Thirumangalakkudi Sri Praananatheswarar temple 38th of 63 on the north bank of the Kaveri · Chola Nadu · Temples near Mayiladuthurai

Visited on: 2^nd September, 2016

Location

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.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this temple are – Kuthalam, Therezhunthur, Thirukkozhambam, Thiruvaduthurai, Thiruvelvikudi, Ethirkolpadi, Thirumanancheri, Thirukkodikkaval and Kanchanur.

General Information

Moolavar

Sri Praananatheswarar, Sri Pranavaratheswarar

Ambal

Sri Mangala Nayaki

Theertham (Holy water)

Mangala Theertham, river Cauvery, Surya and Chandra Theerthams

Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)

Kongu Ilavu (Vellerukku)

Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by

Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)

• This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 38^th Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of the river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai).
• Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). The Banam of the Lingam is very big and taller than the Avudayar in this temple.
• This east facing temple has 2 corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.

History of the Temple

There are six stone inscriptions in this temple which relate to the period of Chola Kings Kulothungan, Rajarajan and Pallava King Kopperunsingan. This temple was renovated during the 11^th century by Chola King Kulothungan.

Now this temple is under the administrative control of Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam.

Legend

It is a common belief 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”.

The legend of this temple is that it was built by Alaivaanar in the 11^th 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).

Another legend associated with this place is that of 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.

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.

Deities in the Temple

Other than the shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, shrines and idols of Vinayagar, Murugan, Gajalakshmi, Bairavar, two Natarajar with Sivakami, Chandrasekarar, Agasthiya lingam, Nalvar, Haradhathar and Meikkandar can be seen in the corridor. There is no Navagraham here. In the corridor, there are 11 Shivalingams placed in a row.

In the “koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of Vinayakar, Dakshinamurthy, Rishbaroodar, Brahma and Durgai can be seen.

There is a Maragatha (emerald) Lingam in Lord Natarajar’s shrine.

There is an idol for river Cauvery in this temple which is very rare.

Salient Features

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.

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.

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.

Greatness of this temple

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.

Important Festivals

Some of the important festivals celebrated in this temple are-

10-day Panguni Uthiram Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr).

Aani Thirumanjanam in the Tamil month of Aani (June-July),

Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept),

Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct) and

Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan).

The wedding festival is celebrated in a grand manner on the second day of the Panguni Uthiram.

Monthly festivals like Sankatahara Chaturthi, Kiruthikai, Pradosham are also observed.

Special poojas are performed to Lord Bairavar on Ashtami days.

During “Aadi Perukku” (18^th day of Tamil month Aadi (July-Aug)) special pujas are performed to the idol of river Cauvery.

Temple Timings

From 06:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 04:00 PM to 08:30 PM.

Temple Address

Sri Prana Natheswarar Temple,
Thirumangalakudi Post,
Thiruvidaimaruthur Taluk,
Thanjavur District.
Tamil Nadu-612 102.
Tele: +91 0435 247 0480.