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MAHALINGESHWARAR TEMPLE - THIRUVIDAIMARUDUR

Mahalingeswarar Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur

Varaguna Pandya the Pandyan King who, was being haunted by a Bramharakshasa (Bramahaththi)(Evil spirit) because he had trampled & killed a Brahmin boy with his horse by accident.Varaguna Pandya, entered the Mahalingeswarar Temple and prayed to God Shiva for relief from the clutches of the spirit of the dead Brahmin or brahmaraksha.( since the Bramharakshasa could not enter the temple, it waited in the threshold outside the eastern gateway or Gopuram).  A divine voice asked the king to leave through another entrance to save himself. The bramhahaththi is still waiting on the eastern entrance for the king to come back. People take the second entrance to exit the premises after worship. There is a sculpture of Chola period, brahmaharaksha on the eastern premises in one of the inner Gopurams (tower gateway).

Shiva is believed to have appeared as a flame to please sage Agastya. Shiva is said to have emanated from the heart of Parvathi. It is believed that Lord Shiva worshipped himself in the Mahalingaswamy temple before the Jyothirlingam. (emanicating as a flame). The temple is also referred as Pancha Linga sthala due to the presence of five lingams. Viswanatha, Rishipuriswara, Atmanatha, Chokkanatha apart from Mahalingeswarar at the centre.

Mahalingeswaraswamy Temple, is located in Tiruvidaimarudur. Usually, a temple will have a Linga in the sanctum and Parivara Devatas in the temple precinct. It is a peculiar feature in this temple that the Parivara Devatas are in seven different temples. The temple complex (Rectangular) is one of the largest in the state and it houses four gateway towers known as gopurams. The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Mahalingeswaraswamy,(Jyothirlingam) & Pirguchuntaragujambigai. There is a separate shrine for Mookambiga and it is built in north Indian style. The shrine of Mookambiga is where Parvathi is believed to have performed her penance

The Temple was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions, including the towering Gopuram gateway, are attributed to later periods, contributions of Pandyas, Cholas, Thanjavur Nayaks and Marathas.  up to the 16th century. The site of the temple at Thiruvidaimarudur has been used for over 2,000 years and is associated with the Pandya king Varaguna Pandian. The inscriptions in the walls of the temple are from Kulothunga Chola I, indicating revenue survey and settlement and other additions made inside the temple.

One of the notable things is the sculpture of a chariot having twelve pillars, each denoting the twelve lagnas. Pratap Singh (1736–63) Thanjavur Maratha is believed to have donated one lakh metal lamps to the temple. An ornamental metal image of a lady called Pavai Nonbu holding a lamp is his concubine Theepanachiar is still present in temple.

Things to See :

1. Bramhaththi on the left side of the 2nd Gopuram.

2. Mahanandi.

3. 28 Nakshatra Star constellation mandapam.

4.Pavai Nombu Vilakku (Lamp)

5.Ravana with 9 heads, 10th as a Veena.

6. Echoing corridor in the outer precinct of the Lord.

7. Last hole in the precinct wall producing the dhwani “OHM”

8.Returning back through the Amman Sannidhi.

 

For Details contact Shri PSV Arunagiri - 8903781867

 

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