SHIVA - THE COSMIC DANCER

THIRU MOOLANATHASWAMY TEMPLE – THENKARAI – SHOLAVANDAN – CHOZHAVANDAN - MADURAI In the village of Chozhavandan, is a twin temple on both sides of the Vaigai River dedicated to Lord Shiva. One of the temple is Thiru Moolanathaswamy temple in Thenkarai. But before we dwell into the Lords abode, let us know about the place Chozavandan or Solaikurichi or or Sengagapuri. The place has mention in the Sangam period literature and was under the Pandyan Kings. Once a Chola king invaded the the pandyan kingdom and came to the village. The invading Chola King was so mesmerized with the scenic beauty of the place with, lush green fields, being watered by River Vaigai, that he became entranced with the place and abandoned the war. Hence the town got its name Cholavandan meaning Chola (Cholan + Vandan) came. Uvandan in Tamil means getting awed. So impressed was he of the place that he named it Chinna Tanjai or Small Tanjore. The town is situated between Nagamalai and Sirumalai in the Western ghat

  KUDUVARAI-LAKULEESH-SHIVA CAVE TEMPLES- ARITTAPATTI Kuduvarai in Tamil means Kudu or Kodai ( Dig) & Varai (Draw or Sculpt). This is what the locals call the Rock cut Cave Temple in Arittapatti, a small village 20 KM’s from Madurai. A rock cave temple amongst the most beautiful scenic location’s in Tamilnadu. The place Arittapatti also known as Kalingamalai and Thirupinanaimalai, is in the Anai(Elephant) malai range. Rock cave temple of Shiva and a Jain Sculpture of the 24th Teerthankara, Mahaveer ( 3 feet ) Vigraham embedded about a KM away from the cave temple is a sight, worth, the effort of going to this place. The place is a beautiful, small hillock, in between the serene and beautiful location, surrounded by perennial water spout, lakes, check dams, farm lands. There is something for everybody, 72 water bodies, and green fields, birds of much variety, Rocks and bountiful nature. The road to the place ends at the start of the village and the balance distance of 2 KM’s is

  PRALAYANATHASWAMY TEMPLE – SHOLAVANDAN – MADURAI On the banks of the Vaigai river a pandian King, installed a Shiva Lingam, which he had brought from Kashi and was immersed in prayers to the Lord. There was a deluge of water and the river Vaigai was in full spate breaking boundaries. People took shelter near the Shiva Linga along with the King. The torrents of water felt like, it would blast away everyone and everything on its path and deposit them in Patala. People prayed to Lord Shiva to come to their help, who graaced them and saved them from any harm to them or the place. This place is Sholavandan and the name of the Lord here is Pralaya Nathar. (One who saved his devotees from Pralaya =Deluge or destruction.) (Lord over Pralaya) The goddess is known as Pralaya Nayaki or Soundarya Nayaki. The temple is over five hundred years old and was built by the Pandian rulers and was later supported by the Naicker’s of Madurai. The Temple has a North entrance, which leads into a huge compo

  EDAGANATHAR TEMPLE – TIRUVEDAGAM MADURAI The queen & consort of Koon Pandian, (Hunchback) Pandian King(640 – 670 CE), Mangayarkarasiyar (Chola dynasty) was worried that Shaivism which was the religion of the Pandian Empire, would be lost forever. The entire Madurai region and the King had converted to Jainism. So deep was the king engrossed in Jainism, that he became a fanatic and forbid his queen from smearing Vibhuti on her forehead. The queen and the prime minister Kulachirai Nayanar,(who was also one of the 63 Nayanar), invited Thiru Gyana Sambandar, a child Shaivite brahmin saint and a Nayanar to help in reviving Shaivism in the down, south of India. Koon Pandian or Arikesari Parankuja Varman was a Hunchback and was suffering from incurable boils all over his body along with a fever. The jain monks tried to cure him with their medicine,but were unsuccessful. Sambandar not only cured the King with Thiruneeru ( Vibhuti) applied on the Kings body, but also cured him of his hun

  MUKTEESHWARAR TEMPLE – TEPPAKULAM MADURAI (PANCHBHOOTHA STHALAM RELATED TO AIR = VAYU) Chapter 44 of the Brahmanda Purana, Shiva and Brahma had a heated argument So violent was Shiva's anger that, even Parvathi his consort could not bear to be near him. On Parvathi’s complaint that it was not possible for her to live with him anymore, Shiva decided to deposit this anger of his in to the womb of Anasuya the wife of Rishi Atri. To them was born as a son, Sage Durvasa, who being born out of the anger of Shiva was always hot tempered. The Vishnu purana states that, Wandering on earth Sage Durvasa came by a Vidyadhari ( a nymph of Vayu or Air) who was wearing a heavenly floral garland. On the sages request the nymph gave the garland of flowers to Durvasa, who on reaching the heavens, gave the flowers to Indra on Airavata (white elephant, Indra's Vehicle). Not knowing what to do Indra placed the garland on the head of Airavata. So fragrant was the flowers in the garland, that it a