This Shiva temple is one of the seven Sapta sthana Shiva temples of Mayiladuthurai. It is situated at Muvalur village near Mayiladuthurai. It is situated to the west of Mayurnathar temple on the southern bank of Kaveri at a distance of 3 km from Mayiladuthurai. This temple is mentioned in the hymns sung by the Shaiva saint Appar. Hence it is a Thevera vaippu sthalam. This is also one of the Pancha Dakshinamurti sthalam of Mayiladuthurai. This temple is one of the Vallal temples of Mayiladuthurai. Muvalur is the birthplace of Namashivay Murtigal, the first seer of the Thiruvaduthirai Adheenam. This temple is the nakshatra temple for nakshatra Uttara.
Mulavar: Shri Margasahayeshwarar, Shri Margasahayar, Shri Vazhikattum Vallal, Shri Punnad Vaneshwarar
Devi: Shri Mangalambika, Shri Soundarya nayaki
Sacred tree: Punnag (Punnai in Tamil)
Sacred teertha: river Kaveri, Chandra teertha, Durga teertha, Upamanyu koopam
Puranik name: Punnag vanam
The present temple is about 1300 years old and was constructed by the Cholas and was renovated by Pandya and Vijaynagar kings. There are stone inscriptions in the temple which denote the various contributions done by the kings. This is an east facing temple with a 5-tiered Rajagopuram. It has 2 parikramas and occupies an area of 1.5 acre. At the entrance to the sanctum, we have the shrines of Shri Vinayaka and Shri Muruga. At the entrance we have Dhwajastambha, Balipeeth and Nandi in their usual positions. The Balipeeth is flanked by 4 Nandis at 4 corners. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, Artha mandap and Maha mandap which looks like the forehead of a bat. In the Artha mandap we come across shrines of Shri Maha Ganapati, Shri Sapta matrikas and Sapta Nagas. At the entrance to the sanctum we have the dwarpalakas Shri Aalkondar and Shri Uyyakondar. The Shiva linga is facing East. The koshta murtis are Shri Vinayaka, Shri Dakshinamurti, Shri Lingodbhavar, Shri Bramha, Shri Durga Devi. Besides these we come across Shri Pippalanar, Shri Chandrasenar, Shri Veersenar, Shri Kannasenar, Shri Karkotaka. Shri Chandikeshwar shrine is in the usual position. Shri Dakshinamurti at this place is known as Shri Medha Dakshinamurti. He has 4 disciples under his feet. There are 2 demons namely Muyalagan and Sangathiyar. Beside this, we also observe the face of an elephant, lion, a deer under the feet.
In the Mahamandap, there is a separate south facing shrine in which Shri Soundaryanayaki Devi is housed. In the Artha Mandap, Shri Mangalambika Devi is housed in a south facing shrine.
Other shrines and Idols: In the outer parikrama, we come across the following – 3 idols of Shri Vinayaka, Shri Annamalayar and Shri Unnamalai amman. Shri Kaashi Vishwanath and Shri Vishalakshi Devi; Shri Sundareshwar and Shri Meenakshi Devi, Shri Ardhanareeshwarar, Shri Gajalakshmi, Shri Sadashiv, Shri Dakshinamurti, Shri Mahalakshmi Devi, Shri Nataraja, Shri Bhairavar, Shri Shanishwarar, Nalvar (the 4 Shaiva saints), Shri Ganesha, Navagraha, Shaiva saint Sambandhar, King Daksha, Shri Skandha, Shri Muruga with Shri Valli and Shri Deivanai. Under a tree, there is a shrine which houses, Shri Aadimarga Sahayyar. There is a very old jackfruit tree.
Kshetra puran:
Tarakasur was slayed by Shri Kartikeya. Tarakasur’s three sons did severe penance and obtained boon from Shri Bramha. Though they wanted immortality, Shri Bramha refused to oblige them. They obtained a boon by which they could get three fortresses which could be destroyed by only one arrow. They built an iron fort on the earth, silver fort in the sky and a gold fort in heaven. These forts had the ability to be mobile and fly. They would appear in a line when the moon was in pushya nakshatra for a few moments once in thousand years. The three sons of Tarakasur started torturing and tormenting one and all. One of the sons namely Mayasur, was an ardent devotee of Shri Shiva. Unable to bear, the atrocities of asuras, Devas under the leadership of Shri Indra, approached Shri Bramha who directed them to Shri Shiva. Shri Shiva sent Nandi along with the Devas to fight the asuras. Due to the magical power of water from Tripura, the asuras were getting revived even after they were killed. Once the three forts aligned on a day when moon was in pushya nakshatra at that time Shri Shiva made a chariot with Sun & Moon as its wheels, Shri Bramha was holding the reins, Mount Meru was the bow, Vasuki as arrow and Vayu was the feather in the arrow. At that time, as the chariot did not move ahead, Shri Vishnu became a bull and dragged the chariot. Later he became the flag of the chariot. Even then Shri Shiva did not sting the arrow. When Shri Shiva did not release the arrow, even when he was ready, Shri Bramha and Shri Vishnu, reprimanded Him. The reason Shri Shiva was holding to release his arrow was that, his devotee Mayasur was in the Tripuram. He sent Nandi to inform him ahead of His releasing the arrow. Mayasur fled the Tripura and then Shri Shiva burnt the Tripura into ashes by releasing the arrow. Shri Bramha and Shri Vishnu acquired a sin as they had ridiculed Shri Shiva. Hence, they approached Shri Shiva for atonement. He directed them to Punnagavan (this place) and stated that He will appear as a Linga. He guided them as a hunter to the Linga in Punnagvan. As He showed the way (marga) and helped (sahaya) for performing the pooja, He is addressed as Shri Margasahayar. He is also known as Shri Tripuram Erritha (burnt) Peruman. This place got the name Muvalur as Shri Bramha, Shri Vishnu and Shri Shiva came to this place together.
Slaying of Mahishasur: Mahishasur who was the son of demon Rambh and half woman, half buffalo Mahishi. He got a boon from Shri Agni that he will rule all the three worlds. He also got a boon from Shri Shiva that he will be killed only by a woman. When Devas were tormented by Mahishasur they approached Shri Bramha, Shri Vishnu and Shri Shiva. Shri Shiva directed, Shri Durga Devi to slay the asur. After she slayed Mahishasur, she became ugly and ferocious due to sin of killing the asura. She approach Shri Shiva for atonement. He directed Her to this place and asked Her to do penance. She came to this place, created a tank (teertha) and worshiped Shri Shiva after taking bath in the teertha. She regained her original form of Shri Parvati Devi. Later He married Her at this place.
As per the Kshetra puran, it is believed that Bheema (of Pandavas) fought a purusha mruga at this place after worshiping Shri Shiva. This is depicted on the wall.
Festivals:
Chitrai (Apr-May): Brahmotsav, Chaitra Pournima
Vaikasi (May-June): Vaishaki Vishakham, Kalyan Mahotsav
Aani (Jun-July): Thirumanjanam
Aadi (July-Aug): Adi Puram
Aavni (Aug-Sept): Vinayak Chaturthi
Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri
Aippasi (Oct-Nov): Annabhishek, Skanda shashthi
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Thirukarthigai, Karthigai Deepam
Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathirai
Thai (Jan-Feb): Makar sankranti, Pongal
Maasi (Feb-Mar): Mahashivaratri
Panguni (Mar-Apr): Panguni Uttaram, a marriage festival of Shri Shiva and Shri Parvati Devi is conducted in Tamil month of Panguni.
Prayers – This is a Parihar sthala for skin and eye deceases. People light 11 ghee lamps, perform abhishek with milk and archana for Lord Shiva for getting rid of the deceases.
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs
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