Kadaiyur Mayanam - Sri Brahmapureeswarar Temple at Thirukadaiyur Mayanam

This Shiva temple is located at Thirukadaiyur in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. The temple is at about 2 kilometers from Thirukadaiyur Veeratteswarar Temple on Mayiladuthurai- Karaikal route. This is one of the Padal Petra Sthalams on the southern bank of kaveri. Lord Shiva of this temple was revered by sacred hymns by Shaiva saints Sambandhar, Appar and Sundarar.

Mulavar: Brahmapureeswarar, Sri Peruman Adigal

Devi: Sri Aamalagujanayaki, Vadumulai Ambika, Malarluzhal Minnaammai

Sacred Teertha: Brahma Teertha, Aswathi Teertha, Kashi Teertha

Kshetra Vruksha: Bilva, Bahava (Kondrai in Tamil)

Puranik Name: Thirukadaiyur Mayanam

Present Name: Thirukadaiyur Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu

This is a west facing temple. There is no Rajagopuram. There is a gopuram inside the temple complex which is three tiered. Lord Shiva is in the form of a swayambhu linga.

Special features, deities and other shrines:

Since Lord Brahma was destroyed and created later and given dnyana updesh by Lord Shiva, the place is known as Brahmapuri, Thirumeidnyanam and Kadaiyur Mayanam. Lord Shiva is known as Brahmapureeswarar. In the koshta we have the koshta murtis - Lord Dakshinamurti, Ardhanareeswarar, Lord Vishnu, Vishnu Durga, Bhairav, Chandikeshwar, Nardana Vinayaka. Lord Dakshinamurti in the koshta is along with six of his disciples but he is not seating under kallal tree (Indian rock fig, Kallalashwattha, Audumbar in Marathi) though he usually sits under it.  There is a separate shrine of Lord Muruga. He is with his consorts Valli and Devasena and he is called as Singaravelar. The idol of Singaravelar is unique. He is depicted with a bow and a spear in his hands in a warrior posture ready for going to the war. He wears a rudraksha mala and wears slippers known as kurradu in Tamil. He is slightly slanting towards the left. The idol resembles that of Lord Sriram. Singaravelar is considered as a manifestation of Lord Vishnu who is his maternal uncle. Similar to Chandikeshwar in Lord Shiva’s temple there is a Chandikeshwar in Lord Muruga’s shrine also. He is known as Guhachandikeshwar. Lord Vinayaka is here known as Pranava Vinayaka and he is depicted with a flat stomach. It is believed that he also heard the updesh given to Lord Brahma by Lord Shiva with folded hands and full concentration. Hence he has a flat stomach. In the corridors we have the idols of Nataraja, Kalyana Sundarar, the four shaiva saints known as Nalavar, Lord Mahavishnu (known as Sri Pillai Perumal), Gajalakshmi, Chandeshwari, Sri Bhikshatanar and Bhairav. One of the 18 great sidhhars Sri Pambatti Siddhar lived here. 

Sthala Purana:

According to Purana, at the end of each yuga Lord Shiva is believed to create a great deluge (pralay) to destroy the universe. In the process, Lord Brahma also gets destroyed. When the new yuga starts, Lord Brahma is recreated by Lord Shiva. During one such yuga Lord Brahma was destroyed and brought back to life at this place. Lord Shiva gave Shiva dnyana updesh (Brahmadnyana updesh) so that Lord Brahma could start the creation. Hence Lord Shiva is known as Brahmapureeswarar at this place. This is the third such place where Lord Brahma was given Shiva-dnyanopadesh. 

According to kshetra purana Lord Shiva created a well (pond) with water from Ganges for Sage Markandeya to continue his worship of Lord Shiva at this place. This well is located very near the sacred tank of the temple. Even now water is taken from this well to Thirukadaiyur temple (Amirthakadeswarar Temple) daily for abhishek of Lord Shiva. The water from this well is used only for the Amirthakadeswarar. According to another kshetra purana, Chalukya king Emakeridan who was defeated in a battle and lost his kingdom came to this place to worship Lord Shiva after worshiping at nearby Shiva temples. He prayed to the lord for getting his kingdom back. When he came and prayed at the shrine of Singaravelar, Lord Muruga took the form of a king. He went with the king's army and defeated the enemy and got the kingdom back for King Emakeridan. That's why the idol of Lord Muruga (Singaravelar) is in warrior form. The king donated about 53 acres of land to the temple of Singaravelar which is still known as Singaraveli. 

Festivals: 

Aipassi (Oct-Nov) - Skanda Shashthi

Karthigai (Nov-Dec) - Thirukarthikai

Margazhi (Dec-Jan) - Thiruvadhirai

Masi (Feb-Mar) - Shivaratri

Panguni (Mar-April) - Teertha vari festival on ashwini nakshatra. It is believed that Ganga visits this place on this day every year. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are taken in procession to the well. 

Pradosha puja is done regularly.

People worship here for getting knowledge, removal of marriage obstacles and for a child boon. 

Courtesy: Following sites 
https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/ and
https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/

Nallur Mayanam - Sri Dnyanaparameshwarar Temple

This is a shiva temple at Thirumeyidnyanam. This is the fifth mayanam sthalam. At present this place is known as Thirunallur Mayanam. During puranic days this place was known as Chaturvedi Mangalam. 

This is about 16 kilometers from Kumbhakonam on Kumbhakonam-Kudavasal route (via Thirucherrai). This is on the southern bank of river Kaveri. This is one of the Padal Pethra Sthalam. Lord Shiva of this temple was revered in sacred hymns by shaiva saint Sambandhar.

Mulavar: Dnyanaparameshwarar, Sri Mayanathu Parameshwarar, Sri Mayanathu Mulathanathu Peruman

Devi: Dnyanambika, Periyanayaki

Sacred Teertha: Dnyanateertha, Chandra Teertha 

Sacred Vruksha: Palash, Bilva

Puranik Name: Thiru mayanam, Thiru Nallur Mayanam, Nathur

Present Name: Thirumeyidnyanam

District: Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu

The temple has no rajagopuram. The present temple structure is about 1500 years old. The temple was originally built by Chola king using stone. The temple is east facing. It has a beautiful entrance on which we find sculpture of Lord Shiva and Parvati. The latest structure was built by Aditya Chola I. There are 23 stone inscriptions in the temple which give the detail history of the temple. Shiva linga is a swayambhu linga. According to the local people, a serpent is seen coiled around the shiva linga even now. Sambandhar has also mentioned this event in his sacred hymn. This temple is Madakovil style i.e. built in such a way that elephants cannot enter. The sanctum sanctorum vimanam has a gaja prushtha shape. The sanctum sanctorum itself is square shape with a rounded shikhar. The pillars which are circular have  beautiful scupltures. 

Deities and other shrines in the temple:

The main shrine houses shiva linga and goddess parvati. There is a shrine of Lord Mahavishnu, a shrine of Lord Muruga, a shrine of Navagraha, a shrine of Thiru Dnyanasambandhar. The koshta murtis are present in the koshta. We have the idols of Naga, Chandikeshwar, Lord Dakshinamurti, Atmalinga, Shanishwarar, Bhairav, Surya. In the corridor we have shiva linga of Amrutkadeshwar, SattaiNathar, Ekambareshwar. The koshta murtis are Lord Ganesha, Bhikshanathar, Nataraja, Lord Bhairav and Lord Mahavishnu and VishnuDurga. 

Those who worshiped at this place: Lord Mahavishnu, Lord Brahma, Sage Thirudnyanasambandhar, Four Vedas, and Sage Apastambha.

Festivals, puja and worship:

Aippasi (Oct-Nov) - Annabhishekam

Masi (Feb-Mar) - Mahashivaratri

Aavani (Aug-Sept) - Vinayaka Chaturthi

Trikal puja is performed in the temple daily. People pray here for removal of obstacles in marriage and for educational pursuit and prosperity.