Thenupureeswarar at Patteeswaram

 The temple features:

This temple is located in Patteeswaram about 6-7kms in the South western direction from Kumbakonam on the banks of the river Thirumalai aaru in Tamil nadu.
The carpet area of the temple is 2,00,640 sqft with 4 towers in 7 stages on each of the four sides. The deity is called Thenu-pureeswarar and is in the east facing pose. It is said that it is self incarnated . The Lord's consort Devi Gnanambigai has a separate sanctum. facing south. The temple tree is Vanni  and the theertham is gnanavavi.

The saint who sang hymns on the Lord:
Thiru-gnana-sambandhar  

Legend:
There are many legends connected with this temple. Before Sri Rama proceed to Lanka he visited this temple for getting rid of his Chaya Dosham. Including in feature killing Ravana. Sri Rama had committed three different kinds of sins. Those are Brahma-hatti, Veera-hatti and Chaya.
There is no exception to the natural human Law though Rama is an incarnation of Vishnu. Sri Rama installed a Siva lingam. He dug a well by shooting an arrow from his bow into the ground to fill Dhanushkodi teertham for the Lingam installed by him at this temple. The Lord is called Ramalingam. Sri Rama worshiped the Lord here and was relieved from his Chaya Dosham.

Once in twelve years thousands of religious persons take their holy dip in Mahamakham tank on the day of the star Makha in the month of Kumbha. It is said that the pot-containing ambrosia (Amrita) while drifting about in the deluge touched this spot. Hence this place is of rare mythological significance. Patteswaram temple is one among them.

The divine cow called Kamadhenu had four daughters Patti, Chapali, Vimali and Nandini. The eldest daughter Patti worshipped Siva in this temple and used to anoint the Lingam by discharging milk from her udders. Siva was pleased with the devotional worship of Patti and the place came to be called after Kamadenu's daughter - patti.

Another story connected with this temple is that Gnanasambandar visited Sakthi-mutram during the course of his tours, worshipping the deities at different temples of South India. It was midday of the mid-summer month and he felt too tired to proceed further to see Lord Dhenu-puree-swara at Patteeswaram. He prayed to Lord Siva and the Lord was pleased with his prayers ordered his disciples (Bhootaganas) to erect canopies of pearl throughout the route so that his beloved devotee could comfortably travel the distance without being affected by the heat.

The disciples of the Lord executed his orders and Gnanasambandar proceeded to the temple. Because he travelled in the hot sun he could not see the Lord as it was very dark all around and the obstruction of the view by Nandhi (the Lord's mount) The Lord was very kind enough and told Nandhi to move on to his right side leaving the front view free from obstruction. Accordingly Nandhi moved to the right side and the Saint Gnanasambandar had the Lord's darshan comfortably. Therefore, Nandi is not in its usual position like in other Siva temples but a little on the right side of the Lord in this temple.
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