This is one of the saptasthana Shiva temples of Mayiladuthurai. The temple is on the southern bank of Kaveri. This temple is considered to be one of the six temples on the bank of Kaveri which are equal to the temple at Kashi. This is also one of the Pancha Dakshinamurti kshetra around Mayiladuthurai. This is one of the Padal Pethra sthalam revered by Shaiva saint Sambandhar & Appar. Saint Arungirinadar has sung sacred hymn on Shri Muruga of this temple.
Mulavar: Shri Mayurnadar, Shri Gauritandaveeshawarar, Shri Gaurimayurnadar
Devi: Shri Abhayambika, Shri Anjalnayaki
Sacred vruksha: Mango tree, Shami tree
Sacred teertha: Rishabh teertha, Bramha teertha, Agastya teertha and river kaveri
Puranic name: Mayuram, Thirumayiladuthurai, Mayavaram, Sundarvanam, Bramhapuram, Sikandi puram, Thenmayilai
The present temple is about 300 years old. There are about 17 stone inscriptions which give an account of the work done by various Chola kings.
This is an east facing temple. Its Raja Gopuram is about 165 ft in height. The temple covers an area of about 3.5 lacs sq. ft. The temple has 5 parikramas. The entrance to the temple from North, South & West directions have no Raja Gopuram. At the entrance to the inner parikrama, there is a 3 tier Raja Gopuram. At this entrance, we come across Nandi, Balipeetham & Dhwaja stambha facing the sanctum. In the maha mandap, there is a shrine of Lord Nataraja in which the Nataraja idol is in the Gauritandav posture. This tandav is also known as Mayur tandav. The first pooja of the evening is done to Lord Nataraja.
In the sanctum, the Shiva Linga is facing the east and it is a swayambhoo linga. The sanctum is Linga shaped and the vimana (roof) over the sanctum is known as Tridala vimana.
Koshta Murti: Shri Nardan Vinayaka, Shri Nataraja, Shri Meda Dakshinamurti, Shri Aalingamurty, Shri Lingothbavar, Shri Bikshadanar, Shri Bramha, Shri Durga Devi, Shri Ganga Visarjana Murti & Shri Nandi.
Shri Dakshinamurti is seated under a banyan tree in padmasan along with his disciple. There are 2 monkeys and 2 peacocks on the banyan tree. Shri Nataraja is having jwaradeva under his foot.
Shri Durga Devi is depicted with demon Mahishasoor at Her feet and 2 other demons standing by Her side.
In the shrine of Shri Chandikeshwar, we come across the idols of Shri Shiva Chandikeshwarar and Shri Tejas Chandikeshwarar. In the inner prakara, we come across the idols and shrines of - Shri Chandra, Shri Mayilamman (Shri Parvati Devi), Shri Shaiva saint Nalvar, Saptamatrika, 63 Nayanmars, Shri Somaskandha Murti, Shri Vinayaka, Shri Subramanya with Shri Valli and Shri Deivanai, Shri Mahalakshmi Devi, Shri Ashta Laxmi, Navgrahas and Shri Surya.
Shrine of Shri Mayilamman (Shri Parvati Devi) is opposite to that of Shri Nataraja. Here we come across, idols of Shri Shiva and Shri Parvati Devi in the form of Peacock & Peahen.
In the Navagraha shrine, we find Shri Shanishwar with Agnee on his head and another idol on his (Crow) chariot. We also come across shrines and idols of Shri Sattainathar, Sage Patanjali, Sage Vyaghrapada, Shri Bhairav, a number of Shiva lingas in the parikrama. One of the great siddhas - Kuthambai siddha attained salvation at this place.
Devi is housed in an east facing shrine. She is depicted in standing posture with 4 hands. She holds a conch and a chakra on two hands with lower left hand on her thigh and she holds a parrot on lower right hand.
A nandi and balipeeth are placed facing Her shrine.
The Utsav Murthy is kept in a separate shrine. In this parikrama we come across Shri Subramanya with Shri Valli and Shri Deivanai, Shri Varasiddhi Vinayaka and Shri Chandikeshwarar. Shri Muruga’s shrine is known as Shri Kumarakattali.
Nadasharma merged with the Shiva linga on the left side of the sanctum. In the outer parikrama, there is an east facing shrine which houses Shri Aadimayurnathar.
Kshetra puran:
We have mentioned about Daksha yagnya in our earlier blogs. When the yagnya was being desecrated by Shri Veerbadra and Shri Kali Devi, a Peahen (which was to be used during sacrifice) sought asylum at the feet of Shri Parvati Devi. As She saved the peahen, She is known as Shri Abhayambika. Shri Shiva cursed Shri Parvati Devi for ignoring his advice to become a peahen. As an atonement for the curse, She was advised to pray at Mayilapur and then at this place for the entire Tamil month of Aippasi. Hence She took birth as peahen and did severe penance at this place. See Saptasthana Shiva temples of Mayiladuthurai.
Tula snan: The Tamil month of Aippasi is known as Tula masam (month) as the Sun is in Tula rashi. The rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Sarswati sought the advice of Kanva maharshi to get rid of the sins left behind by the people who bathed in them. He advised them to come to this place during the month of Aippasi (Tula) and take bath in the Kaveri and worship Lord Shiva. They did as per his advice and got rid of the sins. Hence it is considered to be very auspicious to take bath in Kaveri and worship Shri Shiva during the month of Tula. This is known as Tula snanam.
Kadaimugam (muzukkai) dip – Taking bath on the last day of month of Tula and worshiping Shri Shiva is known as Kadaimugam (last dip). This day is considered to be the most sacred and it is believed that one attains moksha.
Muduvan muzukku – Nadasharma and his wife, Anavidyambika were ardent devotees of Shri Shiva. They wished to lay their life at the feet of Lord Shiva. Hence they used to visit several Shiva sthalams. Finally, they reached this place for Tula snanam on the last day. By the time they reached there, the time for Kadaimugam was over. They stayed on the bank of river for the night worshiping Shri Shiva. Pleased with their devotion Shri Shiva appeared before them. He told them that, He is extending the Kadaimugam to the next day morning up to sunrise. He advised them to take bath before sunrise in the river so that they will get the full benefit of Tula snanam. Hence the 1st day of Tamil month of Kartigai is known as Mudavan muzukku. Based on this, the 1st day of Tamil month of Kartigai is also very auspicious. As Shri Shiva froze the bath, it is known as Muduvan muzukku. The couple finally merged with the Linga on the left side of Ambika’s shrine. Hence the Shiva Linga is always draped with a red saree.
Rishabh teertha: Once Shri Shiva, Shri Bramha & Shri Vishnu were on Their way to Mayiladuthurai. They were traveling on their respective mounts namely Rishabh (Nandi), Swan and Garud. Nandi was in the lead and he felt proud as he was carrying Shri Shiva ahead of others. Shri Shiva decided to remove his ego. He placed a strand from his matted hair on the head of Rishabh. Rishabh was unable to bear the weight of strand of hair, he felt crushed and then immediately he realized his mistake. Nandi asked for pardon. Shri Shiva advised him to stay in the middle of river Kaveri at Mayiladithurai and do penance at an atonement. Later He gave Nandi upadesh as Shri Meda Dakshinamurti. This particular part in the Kaveri where Nandi did penance for atonement, is known as Rishabh teertha. Later, the saptamatrikas and the sacred rivers were also directed by Shri Shiva to take bath at Rishabh tirtha.
Once Shaiva saint, Tirugyan Sambandhar was held by Shri Shiva to cross the flooded river Kaveri from the northern bank to the southern bank and worship him at Mayiladuthurai.
Those who worshiped at this place – Shri Parvati Devi, Shri Vishnu, Shri Lakshmi Devi, Shri Bramha, Shri Indra, Shri Saraswati Devi, Saptamatrikas, Shri Bruhaspati, Shri Dharma, Sage Agastya and sacred rivers – Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Kaveri, Godavari, etc.
Temple timings – 5.30 am to noon and 4 pm to 8.30 pm
Festivals:
Chitrai (Apr-May): Sapta sthana festival of Mayiladuthurai on Chaitra pornima
Vaikashi (May-June): 10 days of Bramhostav, Vishaka nakshatra festival
Aadi (July-Aug): Lakshadeepam festival on the last Friday, festival on the puram nakshatra
Aavani (Aug-Sept): Festival on the moola nakshatra
Aippasi (Oct-Nov): Also known as Tula month. 30 days Tula snanam festival, Anna abhishek and Skandha shasti festival
Kartigai (Nov-Dec): Somvar pooja
Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathirai
Address – Shri Mayurnathar temple, Mayiladuthurai, 609001
Phone - +91-4364222345; +91-4364223779; +91-4364223207
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs
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