Saptasthana Shiva temples of Mayiladuthurai

Mayiladuthurai was earlier known as Mayavaram. There is a puran about religious importance of this place which gives an account of the temples and the places where the rishis, devas performed penance. There are references about the greatness of Mayiladuthurai in Skanda puran, Shiva puran, Bramhand puran and Chidambar puran. According to these puran, this place was created by Shri Bramha to worship Shri Shiva. This place got the name Mayiladuthurai as according to puran, Shri Parvati Devi performed penance in the form of a peahen. She was cursed to become a peahen as she was distracted by the dancing peacock when Shri Shiva was explaining the meaning and the importance of panchakshari mantra. Later, Shri Shiva performed the famous Gauri-tandav also known as Mayur tandav at this place on the request of Shri Parvati Devi. We had already explained about the importance of Rishabh tirtha and how the saptamatrikas got relieved of their dosha by worshiping Shri Shiva at 7 places, around Mayiladuthurai.

There are seven temples around Mayiladuthurai which form the saptashtana Shiva temples of Mayiladuthurai with Mayurnadar temple at the center. The temples are 

• Shri Mayurnadar temple at Mayiladuthurai
• Shri Aiyyarappar temple at Mayiladuthurai
• Shri Punugeeshwarar temple at Koorrainadu
• Shri Margasahieeshwarar temple at Moovalur
• Shri Azhagaiyanadar temple at Shozhampettai
• Shri Kashivishwanadar temple at Thulakattam
• Shri Bramhapureeshwarar temple at Siddarkadu

Shri Amravaneshwarar at Thirumanthurai

This is a Shiva temple connected with Saptasthana temples of Kanjanur. It is about 16 kms from Kumbhakonam and 23 kms from Mayiladuthurai on Mayiladuthurai-Kumbhakonam highway. It is very close to Suryanar Kovil (about 1 km).

The temple finds a reference in the hymns sung by shaiva saint Sambandhar. The present temple is about 1300 years old and was renovated by Chola kings. Shaivacharya Haradatta is closely associated with the Saptasthana temples of Kanjanur. 

The shiva linga is a swayambhu linga believed to be more than 3800 years old. 

Mulavar: Shri ThirumanthuraiNadar, Shri Amrabaneshwarar, Shri AkshaynadSwamy

Devi (consort): Shri Yoganayaki

Sacred teertha: Chandra Teertha (Crescent moon shape), Surya Teertha

Kshetra Vruksha: Mango Tree

This is a east facing temple, it has a 3 tiered rajagopuram and two parikramas. There is an arch behind rajagopuram. At the entrance we have a sculpture which depicts Shri Vishnu and Shri UcchishthaGanapati worshiping Shri Shiva. As soon as we enter we find Shri Vinayaka under Dhwajastambha known as Dhawajastambha Vinayaka, Balipeeth and Nandi in the outer parikrama facing the sanctum. The sanctum is in the shape of a Shiva Linga.

Koshta murtis: Shri Dakshinamurty, Shri Brahma, Shri Durga Devi, Shri Chandikeshwar is in a separate shrine. Shri Ambika is in a separate shrine facing the east. This shrine is to the right of sanctum. At the north western corner we come across the shrine of Shri Vishnu along with ShriDevi and Bhudevi. We also come across shrines of Shri Bhairav, Shri Surya, Shri Chandra and Shaiva saint Sambhandhar. The shrine of Haradatta Shivacharyar is facing the south. In southwest corner we come across shrine of Shri Ucchishtha Ganapati with his consorts. In a north facing shrine we come across Shri Sthala Durga. Besides this we come the shrines of Shri Ganapati, Shri Subramanya with his consorts, Shri Mahalakshmi Devi, the four Shaiva saints (together known as Nalavar) and Manikanthan. There is no separate Navagraha shrine in this temple. The temple tank never dries. The water level in the tank rises during waxing of moon and falls during waning. 

Those who worship at the temple: Shri Parvati Devi, Sage Kala, Navagraha, Shri Indra, Shri Varuna, Shri Chandra, and Pandavas. 

Kshetra Purana:

Once Shri Parvati Devi was cursed by Shri Shiva to be born as a parrot on the earth. She was asked to come to this place (Amravana) and worship the Swayambhu linga at this place. She came here and did penance and was absolved of the curse. Later she married him at this place. Hence we find her shrine to the right of Shri Shiva’s shrine.  

Sage Kala and the Navagrahas were affected with leprosy due to a curse. They came to know that Shri Parvati Devi was relieved of her curse at this place. They came here and worshiped Shri Shiva and got rid of the curse. Hence there is no shrine for Navagrahas (as Navagrahas worshiped Shri Shiva).

Once there was a severe drought in Devaloka. Shri Indra and Shri Varuna were advised to worship Shri Shiva at this place in order to get rid of drought condition. They came to this place and worshiped Shri Shiva and Devaloka was saved during the drought. 

During Dakshayadnya, Shri Chandra had attended the yadnya. He was punished by Shri Shiva for attending the yadnya. He was also cursed by Daksha as he was more attached to Rohini than his 26 other daughters. Due to this curse, Chandra had lost his luster and beauty. He was advised by Shri Brihaspati (Guru) to do penance at this place. On account of this penance he was blessed by Shri Shiva and Shri Ucchishtha Ganapati. He was granted a boon by which those who worship him on Mondays will be blessed with happiness and prosperity. 

Greatness of this place:

This is a parihara sthala for Chandradosha. 

When people born on Rohini nakshatra worship at this place during the waxing phase of the moon, it gives them innumerable benefits.  

This is a parihara sthala for those born in  Vrushchik Rashi. They should pray during the waxing phase of the moon.

Temple timings:

8 to 12 in the morning and 5 to 7.30 in the evening.

Address: Shri Amravaneshwarar Temple, 

Thiruvidaimaruthur Taluka, Tamil Nadu 

Phone numbers: 9994032380

Courtesy: Various websites and blogs

Shri Prananatheshwarar at Thirumangalakudi

This is one of the seven Saptasthana Shiva temples of Kanjanur. It is located at Thirumangalakudi which is about 17 kms from Kumbhakonam on Kumbhakonam Mayiladuthurai highway via Kathiramangalam. This is very near to Kanjanur. It is closely associated with Shaivacharyar Haradatta. This is one of the Padal Pethra sthalam on the northern bank of Kaveri. The present temple is about 1500 years old. Was built and renovated by the Chola kings. 

Mulavar: Shri Prananatheswarar, Shri Pranavaradeshwarar

Devi (Consort): Shri Mangalanayaki

Sacred Teertha: Mangala teertha, Surya Teertha, Chandra Teertha

Kshetra Vruksha: Mandar (Vellerukku), Kongu (Kallam in Marathi), Illavu (Kevni in Marathi).

Shaiva saint sambandhar, Thirunavakarasar (Appar) have revered this temple in their sacred hymns. 

This is an east facing temple with a five tiered rajagopuram and two parikramas. The linga is a swayambhu linga. The base or pitha (avudaiyar in Tamil) is smaller than the linga (or cylindrical) portion (Bana in Tamil). Traditionally the shape of the linga is the other way round. The sanctum is in the form of linga. Shri Mangalanayaki is housed in a separate south facing shrine. This kshetra is also known as Panchamangal kshetra (Mangalakudi). We find in this place everything is Mangala. That is why the teertha is known as Mangala Teertha, Shri Vinayaka is known as Shri Mangala Vinayaka and as Ambika bestows prosperity she is known as Shri Mangalambika. 

The koshta murtis are Shri Vinayaka, Shri Dakshinamurty, Shri Rishabharudhar, Shri Brahma, Shri Vishnu Durga Devi. The utsav murty is Shri Chandrasekhar, Shri Muruga on peacock mount, Nalavar and Shri Pradosha Nayakar. 

We come across the idols of Shri Ganesha, Shri Muruga, Shri Bhairav, Sage Agastya, Shivacharyar Haradatta and Meikandar and Shri Gajalakshmi Devi. We come across the idol of two Natarajas with Shri Shivakami Devi. A bhutagana is seen near the Shri Nataraja playing a musical instrument. There are 11 shiva lingas in a row. There is no Navagraha shine in this temple. In the Shri Nataraja shrine we come across a maragada (Emerald) linga. Abhishek is done on this Linga during midday with a right handed conch shell. There is a very rare idol of river Kaveri. At the entrance to the sanctum we come across the idols of Shri Mahalakshmi Devi and Shri Saraswati Devi in Padmasan as Dwarapalikas. But Shri Saraswati Devi is without her Veena. Behind Somaskanda shrine we come across a shrine of Shiva Durga. Thus we come across two Durga idols in this temple and in both the cases there is no Mahishasur under their feet. In this temple we come across a unique mount which is used in the procession during the festival. This mount is a mixture of a human being, a bird and an animal. 

Special Feature: 

This is a pancha mangala kshetra. The shikhar (viman) is also known as Mangala Viman.

Navagrahas worshiped at this place. Once Shri Brahma cursed the Navagrahas as they stopped Sage Kala from getting afflicted with leprosy as per destiny. Shri Brahma stated that Navagrahas had no right in interfering with anyone’s destiny and cursed Navagrahas to get afflicted with leprosy. The Navagrahas came to Bhulok ie. this place and worshiped Shri Shiva and got rid of the curse. Hence Shri Shiva is worshiped here as the Navagrahas. 

About the Shiva Linga: Sage Agastya came to this place to worship Shri Shiva. At that time the Bana of Shiva Linga appeared to be taller than the normal size. It is believed that Sage Agastya worshiped the Shiva Linga by raising his hand above his head for placing the flowers on the Shiva Linga.

It is customary to worship at this temple first before worshiping the Navagrahas at Suryanar Kovil. It is believed that these two temples are one and the same and hence there is no separate Navagraha temple at this place. 

The special feature of the Maragada linga is that its puja and Abhishek is done only during the midday. The abhishek is done with a right handed conch on the Shiva Linga with milk, rose water, honey and Sandalwood. It is believed that anyone partakes in this abhishek as Prasad gets cured of all diseases. During puja, betel leaves, betel nut and banana are offered as Naivedya. 

It is believed that the Navagrahas offered curd rice on Mandar leaves to Shri Shiva. Hence every Sunday during midday worship curd rice without salt is offered as Naivedya to Shri Shiva. At this place those people who had not performed the rights of their ancestors offer curd rice without salt as Naivedya in this place as atonement.

About Devi Mangalambika: Goddess Mangalambika is considered as the Goddess who bestows boons especially to women. On the right hand of the idol of Ambika we always find a Mangalsutra. This is given as prasad to ladies.

Sandalwood alankar: During Navaratri in all temples different alankars are done for the Utsav murthy of Devi Ambika. At this place only sandalwood paste is applied as alankar. They prepare the sandalwood paste by mixing it with various colors. We can have darshan on the second sunday in the tamil month Thai. 

Kshetra Purana:

In the eleventh century AD, there was minister named Alaivanar in the service of Chola king. He built this temple from the tax collections of the Kingdom without taking permission from the King. The King punished him for this by beheading him. As the minister had requested that his final rites should be conducted in Thirumangalkudi, his body was brought here. When the body reached borders of Thirumangalamkudi the ministers wife went to the temple and prayed to Ambika to give life to her husband. A divine voice stated that her husband will become alive. At that very instant the husband came to life. She was overjoyed and she embraced shiva linga. From that day Shiva linga came to be known as Shri Prananatheshwarar (Jiva dayagan, meaning one who gave life). The devi came to be known as Shri Mangalambika. 

Greatness of temple:

Devotees worship Shri Shiva for eleven consecutive days by offering curd rice on Mandar leaf. It is believed that distributing this prasad to eleven others one will be relieved of Navagraha dosha, Kalatra dosha and Mangalya dosha. Besides this he will also be relieved of ailments. 

Festivals:

Panguni (March-April): Panguni Uttaram festival is held for 10 days as Brahmotsav

Ani (Jun-July): Thirumanjanam

Avani (Aug-Sept): Vinayak Chaturthi

Purattasi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri

Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathirai

Aadi (July-August): On the 18th day of this month a festival is held in honor of river Kaveri. 

Monthly pujas: Sankashta chaturthi, Karthigai nakshatra puja and Pradosha puja. 

On ashtami special puja is held for Bhairav

Address: Shri Prananatheshwarar temple

Thirumangalkudi post, Thiruvidaimaruthur Taluka, Tamil Nadu 612102 

Telephone: 91-04352470480

Shri Apatsahayar Temple at Aduthurai

Aduthurai was also known as Thenkurungaduthurai in olden days. This Shiva temple located at this place is connected with the saptasthana Shiva temples of Kanjanur. It is situated at a distance of 13 kms from Kumbhakonam on Mayiladuthurai- Kumbhakonam route. It is one of the Padal Pethra Sthalam revered by Shaiva saints Shri Appar and Shri Sambandhar. Shaiva saint Shri Arunagirinathar has praised Shri Muruga of this temple in his hymns. The temple is situated on the southern bank of Kaveri.

Mulavar: Shri Apatsahayeshwarar

Devi (Consort): Shri Pavalakodi Ammai

Kshetra Vruksha: Parijat tree (Pavalamalligai in Tamil).

Sacred Teertha: Sahay Teertha, Surya Teertha (in front of the Temple)

Puranik Names: Thenkurungaduthurai, Thiraimurnadu, Bhoobalakulavalli

Present Name: Aduthurai

About the temple:

This is east facing temple with a three tiered Rajagopuram and two Prakarams. Originally the temple was a brick structure. Later, it was renovated to a granite structure by Chola queen Shri Sambian Mahadevi. There are about 15 stone inscriptions which give an account of the work done by Chola and Pandya kings of the Temple. When we enter through the Rajagopuram we come across Nandi and Bali Peeth in their normal positions but there is no Dhwajastambha. The shiva linga is a swayambhu linga. The sanctum sanctorum is in a form of moat. 

Koshta murtis are Shri Narthana Vinayaka, Sage Agastya, Shri Nataraja, Shri Dakshnimurty, Shri Lingodbhava, Shri Brahma, Shri Gangadeva, Shri Bhikshatanar, Shri Durga Devi. Shri Ambika Devi's shrine is south facing in the outer parikrama. Navagraha shrine is in a inner prakaram where all the Navagrahas are facing Surya.

We come across the shrines and idols of Shri Gajalakshmi, Indra linga, Kuber Linga, Shri Chandikeshwar, Shri Chandikeshwari, Shri Surya, Shri Chandra, Shri Ganesha, Shri Subramanya with Shri Valli and Shri Deivanai, Shri Somaskanda, Nalavar, Shri Vayu, Shri Mahaganapati, and Shri Kashi Vinayaka in the corridors. In the outer prakaram we come across shrines of Shri Kashi Vishwanath and Shri Vishalakshi, Shri Vinayaka, Shri Muruga, and Shri Nataraja with Shri Shivakami Devi. 

In a mandap next to Shri Nataraja’s shrine we come across shrines of Shri Shanishwarar, Shri Banalinga, Shaiva saint Haradatta and Shri Swaranaakarsha Bhairav. A stucco image depicts the sthala puran, Sugriva worshiping Shri Shiva, Shri Shiva changing Sugriva to a white Swan and his wife to a Parijatak tree. There is a sculpture which depicts Shaiva saint Karaikkal Ammaiyar and Queen Sambian Mahadevi worshiping Shri Apatsahayeshwarar. 

The hall in which all the festivals are held is named as Appar Arangam. 

Kshetra Purana: 

It is believed that Shri Bhairav and Sage Agastya worshiped Shri Shiva at this place. 

As Sage Agastya and other sages could not witness the cosmic dance of Shri Shiva at Chidambaram Shri Shiva performed a dance at this place on their request. This Tandav is known as Anand Tandav. 

On his way while having darshan of various shiva sthalams Sage Agastya reached this place. He installed a Swarnaakarsha Bhairav at this place and obtained several boons from Shri Shiva. 

Once Shri Hanuman was deeply engrossed in singing the hymns of Lord at Kailash. When Sage Narada reached that place he was mesmerized by singing and sat there to listen. He kept his musical instrument on the ground. He was so engrossed that by the time he realized Veena was covered by Snow. When he tried to retrieve it he could not as it was buried in the snow. He cursed Shri Hanuman who lost his art of singing. Shri Hanuman came to this place and by worshiping Shri Shiva got his singing again. 

This is the temple from which Shaiva saint Haradatta was escorted by Shri Shiva from the rain as an old man to a temple at Kanjanur. 

It is believed that if father and son worshiped together Shri Surya and Shri Shani at this place they will have a very good relation.

Every year on the 5th, 6th and 7th day of Tamil month Chitrai, the rays of the Sun fall on the Shiva linga. 

Prayer: 

Father and son worship together on Saturday and Sunday for good relationship

For prosperity and wisdom, the people worship Shri Shiva and Shri Parvati Devi

On full moon day people worship Sage Agastya by applying a special oil for fulfillment of their desires.

For relief from Kalasarpa dosha people perform abhishek of Shri Shiva. 

Festivals:

Avani: Vinayaki chaturthi

Aipassi: Annabhishek

Margazhi: Thiruvathurai

Maasi: Mahashivaratri

Besides this, fortnightly pradosha puja, daily regular pujas are performed. 

Address: Shri Apatsahayeshwarar temple, Aduthurai post, Thiruvidaimaruthur Taluka, Tamil Nadu 612101

Telephone numbers: 9443463119, 9442425809