This temple is also known as Shri Lalitambigai temple. The temple is located at Thirumeeyachur in Tamil Nadu. This place is at a distance of about 20 kms from Mayiladuthurai on Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur route. First, travel to Peralam from Mayiladuthurai which is at a distance of about 18 kms, then travel to Thirumeeyachur from Peralam. This is a Padal Pethra Sthalam on the southern bank of Kaveri revered by Shaiva Saints Sambandhar and Appar. This temple must have existed even before the 7th century. This temple is considered to be the first (Adi) ShaktiPeeth and goddess is referred as Goddess AdiParaShakti. This is one of the Mada Kovil built by Kochengat Cholan. The original temple was of brick, it was later reconstructed into a stone structure by King RajendraChola and queen Sembian Mahadevi. Extensions to the temple were done by various Chola and Pandya kings. There are two shrines of Lord Shiva in this temple beside the shrine of Goddess Lalitambika.
First temple: Shri Meghanadaswami Temple
Moolavar: Shri Meghanadaswami, Shri MiharaAruneshwarar
Devi: Shri Lalitambika, Shri SaundaryaNayaki, Shri ShantaNayaki
Sacred Vruksha: Bilva, Jungli Badam, Pangara
Sacred Theertha: Surya Pushkarini
Second temple: Shri Sakalabhuvaneshwarar Temple
Moolavar: Shri Sakalabhuvaneshwarar
Devi: Shri VidvanMegalambika, Shri Minnummeghalayal
Sacred Vruksha: Mandar tree
Sacred Theertha: Kali Theertha.
Kshetra Purana:
1. Goddess Mother Lalitadevi, heeding to the prayers of Devas and Sages, rose from Chit-agni-kunda and slayed the demon Bhandasur. Her fury was unabated, even after slaying Bhandasur. Lord Shiva asked her to proceed to Bhoo-loka and perform penance under the name of Manonmani, to shed her fury. She came to this place and did penance as per the instructions. After that she became kind and merciful. She created the Vakdevatas and bade (commanded) them to sing her praise with 1000 words. Thus Lalitha Sahasranaam came into existence at this place. The Sahasranaam begins with the word ‘Shrimata’ meaning Mother of Prosperity. Lord Hayagriva is the disciple of Mother Lalitadevi. Under her orders, he taught Lalitha Sahasranaam to Sage Agastya. When Sage Agastya asked Lord Hayagriva for a suitable place to chant the Lalitha Sahasranaam, he directed him to Thirumeeyachur where Mother graces as Manonmani. The Sage came to this place with his wife Lopamudra and chanted the Lalitha Sahasranaam. Mother Lalita appeared before the Sage and his wife in the form of Navaratna. Sage Agastya worshiped her, by composing Lalita Navaratna Mala.
2. According to Puran, Vinata and Kartru were wives of Sage Kashyap. They prayed to Lord Shiva for getting a child. He gave each of them an egg and asked them to preserve it for a year. From the egg given to Vinata, prince Garuda took birth. Later on he became the mount of Lord Vishnu. Kartru broke open the egg in a hurry and begot a disfigured child for her hasty action. She asked for the pardon from Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva pardoned her and blessed the child to become the charioteer for Surya with the name Aruna. Aruna became a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva and performed penance so that he can go to Kailash for the darshan of the Lord. Surya mocked his disability and teased him that he can never go to Kailash. Finally Aruna reached Kailash by his severe penance and had the darshan of Lord Shiva. Surya misbehaved with Aruna when he was in the form of Mohini (a beautiful girl) on his way to Kailash. When Aruna complained to Lord Shiva, Surya was cursed to lose his luster. Surya did penance for 7 months at this place. He worshiped Shiva as seated on an elephant (Gajarudha murti) but he did not get his luster back. He cried loudly in anguish which disturbed Mother Parvati who was about to curse Surya to become dark. Lord Shiva pacified Goddess Parvati and stated that Surya was looking for relief from his curse, hence he asked Goddess Parvati to forgive Surya. This scene of Lord Shiva pacifying Goddess Parvati is depicted in a sculpture in this temple as Lord Kshetrapuraneshwarar. By Lord’s grace Surya was saved from the curse and got his luster back at this place. It is stated that Yama worshiped Lord Shiva at this place just like Surya and Sage Agastya. The place got the name Meeyachur as Surya got His luster back. Yama did abhishek of Lord Shiva with 1008 conch shells.
3. According to puran, this is the birth place of Lord Shaneeshwar, Lord Yama, Vali and Sugreev.
4. We would like to mention an incident that took place in 1999. A woman devotee of Goddess Ambika, was having recurring dreams in which a Goddess was demanding golden anklets from her. The lady was unable to identify the Goddess even after searching in various temples. When she was near Kapaleeshwarar temple, she saw a photograph which she identified as the Goddess whom she was seeing in her dream regularly. On further enquiry, she came to know that the Goddess was none other than Goddess Lalitambika of Thirumeeyachur. When she informed the priest about her dream and offered the anklets, the priest explained to her that there was no provision for the anklets on the legs of the Goddess. He also explained to her that his family was the priest of that temple for several generations but he has never heard of the Goddess wearing anklets. After persistence from the lady, the priest decided to explore whether there was any provision for the anklets. While performing abhishek on the feet of the idol, he came across a hole on the legs through which the anklets could be tied to the legs. Later they also found a hole in the nose for a nose-ring and they were able to tie a waistband on the idol. Following this incident, devotees offer anklets, nose-rings to the Goddess when their boons are fulfilled.
Those who worshiped here:
Goddess Kali, Sage Agastya and his wife Lopamudra, Lord Yama, Lord Aruna (charioteer of Lord Surya), Lord Surya, Sugreeva and Vali.
Special Features:
1. This is the place where Lalitha Sahasranaam was first recited by Vakdevtas as ordered by Shri Lalitadevi.
2. Mother Lalitadevi graces the devotees seated on a Shrichakra peetha with 2 hands (Abhaya and Varada mudra).
3. This is the place where Goddess Lalitambika gave darshan to Sage Agastya. He worshiped her by composing Lalita Navaratna Mala as he perceived Goddess Mother in the form of Navaratna.
4. Goddess Lalitadevi graces her devotees as Sarva Alankaar Bhooshita, Sarva Abharana Bhooshita and bestows all their wishes with kindness.
5. This is the place where she obtained an anklet from her devotee by appearing in her dream in 1999.
6. This is the place where she manifested first as Goddess AdiParashakti before the 54 Shakti Peethas were formed.
7. Lord Surya was freed from his curse after doing penance at this place.
8. Sons of Lord Surya, namely Yama and Shani, were born here.
9. Every year in the Tamil month of Chitrai (April-May) from 21st to 27th Sun’s rays fall on Lord Meghanadaswami. The belief is that Sun worships the Lord on these days at this place.
10. It is believed that Lord Yama worships Lord Meghanadaswami daily at noon in this place in order to increase his lifespan.
11. This is the only place where there are 2 shrines of Lord Shiva namely Lord Meghanadaswami and Lord Sakalabhoovaneshwarar.
12. It is stated that Goddess Mahalakshmi worshiped Goddess Sakalabhoovaneshwari (Parvati) at this place.
13. Lord Aruna (charioteer of Surya) and prince of birds Garuda were born here.
14. Vaali was born at this place to Lord Indra and Aruna (who had taken the form of beautiful lady Mohini)
15. Sugreeva was born to Surya and Aruna (who was as Mohini)
16. The gabhara (sanctum) of Lord Meghanadaswami is in the form of the hind part of an elephant.
17. At this place, we can have darshan of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (Shiva as Lord Lingodbhavar)
18. The idol of Shri Kshetrapuraneshwarar is a typical example of sculpture. Goddess Ambika’s face when viewed from one side appears smiling whereas on the other side, it shows anger.
19. There is a parrot perched on the hand of Goddess Durga idol. It is believed that the messages of devotees are carried to the Goddess Lalitambika by this parrot.
20. In the shrine of Shri Sakalabhoovaneshwarar, the idol of Lord MahaVishnu is with folded hands.
21. Goddess Kaali worshiped Goddess Lalitambika in this shrine.
About the Shri Meghanadaswami Temple:
This temple is also known as Thirumeeyachur Perunkovil. The main Sanctum-Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala, Ardha-mandap and Maha-mandap. The vimana (Gopur) over the sanctum is like the hind part of an elephant (GajaprushthaVimana). It is believed that this shape was given to the vimana as Lord Surya worshiped Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati who were mounted on an elephant. There are two RajaGopurams facing the east and the main RajaGopuram is 5-tiered. The second RajaGopuram is 3-tiered and is in front of the temple complex. After the main RajaGopuram, we come across Balipeeth, DhwajaSthambha and Nandi. There are stucco images of dwara-palakas at the entrance of the sanctum. The Shiva Linga is a Swayambhu Linga. The rays of the Sun fall on the Shiva Linga for seven days from the 21st of Tamil month of Chitrai. Surya pooja is performed during this period.
Koshta-murtis: Lord Kshetrabhuvaneshwarar, Lord Gangadharar/Alinganan murti (i.e. Lord Shiva pacifying the anger of Goddess Parvati), Lord Narthana Vinayaka, Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Brahma, Goddess Durga, Lord Chandrashekhar and Lord Rishabarudhar.
At the entrance of Maha-mandap we come across the idol of Lord Vinayakar.
In the parikrama, we come across the idols and shrines of Naalvar, Sapta-Matrika worshiping Shiva Linga, Pancha-Bhootalingas, Shivalingas worshiped by Lord Indra, Lord Agni, Lord Yama, Idol of Lord Surya, Lord Bhairava, Lord SiddhiVinayakar, Lord Subramanya with his consorts, NiruthiLinga, VarunaLinga, KuberaLinga EshanaLinga, AgatsyaLinga, NagaLingas, Shaiva Saint Sekkizhar, Lord Nataraja, PatalaLinga, Goddess Mahalakshmi, Lord Vishwanath with Goddess Vishalashi.
Goddess Lalitambika is in a separate shrine to the right of the main entrance. This shrine has separate Sanctum, Antarala and Ardha-mandap. The idol is about 5 feet tall on a Shree-Chakra. She is in a sitting position (Sukha-asana) in a majestic appearance with right leg folded. This swarupa is known as Manonmani swarupa, hence she is praised as ShantaNayaki. This temple is considered as the first Shaktipeeth hence she is praised as Goddess AdiParaShakti. It is believed that Lalita Sahasranam originated at this place.
About Goddess Durgadevi:
She is praised as Goddess ShukaBrahmaDurgadevi. She is standing on Mahishasura but in a Shanta Swarupa. Parrots are seen flying from this shrine to the shrine of Goddess Lalitambika as if conveying the message of the devotees.
About the Shri Sakalabhuvaneshwarar Temple:
This temple is praised as Elangkovil. This temple is to the north of Perunkovil. This temple faces the east. ShivaLinga is a SwayambhuLinga. Goddess Ambika is in a separate, south facing shrine with a separate sanctum. The idols and shrines in the temple are - Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord MahaVishnu, Lord Brahma, Lord ChaturMukhaChandikeshwarar, Lord Bhairava, Lord Surya, AkashaLinga, VayuLinga.
This temple was praised by Shaiva Saint Appar in his sacred hymns.
Prayers:
1. We believe a person who is a devotee of Goddess Mother should at least once visit this place to get her full grace.
2. Devotees worship at this place with a naivaidya (offering) of rice mixed with pirandai (Kandavel in Marathi, Gholasvel in Marathi) for relief from diseases.
3. Devotees worship at this place for marriage boon, child boon and for education of children.
4. Devotees perform special poojas on their 60th and 80th birthday for longevity.
5. People worship here for good health and prosperity.
Pooja:
Regular rituals, special pooja.
Festivals:
Ratha-Saptami festival is held in the Tamil month of Thai.
Besides this, all monthly and weekly festivals are held in honor of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Temple Timings: 7 am to 12:30 pm, 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Courtesy: Various blogs and websites
Address:
Shri Lalitambika / Shri Meghanadaswami Temple,
Thirumeeyachur,
District Thiruvarur,
Tamil Nadu 609405.
Phone: +91-4366239170, +91-9444836256
Courtesy: Various blogs and websites
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