facing shrine. The temple has four bodies of water associated with it. The principal water tank is called Kamadhenu Theertham, which is located outside the main entrance of the temple. Religious importance and Worship practices The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the northern banks of River Kaveri. The temple is revered in the verses of Tevaram, the 7th century Saivite canonical work by the saint poet Sambandar. As the temple is revered in Tevaram, it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 275 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon. The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Shaiva community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed four times a day; Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m., and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Pasupatheeswarar and Mangalambikai. The worship is held amidst music with nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument), religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred texts) read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast. There are weekly rituals like (Monday) and (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi. The major festivals celebrated in the temple are Panguni Uthiram during the Tamil month of Panguni (April - May) and Masi Magam in Maasi (February - March). References External links Shiva temples in Thanjavur district Padal Petra Stalam