01Murugan in silence
The temple’s katha says that after Murugan imprisoned Brahma for not knowing the meaning of the Pranava, He was troubled at having punished an elder, worshipped Shiva at more than one shrine, and fell silent; here His mind was at rest, and the Lord is Sivanandeswarar, Pranaveswarar. Before the sanctum Murugan stands as Dandapani with eyes closed, hand in chinmudra and a tuft of hair on His head, a form rarely carved. Surya is shown with his consorts in the Navagraha mandapa. The vanni is the sacred tree. The name Penuperunthurai distinguishes it from Manikkavasagar’s Tirupperunthurai; people call it Tiruppanthurai.
About 1 km past Natchiyarkoil on the Kumbakonam–Poonthottam road, on the south bank of the Arasalar. There is no Brahmotsavam; Krittikai and Shashti are the days for Murugan.
