple திருவாய்ப்பாடி - பாலுகந்தநாதர் திருக்கோவில்
Main Deity	Lord Shiva
Name	Sri Balukandanadha Swamy
Goddess Name	Sri Periyanayagi
Location	Thiruvaipadi
Historical Name	Appadi, Tiruaappadi, Veerakkan, Tiru Aippadi, Thiruvoippadi
Significance	40th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in North of cauvery region, One of 275 Devaram Padal Petram Sthalams, Chandeshvara Nayanar got mukthi in this temple
Ancient	1500 years old
Travel Base	Kumbakonam

How to Reach :  Balukandanadha Swamy Temple is situated on the Kumbakonam - Anaikkarai road and near to Tiruppanandaal town. Tiruvaipadi is 14 km from Kumbakonam on the Chennai road.

Another Paadal Petra Sthalam Tiruppanandal is located 3 kms away from this temple.