This is one of the seven saptasthana shiva temples associated with Mayiladuthurai. It is located in Mayiladuthurai city and area known as Kurainadu which is famous for a saree known as Karai saree. The temple was built by Chola king and present structure is about 1200 years old.
Mulavar (Main deity): Shri Punugeeshwarar
Devi (Consort): Shri Shantnayaki
Kshetra Vruksha: Coral Jasmin (Parijatak)
This is a west facing temple with a five tiered Rajagopuram and has two parikramas. At the entrance there is an arch on which there is a stucco images of Shiv Linga worshiped by a civet (Punugu in tamil) which is member of cat family. On each side we have stucco images of Shri Muruga and Shri Vinayaka. At the entrance to the inner parikrama there is a tiered gopuram. At the entrance on the pillars we come across stucco images of Shri Ardhanarishwarar and Shri Durga Devi. Facing the sanctum we have Shri Nandi, Dhwajastambha and Balipeetham in their usual positions.
Shri Shiva is facing the west and the shiva linga is a swayambhu linga. All west facing shiva temples are considered to be more powerful and auspicious. This temple is replica of Shri Vaitheeshwaran Kovil. Hence this is a Parihar sthala for disease and illness. The sanctum is linga shaped. The koshtha murtis are Shri Vinayaka, Shri Dakshinamurti, Shri Lingothbhavar, Shri Brahma, Shri Durga Devi with Shri Chandikeshwar in usual position. On the walls of the sanctum there is an idol of Shri Jwarahareshwarar and Shri Ganesha.
Shri Ambika Devi is housed in a south facing shrine to the right side of sanctum in the outer parikrama. She is in standing posture with four hands. The upper hands carry a paash (Noose) and Ankush. The lower hands have varad and abhay mudra. In the parikrama of this shrine, there is a shrine for Shri Chandikeshwari. A nandi and a balipeeth are facing her. At the center of a temple tank there is a mandap with an idol of Nandi.
Shrines of utsava murti Shri Villendyavelavar (velan holding a bow), Shri Shanmukha, Shri Varadavinayaka, Shri Ayyarappar, Shri Lakshmi Devi, Shri Nataraja, Navagraha, Shri Surya, Shri Somaskandha, Shri Anjaneya, Sixty three Nayanmars, Nalvar, Nesa Nayanar, Shri Chandra, and Shri Bhairav are in the inner prakaram. In the outer parikrama we have a shrine of Shri Nartana Vinayaka and Sahasra linga.
Kshetra Purana:
Shri Indra was cursed to become a civet cat for attending Daksha yadnya by Shri Shiva. As an atonement and to get rid of curse he was directed to worship at this place by Shri Shiva. Shri Indra came to this forest as a civet cat and worshiped Shri Shiva. He got rid of the curse at this place. Hence Shri Shiva is known as Shri Punugeeshwarar and there is an idol depicting a civet cat worshiping Shiva Linga.
Once upon a time this area was a dense forest with coral jasmine trees. It is believed that Shri Shiva appeared as a swayambhu linga for Shri Brahma and Shri Vishnu to worship him.
According to another purana, a civet cat used to worship Shri Shiva with Bilva leaves. Pleased with his worship Shri Shiva blessed the cat and gave it divine status. Hence Shri Brahma and Shri Indra came here to worship Shri Shiva.
Shiva Nesa Nayanar: He was a Shaiva saint and one of the 63 Nayanmars. He was a weaver by profession and he always donated cloth (loin cloth) to devotees of Shri Shiva. He was born in Bellari in Andra Pradesh and came to this place which was known as Kurainadu. He used to chant panchakashari constantly. Pleased with his devotion and worship Shri Shiva gave him mukti and placed in Kailash.
Kurainadu: A special type of saree known as Kurai saree for the muhurat in marriages used to be woven at this place. Hence this place is known as Kurainadu which is at present part of Mayiladuthurai.
Festivals:
Chitrai (Apr-May): Sapta sthana festival of Mayiladuthurai on Chaitra pornima. During this festival the utsav murtis of Shri Shiva and Shri Parvati Devi from all the seven temples are taken in procession.
Vaikashi (May-June): 10 days of Bramhostav, Vishaka nakshatra festival
Aadi (July-Aug): Lakshadwipam festival on the last Friday, festival on the puram nakshatra
Aavani (Aug-Sept): Festival on the moola nakshatra
Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri
Aippasi (Oct-Nov): Also known as Tula month. 30 days Tula snanam festival, Anna abhishek and Skandha shasti festival
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Somvar pooja
Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathirai, Arudradarshan
Thai (Jan-Feb): Makar Sankranti
Maasi (Feb-March): Mahashivaratri
Courtesy: Various websites and blog
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