01Appar’s Parambaikudi
Appar’s hymn in the sixth Tirumurai names the village Parambaikudi and the temple Tiruvalampozhil, the sacred banyan grove, and an inscription in the temple uses the same pair of names. The sanctum faces west, and the swayambhu linga is worshipped as Atmanatheswarar. Gnanambikai, the Devi who gives knowledge, stands in the mandapam beyond the gateway, and Dakshinamurti is honoured as Medha Dakshinamurti, giver of understanding. Maharshi Kashyapa and the eight Vasus are said to have worshipped here, and the Durga of the niche is held to be powerful. Families come to pray for marriages and for children. Tiruppoonthuruthi is less than two kilometres away.
Take the Tiruvaiyaru–Thanjavur road to Tirukkandiyur and turn off on the branch road; Tiruppoonthuruthi is close by.
