19. SRI LAKSHMIPUREESWARAR TEMPLE AT THIRUNINTRIYUR

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	73rd Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Chola Naadu - North
Chola Naadu - North	19th Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar)

HISTORY:

Lord Mahavishnu and Goddess Mahalakshmi worshiped Lord Shiva here. Hence the lord gets the name Sri Lakshmipureeswarar. Secondly, since Goddess Mahalakshmi (also known as “Thiru”) worshipped Lord Shiva in this place, it gets the name Thiru Nintra Oor.

However, the temple is in a very bad state. The main tower as well as the towers in the sanctum are in ruins and are covered with a lot of weeds and plants. Even the compound walls and shrines are in a dilapidated condition.

Sage Jamadhagni:

Once, the sage caught his wife Renukadevi admiring the handsomeness of a Gandharva (a celestial god). He was angered by this and instructed his son Sage Parasuramar to chop off her head. To obey his father’s instruction, Parasuramar killed his mother. However, he then asked his father to bring her back to life. For having committed the sin of killing his own mother, Parusaramar worshipped Lord Shiva here. Sage Jamadhagni also realised his hasty decision and worshiped the lord here asking for forgiveness. Lord Shiva granted darshan to both father and son and absolved them from their sins.

Sage Parasuramar is believed to have assigned to 300 brahmins the duty of chanting vedas in this temple every day. He also granted 360 ‘veli’ (a unit of measurement) agricultural land to this temple. The income generated from the land was to be used for the entire year’s expenses.

Chola king:

Chola king would pass this village every day while on his way to the Chidambaram temple. One day when he was crossing this place, the torches carried by his men automatically went off. Despite their best efforts, they were not able to light it again. But as soon as they crossed this place, the torches lit up automatically. This became a regular phenomenon. Curious to understand the reason behind this, the king asked a shepherd if anything strange was happening at this place. The shepherd informed the king that there was a Shivalingam nearby and a cow performed abhishekam on that lingam. The king then ordered his men to search the place and soon a lingam was unearthed. However, the king noticed that the lingam was bleeding because of being hit with an iron rod while digging. Realising the sin that he had unknowingly committed, the king prayed to Lord Shiva asking for forgiveness. He also decided to build a temple there. As the wick of the torches (“Thiri” in Tamil) got extinguished here, this place came to be known as “Thiri Nintravur”. This has now changed to Thirunintriyur. The scar on the Shivalingam can be seen even now.

People who worshipped here:

Lord Indra, Iravadham, a Chola king and Sages Agasthiyar, Jamadhagni and Parasuramar have worshiped the lord of this temple. A cow worshiped the lord here by performing milk abhishekam every day before dawn and attained salvation. 

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        This is a parihara sthalam for “Brahmahathi Dosham”.
·        This is one of the 44 Paadal petra sthalams where the “Moovar” (the three saints - Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) had rendered their Pathigams.
·        This temple is counted as one of the Maadak Koils built by King Kochengat Cholan.
·        This east facing temple with main tower (Rajagopuram) has 3-tiers.
·        There is no flag post (Dwajasthambam) here.
·        Three tanks adorn this temple in the form of a garland. This was praised as “Neela Malar Poigai” (fragrant blue flowers) by Saint Thirugnanasambanthar. He also mentioned that those praying here will have a peaceful life free of ailments, fear and sins.
·        Saint Sundarar in his hymn mentioned that this place is very auspicious because - Indra was blessed with the post of the head of the devas,
·        Sage Agasthiyar was blessed to stay in the Pothigai hill,
·        Iravatham got a place in the celestial world,
·        Parusuramar and the cow were blessed by Lord Shiva with the “Thiruvadi Theetchai”.
·        Muyalagan, the symbol of ignorance, under the feet of Lord Dakshinamurthy is on the left side with a serpent in his hand.
·        It is believed that King Kochengat Chola built about 70 “Madakkoils”. The distinguishing feature of a Madakkoil is that it is not easily approachable by an elephant. He built these temples at an elevation and there are a few steps that need to be climbed before seeing the lord. Also, the sanctum sanctorum’s (Karpagragam) entrance is narrow such that no elephant can enter it. 

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Lakshmipureeswarar, Sri Mahalakshinathar, Sri Parikeswarar
Ambal	Sri Ulaga Nayaki, Sri Loka Nayaki
Theertham	Neelamalar Poigai
Sthala Vriksham	Vilvam tree

BELIEF:

This temple is famous for those who are born during the time of “Anusham Nakshatram”.

This is also a Parihara sthalam for those suffering from Brahmahathi dosham.

Those who worship the lord here will be blessed with a peaceful life free from ailments, fear and sins.

Also, people pray here on new moon days to seek salvation of their ancestors’ souls.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Avani	Aug-Sept	Vinayakar Chathurthi
Aani	June-July	Aani Tirumanjanam
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri
Karthikai	Nov-Dec	Thirukarthikai
Aippasi	Oct–Nov	Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam

HOW TO REACH:

Thirunintriyur is situated at a distance of about 9 kms from Mayiladuthurai on the Mayiladuthurai to Chidambaram route (via Vaitheeswarankoil). This temple is about one kilometre away from the main road.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Lakshmipureeswarar Temple,
Thirunintriyur,
Mayiladuthurai,
Nagapattinam,
Tamil Nadu - 609 118.

LOCATION: