Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 32nd Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Thondai Naadu |
Thondai Naadu | 32nd Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar |
HISTORY:
The
reason behind the name Irumbai is that this place was once densely populated by
Iluppai trees and so the village got the name Iluppai. Over a period of time
this name got changed to Irumbai. As per the inscriptions on the stone walls of
the temple, the village’s name is mentioned as “Iruncheri”. This temple was
built in the 7th century by Chola King Kulothungan III. This temple is
associated with the legend of Kaduveli Siddhar, a famous yogi who lived in the
area about five hundred years ago.
Mahakala Rishi:
A
saint called Mahakala Rishi, during his pilgrimage, installed three lingams –
one in Ujjain in North India (Vada Naadu), one at Ambar Makalam near
Mayiladuthurai in the south (Then Naadu) and the third one at this place (Nadu
Naadu). Hence the Lord here is named Sri Mahakaleshwarar.
Sage Kaduveli Siddhar:
This
place is that of sage Kaduveli Siddhar. It is believed that he would perform
severe penance by sitting under a peepal tree in yogic posture for days at a
stretch. Once, during his penance, the heat of his body became so intense that
the rain gods suffered, there was no rain and the people were exposed to
hardship and drought. The situation worsened to such a degree that it finally
came to the knowledge of King Kulothungan, who ruled from Kottakkarai. Since no
one dared to disturb Kaduveli Siddhar in his penance as he chanted the mantra
of Lord Shiva, the King announced that whoever could break the Siddhar’s
penance will be suitably rewarded.
King
tempted by the reward, a temple dancer named Valli who was devoted to Lord
Shiva, decided to try her best to break the Siddhar’s penance. She observed
that the Siddhar would occasionally catch and consume the falling and withered
peepal leaves. To get his attention, she tactfully prepared some fried papads (thin,
crispy wafers) which had salt in it and placed them around him. After a few
days of consuming the salted papads thinking that they were peepal leaves, the
Siddhar got back to his sense. When he opened his eyes and saw the papads and
also saw Valli standing nearby, he asked her why she had fed him these papads
and what had happened. She explained him about the abnormal heat around this
place and the lack of rain. She further told him that this was due to his
severe penance. Since his penance was broken and the heat started
reducing, the rain god was relieved from the torturous heat and granted showers
of rain.
In
order to celebrate this event, the King ordered for a big pooja to be held at
this temple. Valli being the temple dancer was supposed to perform the cosmic
dance of Lord Shiva (Anantha Thandavam). She invited the Siddhar to the temple
for the Pooja as well as to watch her dance performance, which he accepted.
However,
during the performance, one of her anklets fell off, and she lost her rhythm. Kaduveli
Siddhar, who saw the Lord Shiva in Valli, picked up the anklet and put it back
on her feet. Since he had touched the feet of a dancing girl, he was exposed to
the ridicule of the people as well as the King. Angered by the heckling, the
Siddhar asked Lord Shiva to come out of his temple and prove his innocence by
causing a rain of stones.
The
song that the Siddhar sang is as follows:
“வெல்லும் பொழுது விடுவேன் வெகுளியை
செல்லும்
பொழுது
செலுத்தினேன் சிந்தையை
அல்லும்
பகலும்
உன்னையே
தொழுதேன்
கல்லும்
பிளந்து
கடுவெளியாமே”
Immediately
the lingam in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple exploded into three pieces,
and wherever those fragments fell, that place became a desert. The Siddhar
cursed that these places would become uninhabited and devoid of all vegetation.
To this day, there is such a desert called “Kaduveli” at a distance of about
three kilometres from this village.
On
realizing the truth and power of the Siddhar the King begged for forgiveness
and pleaded him to quench the effects of the curse. The Siddhar was appeased by
the King’s request and said that although he could not change what had already
happened, in the future, people from far-off lands would come and make the
deserted lands green and fertile again.
Further,
the Siddhar was also requested to mend the broken Shivalingam. He sang the
following song to join the broken fragments. When he finished this song the
fragments were joined together.
“எட்டும் அறிந்த உந்தனுக்கு
எட்டும்
அறியாத
எந்தனுக்கு
எட்டு
அறிந்தும்
ஒன்று
சேருமே”
Today,
some of the villagers feel that the Aurovilians are the people from the far-off
lands that the Siddhar had mentioned and that the curse is now beginning to
leave.
Goddess Parvathi took the form of Maha Kali:
This
temple is that once two Asuras (demons) worshipped Lord Shiva to seek the boon
of marrying Goddess Parvathi. Angered by this, Goddess Parvathi took the form
of Maha Kali and destroyed them. It is believed that Goddess Parvathi was
inflicted with the “Brahmahathi Dosham” (the sin accrued by the act of taking a
life) due to the killing of those two demons. She worshipped Lord Shiva at this
place to seek respite from this dosham.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
This is one of
the three places where the Shiva Lingam is said to have been installed and
worshipped by Mahakala Rishi.
·
The Vimanam -
the tower above the sanctum sanctorum is an excellent example of the Ekadala
style of architecture.
·
The speciality
of this temple is that the main lingam Sri Mahakaleshwarar is broken in pieces
and tied together with a copper string.
·
Goddess Parvathi
is worshipped here as Kuyil Mozhi Nayaki which literally translates to “goddess
with a voice as sweet as that of a nightingale”.
·
The inner
corridor walls have intricate sculptures and reliefs that beautifully depict
the story of Kaduveli Siddhar.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Mahakaleswarar |
|
Ambal |
Sri Kuyilmozhi Ammai / Sri Madhu Sundara Nayaki |
|
Theertham |
Makalar Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Punnai (Alexandrian Laurel Tree) |
BELIEF:
This
temple is also popular with devotees interested in arts and music. They come
here to perform poojas and seek the blessings of Goddess Kuyil Mozhi Nayaki to
help them attain excellence in their chosen art forms.
Devotees
also pray to Lord Mahakaleshwarar for prosperity and longevity.
TEMPLE
FESTIVAL:
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
10 days Brahmotsavam (Maasi Maham festival) |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
|
Panguni |
Mar-Apr |
Panguni Uthiram |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thirukarthikai |
HOW
TO REACH:
Irumbai is about 10 kms from Puducherry and 2 kms away from Morattandi on Puducherry to Tindivanam route. After Morattandi, there is a small road on the right side leading to Irumbai village where the temple is located. Also, the temple is in the vicinity of Auroville International Township.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Shri Mahakaleswarar
Temple,
Irumbai Mahalam,
Vanur,
Villupuram District,
Tamil Nadu - 605 111.
LOCATION:
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