Manakkal Ayampettai is situated at a distance of 8 kms from Thiruvarur on Thiruvarur-Kumbhakonam route. It is at a distance of 31 kms from Kumbhakonam, 48 kms from Mayiladuthurai and 12 kms from Nannilam. This is situated on the southern bank of Kaveri and revered by Shaiva Saint Sambandhar and Appar. Hence this must have existed even before the 7th century. Lord Muruga of this temple was praised by Saint Arunagirinathar. This is a Maad Kovil built by the Chola king Kochengat Cholan. Later it was renovated by a Chola king to present day stone structure. There are inscriptions pertaining to Chola King Kulthonga Cholan. It is believed that the temple was built on a small piece of mount Kailash which fell here during the trial of strength between Vaayu and Aadishesha. Lalithatrisati originated at this place.
Moolavar: Shri Abhi Mukteeshwarar, Shri Priyanathar, Shri Sheshapureeshwarar
Devi: Shri Abhinambika, Shri Niraikonda Nayaki, Shri Elevarkuzhali, Shri Minnanaiyal ammal
Pooja / Agama: Karana Agama
Sacred Theertha: Saravana Poigai, Agni Theertha
Kshetra Vruksha: Shami (Vanni in Tamil)
Puranik name: Peruvelur, Katturayyanpettai
Present Name: Manakkal Ayyampettai
Kshetra Puran:
1. According to the Puran, once Ganga Devi approached Lord Shiva to cleanse herself of the sins left behind by her devotees. Heeding to her request Lord Shiva directed her to this place where Lord Muruga had worshiped Him by creating the Sacred Theertha. She reached this place and did penance as directed by Lord Shiva and got rid of her sin. Hence Ambika is in a sitting posture doing penance.
2. Lord Muruga came to this place, created a pond and worshiped Lord Shiva. He got the blessing of Lord Shiva and his spear (Vel in Tamil). Hence this place got the name Peruvelur and Lord Muruga is praised as Velan and Sacred Theertha created by him is known as Saravana Poigai.
3. During Samudra Manthana, Lord Vishnu had taken the form of Mohini to deprive the asuras from obtaining the Amruta. After reaching the objective he came to this place, and worshiped Lord Shiva to regain his original form. Hence we have a separate shrine for Lord Mahavishnu known as Shri Vaikuntha Narayana Perumal.
4. According to the Sthala Puran, once a dumb boy was brought by his parents to the shrine of Lord Saraswatishwarar at this place. They prayed to Lord at this place for relief. It is believed that Lord Shiva blessed the boy and made him speak.
5. This place is associated with the Puran connected with the Puran of fight between Vayu and Adishesha as mentioned in earlier blog.
Those who worshiped at this place: Sage Gautama, Sage Bhringi, Lord Vishnu, Lord Muruga, Sage Agasthya and Shukra (Venus).
Special features:
1. This is one of the places where Lord Muruga worshiped Lord Shiva. The other places are Vaitheeswaran kovil, Keezhvelur and Thiruvidaikazhi.
2. Lord Muruga worshiped Lord Shiva by creating a Sacred Theertha and taking bath in the Sacred Theertha and he obtained a spear (Vel). Hence the place is known as Peruvelur.
2. Saint Arunagirinathar, has praised Lord Muruga of this temple in his hymns.
3. Lord Vishnu did penance at this place to regain his original form after Mohini avatar.
4. In this shrine there are 6 Shiva lingas, one of them is Lord Saraswatishwarar.
5. Goddess Parvati in this place is depicted as doing penance similar to at Kanchipuram and Thirumeyachur.
6. Lord Dakshinamurti is sitting under a banyan tree and this is sculptured out of granite stone.
7. Lord Vinayaka’s idol is made out of white stone.
8. In this temple there are 3 Lord Bhairava idols, 2 Goddess Durga idols, and 2 Lord Chandikeshwarar idols.
9. Lord Nataraja’s shrine is in the front mandapa of this temple and the mandapa looks like the forehead of a bat.
10. It is believed that the 3 great Carnatic musicians who are considered as jewels of Carnatic music have worshiped Lord Shiva at this shrine.
About the temple:
In the upper level the temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, Antarala and Ardhamandapa. We have to climb 17 steps to reach the upper level.
This is an east facing temple with a three tiered Rajagopuram. After the Rajagopuram, we come across Dhwajastambha, Balipeeth and Nandi. There is an idol of Lord Vinayaka below the Dhwajastambha praised as Lord Kodimara Vinayaka. There are 2 prakarams in the temple. The front hall is in the form of the forehead of a bat.
Moolavar is a Swayambhoo Linga. On the opposite side of the moolavar shrine there is a Jala (jali in marathi) provided for darshana.
Koshta moortis: Lord Vinayaka, Lord Dakshinamoorti, Sage Mirukanda Maharshi, Lord Lingodbhavar and Lord Bramha.
Goddess Durga is in a separate shrine.
In the parikrama we come across following idols and shrines: Lord Vinayaka, Lord Subramanya with his consorts Valli and Deivanai, Lord Nataraja, Lord Somaskandar, Goddess Mahalakshmi, Navagraha shrine, Lord Shanishwarar, Lord Surya, Shaiva Saints Sambandhar, Appar and Sundarar, Lord Vaikunta-Narayana-Perumal (Lord Vishnu), Lord Chandikeshwarar and Lord Yoga Chandikeshwarar. There are 3 Lord Bhairava idols namely – Lord Kaalabhairava, Lord Bhairava and Lord Vatukabhairava in a single shrine. They are collectively known as Three Kaalbhairavas. Special pooja is done on Ashtami in this shrine.
There are Shiva Lingas namely Lord Dharmapureeshwarar, Lord Raamalingeshwarar, Lord Tarkeshwarara, Lord Saraswatishwarar, Lord Jambukeshawarar and Lord Aairavateshwarar.
Shrine of Goddess Ambika is on the ground floor facing the east. She is in a sitting position known as Veerasana. She is depicted with 4 hands with Abhaya and Varada mudra on 2 hands. The 2 other places where we come across this posture are at Kanchipuram and at Thiruneedur.
On the two sides of Lord Shiva’s shrine, we come across Lord Muruga’s shrine in the middle and Goddess Ambika’s shrine on the right side. This is in the form of Somaskandar shrine.
Prayers:
1. As this is a Parihara sthala for planet Shukra, devotees worship here for relief from debt burden.
2. Devotees worship at this place for removal of marriage obstacles.
3. In this temple there is a very rare shrine for Lord Yoga Chandikeshwarar and Goddess Chandikeshwari. Devotees believe that by worshiping at this shrine, the problems faced by couple will be removed.
4. Devotees having speech problem worship Lord Saraswatishwarar for relief.
Poojas:
Regular rituals are held 3 times in a day according to Karana Agama.
Festivals:
Mainly Skandha Shashti and Vaikaasi Vishaakhaa (May-June) are held on a grand scale.
The other festivals are:
Vaikaasi (May-June): Vaikaasi Vishaakhaa (festival on Vishaakhaa nakshatra day)
Aadi (July-Aug): Aadi Puram (festival on Poorva Aashaadhaa nakshatra day)
Aaavani (Aug-Sept): Ganesha Chaturthi
Purattaasi (Sept-Oct): Navaratri
Aippaassi (Oct-Nov): Annabhisheka and Skanda Shashthi
Kaarthigai (Nov-Dec): Thirukaarthigai Deepam
Maargazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathiraai
Thai (Jan-Feb): Makara Sankraanti
Maasi (Feb-Mar): Mahaashivaraatri
Panguni (Mar-Apr): Panguni Uttiram (festival on Uttaraa Phaalguni nakshatra day)
Temple address:
Shri Abhi Mukteeshwarar Temple at Thiru Peruvelur (Manakkal Ayyampettai),
Taluka Kudavasal,
District Thiruvarur,
Tamil Nadu 610104
Phone number: +91-4366325425
Temple Priest: Shri Ravi Gurukkal, +91-9943860196, +91-994424994
Courtesy: Various websites and blogs
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