Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 92nd Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - North |
Chola Naadu - North | 38th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar) |
HISTORY:
It is a common believe
that those facing the adverse effects of the planetary positions of Sun (Lord
Suryan) should visit this temple first before proceeding to
Suriyanarkoil.
Thirumangalakudi is
known as “Panchamangala Kshetram” (five items of prosperity). The village is
named “Mangalakkudi", the Goddess’s name is “Sri Mangalambika”, the
sanctum tower is called “Mangala Vimanam”, the holy water is “Mangala
Theertham” and the Vinayakar of this temple is called “Mangala Vinayakar”.
This temple is that it
was built by Alaivaanar in the 11th century. Alaivaanar was a minister of
King Kulothunga Chola-I and he built this temple using the tax revenues but
without the sanction of his king. When the king came to know about this, he
asked his soldiers to arrest him and behead him. The minister accepted the
punishment but requested the king that he be buried at his native place,
Thirumangalakkudi.
However, Alaivaanar’s
wife prayed to the goddess and begged her to save her husband’s life. Her
prayer was heard and the minister’s life was reinstated by the goddess when his
body was brought to this place. As the minister got rebirth here, the goddess
is praised as “Sri Mangalanayaki” (the one who returned the “Mangal Sutra” to
the widow) and the lord is praised as “Sri Praananatheswarar” (“Praanam” means
life in Tamil).
Sage
Kalava:
The sage was informed
that he would soon be affected by leprosy disease. In order to prevent it, he
performed rigorous penance and prayed to the Navagrahas. It is believed that
the Navagrahas informed Sage Kalava that they did not have the powers to grant
such protection to anyone. Angered by this, the sage cursed the Navagrahas that
they would also be affected by the same disease which he was expecting to get
afflicted by. The Navagrahas then prayed to Lord Shiva for relief who advised
them to go to this place and worship him for 11 consecutive Sundays. As advised
by Lord Shiva, they performed penance here. On completion of their worship, it
is believed that Lord Shiva appeared before them and relieved them from the
curse.
The place where the
Navagrahas had performed penance is now known as “Suryanar Koil”. Since then it
has become a custom that the devotees who wish to go to Suryanar Koil, do so only
after worshipping the lord here. In Suryanar Koil, separate shrines for each of
the nine planets can be seen.
Goddess
Mangalanayaki:
The temple is famous
for Goddess Mangalanayaki. The “Mangal Sutra” thread tied in the hands of the
goddess is offered as “Prasad” to women. It is believed that those facing
obstacles in marriage will be blessed with a suitable match and those who are
already married will be blessed with marital prosperity (“Dheerga Sumangali
Bagyam”). Married women replace the new thread and leave the old one in the
goddess’s shrine.
People
who worshipped lord here:
It is believed that
Goddess Parvathy, Kaali, Bhooma Devi, Akashvani, Suryan, Lord Mahavishnu, Lord
Brahma and Sage Agasthiyar have worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple.
SALIENT FEATURE:
· This is east facing temple with main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.
· There are two holy waters in this temple called Surya Theertham and Chandra Theertham. Suryan and Chandran are considered to be the two eyes of Lord Shiva. Both of them are here in the form of “Theertham”.
· In his hymn of this temple, Saint Thirunavukkarasar mentioned about the worship of Lord Shiva of this temple by Goddess Kaali, Suryan, Lord Mahavishnu, Lord Brahma and Sage Agasthiyar.
· During Brahmotsavam, on the seventh day, the wedding festival is celebrated at night time. This is opposed to the traditional way of celebrating it during the day.
· There is a unique procession mount (Vahanam) in this temple called “Purusha Mirugam” (a mix of human, animal and bird).
· Beautiful sculptures depicting various scenes from Hindu mythology can be seen in the main tower. Two of the prominent ones are – churning of the “Thirupparkadal” to find nectar and Saint Thirunavukkarasar carrying Saint Gnanasambanthar’s palanquin.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Praananatheswarar, Sri Pranavaratheswarar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Mangala Nayaki |
|
Theertham |
Mangala
Theertham, river Cauvery, Surya and Chandra Theerthams |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Kongu
Ilavu (Vellerukku) |
BELIEF:
Devotees follow a
custom of worshiping Lord Shiva here on 11 consecutive Sundays. They make an
offering of curd rice placed on the leaf of this temple’s sacred tree (Erukkan
Ilai). This offering is then consumed by them and distributed to other
devotees. It is strongly believed that by doing so, they will be relieved from
various doshas like “Navagraha doshas”, “Kalathra dosham”, “Mangalya dosham”
and will also get relieved from other ailments.
Devotees perform pooja
to Agasthiya lingam on new moon day with the hope that they will be relieved
from the sins and curses accrued in their previous birth.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Panguni |
Mar-Apr |
10-day Panguni Uthiram Brahmotsavam |
|
Avani |
Aug-Sept |
Vinayakar
Chathurthi |
|
Aani |
June-July |
Aani
Tirumanjanam |
|
Aadi |
July-Aug |
Aadi Perukku |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thirukarthikai |
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Navarathri |
|
Thai |
Jan-Feb |
Makara
Sankranthi |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
|
Panguni |
Mar-Apr |
Panguni Uthiram |
HOW
TO REACH:
Thirumangalakkudi is
situated at a distance of about 17 kms from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam to
Mayiladuthurai route (Via Kathiramangalam).
It is about 2 kms from
Aduthurai on the Aduthurai to Thirupananthal route.
It is very near to
Suriyanarkoil, a famous Navagraha temple.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Prana Natheswarar Temple,
Thirumangalakudi,
Thiruvidaimaruthur,
Thanjavur,
Tamil Nadu-612 102.
LOCATION:
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