Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 22ndShiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Thondai Naadu |
Thondai Naadu | 22nd Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) |
HISTORY:
There are two places
with the same name of “Thirumullaivayil”. One is located near Sirkazhi and the
other near Chennai. Both of these places are home to very ancient temples.
Thirumullaivayil near Seerkazhi is called “Then Thirumullaivasal” and the one
near Chennai is called “Vada Thirumullaivoyal” (“Then” meaning south and “Vada”
meaning north in Tamil). “Thirumullaivoyal” or “Thirumullaivasal” gets
its name from the belief that Lord Shiva emerged from a Jasmine bush in both
these places. “Thiru” is a respectful prefix, “Mullai” means Jasmine and
“Vassal” means place in Tamil. The historical name of the place is
“Shanbakaranyam”. The “Tri-Shakti temples” – the temples for Itcha, Kriya and
Gnana Shakthis are very popular and are of great significance in Hindu religion.
Of these, the temple of Sri Kodiyidai Nayagi at Thirumullaivayil is considered
to be the Kriya Shakti temple.
Three
demons:
In ancient times, the
forest surrounding Thirumullaivayil was occupied by three demons - Onan,
Kanthan and Vaanan from the Kurumbar tribes. They were ruling the Puzhal region
(a place in Chennai) with Lord Bairavar as their protecting deity. King
Thondaiman tried to intervene but he failed in his efforts to seek a peaceful
solution. Then the king went to war with them but could not succeed as these
demons had Lord Bairavar protecting them.
While returning from
the battle field, the legs of his elephant got entangled in the jasmine shrubs.
In order to clear the way, the king started hacking the plants with his sword
but was shocked to see blood oozing from there. He cleared away the shrubs and
found a bleeding Shivalingam there. The king was overcome by grief that he had
damaged the Shivalingam. He tried to sever his head himself but Lord Shiva and
Goddess Parvathi appeared before him and stopped him from doing so. Lord Shiva
asked Nandhi to go with the king to counter the demons. With Nandi’s support,
the king succeeded in his second attempt and destroyed the demons. That is why
the Nandhi here is facing the east direction (towards the Puzhal region)
instead of looking at Lord Shiva. The king built a temple where he found the
Shivalingam and named the lord as “Masilamaniswarar”(“the Lord who is as
precious as a gem, but without any stains”) in Tamil, “Maasu” means stains,
“ila” means without, “mani” means gem and “Iswar” is a respectful suffix.
He seized a prized
possession of the Kurumbars - two pillars made from the trunk of the
“Vellerukku” tree (white Crown flower – Calotropins) from their fort and
installed them in front of the main deity of this temple. These pillars are 11
ft high and have a perimeter of about 2.5 ft. They can be seen even today on
either sides of Lord Masilamaniswarar.
The main deity is a
tall Swayambumurthy lingam with a square base (Avudaiyar). This lingam bears
scar marks due to the cut from the king’s sword. To hide these scars, the
lingam is always covered with sandalwood paste. During the day of the Sathaya
nakshatra (Aquarius) in the Tamil month of Chithirai (Apr-May) every year, the
old sandal paste is removed and a fresh layer is applied. This sandalwood paste
is also seen as a way to treat the wounds on the lingam. There is no abhisheham
for the lingam and it is only performed on the Avudaiyar (base).
People
who worshipped here:
Lord Mahavishnu, Brahma,
Murugan, Ram, Lakshman, Krishna, Suryan, Chandran, sages Brigu, Vashistar,
Soodama, Durvasar and all the 27 Nakshatras (constellations) have worshiped the
lord here.
Sage
Vashistar:
Sage Vashistar
performed penance here and got the divine cow Kamadenu as a reward for his
devotion.
Thiru
Onakanthanthali:
Demons - Onan and
Kanthan had earlier installed a Shivalingam in Kancheepuram and obtained the
lord’s blessings. This temple in Kancheepuram is known as “Thiru
Onakanthanthali”.
Shiva
Puranam:
Shiva Puranam
identifies five ways by which one can seek to obtain salvation -
By visiting and
worshiping the temple in Chidambaram;
If one dies at Kasi
(Banaras);
By remembering the lord
at Thiruvannamalai;
By being born in
Thiruvarur; and
By living in Kancheepuram.
In a similar vein, the
significance of this temple is that one can seek to obtain salvation by simply
hearing about the lord of this temple.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
This lingam is
not touched by human hands, not even by the priests, as it is “Theendathirumeni”.
·
The vimanam
(roof tower) of the sanctum sanctorum has been constructed according to the
Gaja Brishtam style of architecture.
·
The temple’s
main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
·
As opposed to the regular position of
the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi (Kodiyidai Amman), Goddess
Parvathy’s shrine in this temple is on the right side of that of Lord Shiva.
Secondly both these shrines are facing the east direction. This is considered
to be very auspicious.
·
The Goddess here is called “Kodiyidai
Nayagi”( “goddess who has a waist as slender as a Jasmine climber”).
·
There is no shrine or idols for
Navagraham in this temple.
·
The sanctum sanctorum is in the form of
semi-circular tank (akazhi in Tamil).
·
In his hymn of this temple, Saint
Sundaramurthy sings about the King Thondaiman and how his elephant got
entangled in the jasmine shrubs.
·
Saint Madhava Shivagnana Yogi, Saint
Ramalinga Adigalar and the “twin poets” (Irattai Pulavarkal) are believed to
have worshiped the lord and rendered their songs.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Masilamaneeswarar, Sri Paasupatheeswarar |
|
Ambal |
Sri Kodiyidai Nayagi (Sri Kodi-idai-amman), Sri
Lathamathyambal |
|
Theertham |
Kalyana Theertham, Agni Theertham, Subramanya
Theertham and river Palaru |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Mullai (Jasmine) |
BELIEF:
Goddess Kodiyidai
Nayagi is considered to be the Kriya Shakti, her shrine is famous among
devotees. They believe that worshiping the goddess here will bless the
newlyweds with a long and prosperous married life and will remove obstacles in
marriage proposals of unmarried women.
Of the three (Icha,
Kiriya and Gnana) Shaktis, Sri Kodiyidai Nayagi is considered to be the Kriya
Shakti. It is believed that worshipping these three goddesses in a single
day (especially on a full moon day which falls on a Friday) at morning, midday
and evening rewards the devotees with manifold benefits. Devotees can visit Sri
Thiruvudai Amman (Icha Shakthi) in Melur in the morning, Sri Vadivudai Amman
(Gnana Shakthi) in Thiruvotriyur in the afternoon and Sri Kodiyidai Nayagi
(Kriya Shakthi) in Thirumullaivayil in the evening.
TEMPLE
FESTIVAL:
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Vaikasi |
May-June |
10-day Brahmotsavam |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Masi Float festival (Theppam in Tamil) |
|
Aani |
June-July |
Vasantha Utsavam |
HOW
TO REACH:
Thirumullaivoyal
is situated at a distance of about 16 kms from the Koyambedu Bus Terminus,
Chennai. It is on the Chennai to Thiruvallur route. There is a railway station
in Thirumullaivayil on the Chennai to Arakkonam railway line. The temple is
about 2 kms away from the station.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Masilamaneeswarar
Temple,
Thirumullaivoyal,
Thiruvallur,
Tamil Nadu – 600 062.
LOCATION:
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