Sri Pushpavaneswarar Temple, also known as Poovananathar or Thirpoovanam Temple, is a revered Hindu temple in Thirupuvanam, Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it features classic Dravidian architecture and was likely constructed during the Chola period in the 7th century. Shiva is worshipped here as Pushpavaneswarar, alongside his consort Parvati as Soundaranayagi, making it a significant spiritual and architectural landmark.
The temple is glorified in the Tevaram, a 7th-century Tamil Saiva text by Nayanmar saint-poets, and is classified as a Paadal Petra Sthalam. A granite wall encloses the temple’s sanctum, and its seven-tiered Rajagopuram, or gateway tower, stands impressively. Positioned along the Vaigai River, the temple is open daily, hosting four daily rituals and four major yearly festivals, including Vaikasi Visagam, Aaadi Mulaikattu, Navaratri, and Aipasi Kolattam.
According to legend, Shiva performed his divine play, or Thiruvilayadal, here. A devout dancer, Ponanaial, longed to make a golden idol of Shiva. Shiva, in the form of a metallurgist, helped her by transforming base metals into gold for the idol. The lingam, believed to be self-manifested, was worshipped by several deities, including Surya and Vishnu, and thus the deity was named Pushpavaneswarar, derived from the Parijatha tree under which Shiva appeared.
The temple's architecture is a testament to Chola craftsmanship, with its stone structure credited to Chola king Aditya I. It houses rare three-faced Shiva Lingam, Ardha Mandapa, Mukha Mandapa, and a hundred-pillared hall. Inscriptions from the reigns of Aditya I, Uttama Chola, and Raja Raja Chola I describe endowments and expansions for the temple’s upkeep, lighting, and rituals, establishing it as one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams.