Dharisanam ENதமிழ்
Brightly painted shrine domes with white bull statues, and a tiered tower rising in the background
Swayambu

Thirumiyachur Ilangkovil Sri Sakalabuvaneswarar Temple

Darshan today6:00 am – 12:00 noon, 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Moolavar
Sakalabuvaneswarar
Ambal
Minnum Megalaiyaal, Vidhyudh Megalambal
Theertham
Surya Pushkarini
Sthala vriksham
Vilvam
Pathigam by
Thirunavukarasar (Appar)

Temple

Visited on: 25th June, 2016 and 10th April, 2017.

Location

Thirumiyachur Ilamkoil is a part of the Thirumiyachur temple and is situated inside that temple itself.

Thirumiyachur is located at a distance of about 20 kms from Mayiladuthurai on the Mayiladuthurai to Thiruvarur route. From Mayiladuthurai first travel to Peralam (17 kms) and then to Thirumiyachur (3 kms). Nearest railway station is Peralam which is 2 kms away from this temple.

Other Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams near this temple are – Thirumiyachur, Thilathaipathy, Thiru Anniyur, Thiruppampuram, Serukudi, Thiruveezhimizhalai, Thiru Kottaram, Ambal Maakalam and Ambar Perunthirukkoil.

General Information

Moolavar
Sri Sakalabuvaneswarar
Ambal
Sri Minnum Megalaiyaal, Sri Vidhyudh Megalambal
Theertham (Holy water)
Surya Pushkarini
Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree)
Vilvam
Pathigam (Hymn) rendered by
Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)
  • This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 57 Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai).
  • Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested).

History of the Temple

This “Ilam Koil” (temple within a temple) is situated right within the Thirumiyachur temple.

The shrines of the main deities of the Ilamkoil – Sri Sakalabhuvaneswarar and Goddess Minnum Megalaiyaal are situated in the northern corridor of the main temple.

It is believed that this ancient temple was renovated by King Rajendra Chola and Queen Sembian Maadevi.

There are seven stone inscriptions available in this temple which relate to the periods of Chola and Pandiya kingdoms.

This temple is under the administrative control of the Thiruppukalur Velakurichi Aadheenam.

Front view of the tall, tiered and brightly painted Rajagopuram above the gateway, with shops on both sides
A courtyard view with a tall flagstaff under a blue canopy, and a painted gopuram rising on the right

Legend

This is the place where “Lalitha Sahasranamam” originated and was first introduced to the world.

It is believed that Goddess Mahalakshmi and Goddess Kali have worshipped the lord of this temple.

It is believed that Garuda (the eagle mount of Lord Mahavishnu), Aruna (the charioteer of Suryan), the monkey brothers Vali and Sukreev, Yama (the God of Death) and Saneeswarar (the planet Saturn) were born in this place.

Deities in the temple

The main deities of this temple are Lord Sakalabuvaneswarar and Goddess Minnum Megalaiyaal.

In the “Koshtam” (place surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), idols of lords Dakshinamurthy, Brahma and Mahavishnu can be seen. The unique feature of the idol of Lord Mahavishnu is that his hands are folded.

Stone doorway with a blue Tamil name board, lit lamps inside, and a small Vinayakar idol on each side
A dark doorway with a blue Tamil name board and small lamps, between stone pillars and a yellow wall
Garlanded stone idol of a standing god in white cloth, with a smaller figure in red silk at his side
A dark shrine opening with a blue Tamil name board; a small idol in a red and gold sari is faintly seen inside
A stone shrine with a small doorway, topped by a colourful dome with white bull statues, in the courtyard

Salient Features

Since this small temple is located within the Thirumiyachur temple, one can see Lords Shiva (as Lingothbhavar), Vishnu and Brahma simultaneously from the north- west corner of the outer corridor. This is a unique feature of this temple.

Another significance of this temple is that one can get the darshan of the lords of two separate Paadal Petra Sthalams from a single temple complex.

The idol of Chandikeswarar can be seen here with four faces (“Chaturmuka”). Such a form of Chandikeswarar is quite rare.

Greatness of this temple

It is believed that those seeking wedding boon can pray to the lord here.

Important Festivals

Rathasapthami in the Tamil month of Thai is an important festival in this temple.

Apart from this, almost all festivals related to Lord Shiva are celebrated here.

Temple Timings

From 06.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and 04.30 PM to 08.30 PM.

Temple Address

Sri Meganathaswamy / Sri Sakalapuvaneswarar Temple
Thirumiyachur Post,
Nannilam Taluk,
Thiruvarur District
Tamil Nadu – 609 405.

Tele: +91 94448 36526, 94446 98841, 04366 - 239 170.

*
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Today6:00 am – 12:00 noon, 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Phone+91 94448 3652694446 98841, 04366 - 239 170
Brightly painted shrine domes with white bull statues, and a tiered tower rising in the background
Several painted shrine domes with white bulls above stone bases, around a paved courtyard; a man walks at right
Painted domes with white bulls above a stone wall; more shrines and an arched roof stand further along
A paved courtyard between stone walls, with shrines topped by painted domes under a clear blue sky

Highlights

What makes this temple special

* Cards drawn from the temple write-up and photographs. “Read more” takes you to the full passage.

Greatness

What makes this temple great

A small temple inside the Thirumiyachur temple, from where devotees can see Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma together.

  1. The lords seen togetherOne can see Lords Shiva (as Lingothbhavar), Vishnu and Brahma simultaneously from the north-west corner of the outer corridor.
  2. Two Paadal Petra Sthalams in one complexOne can get the darshan of the lords of two separate Paadal Petra Sthalams from a single temple complex.
  3. Four-faced ChandikeswararThe idol of Chandikeswarar can be seen here with four faces, a form that is quite rare.
  4. Mahavishnu with folded handsThe unique feature of the idol of Lord Mahavishnu is that his hands are folded.
Significance

Its place in the tradition

A Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam, an Ilam Koil within the Thirumiyachur temple, with legends of many births here.

  1. A Devara Paadal Petra SthalamThis is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams, on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri.
  2. A temple within a templeThe Ilam Koil is situated right within the Thirumiyachur temple, and its main shrines are in the northern corridor of the main temple.
  3. Where Lalitha Sahasranamam beganThis is the place where Lalitha Sahasranamam originated and was first introduced to the world.
  4. Renovated by Chola royaltyIt is believed that this ancient temple was renovated by King Rajendra Chola and Queen Sembian Maadevi.
Why devotees come

Why devotees come here

Devotees come to pray for a wedding boon, to have darshan of two sthalams and to join the Rathasapthami festival.

  1. For marriageIt is believed that those seeking a wedding boon can pray to the lord here.
  2. For the darshan of two sthalamsDevotees can have the darshan of the lords of two separate Paadal Petra Sthalams from a single complex.
  3. For the festival of RathasapthamiRathasapthami in the Tamil month of Thai is an important festival in this temple.
The Rajagopuram of the Thirumiyachur temple
276Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams

A Paadal Petra Sthalam

Legends of this place

This is the place where Lalitha Sahasranamam originated and was first introduced to the world.

It is believed that Goddess Mahalakshmi and Goddess Kali have worshipped the lord of this temple.

Garuda, Aruna, the monkey brothers Vali and Sukreev, Yama and Saneeswarar are believed to have been born in this place.

Festivals

    Rathasapthami is an important festival, and almost all festivals related to Lord Shiva are celebrated.

    Deities

    The deities of this temple

    * Drawn from the temple write-up and photographs. Where there is no photograph, the card shows the name.

    From the sanctum to the corridors
    Stone doorway with a blue Tamil name board, lit lamps inside, and a small Vinayakar idol on each side
    Moolavar

    Sri Sakalabuvaneswarar

    The main deities of this temple are Lord Sakalabuvaneswarar and Goddess Minnum Megalaiyaal.

    A dark doorway with a blue Tamil name board and small lamps, between stone pillars and a yellow wall
    Ambal

    Minnum Megalaiyaal

    The shrines of the main deities, Sri Sakalabhuvaneswarar and Goddess Minnum Megalaiyaal, are situated in the northern corridor of the main temple.

    A dark shrine opening with a blue Tamil name board; a small idol in a red and gold sari is faintly seen inside
    Worshippers of the lord

    Mahalakshmi

    It is believed that Goddess Mahalakshmi and Goddess Kali have worshipped the lord of this temple.

    Idol in the koshtamத
    Idol in the koshtam

    Dakshinamurthy

    In the koshtam, idols of lords Dakshinamurthy, Brahma and Mahavishnu can be seen.

    Idol in the koshtamவி
    Idol in the koshtam

    Mahavishnu

    The unique feature of the idol of Lord Mahavishnu is that his hands are folded.

    Shrine in the templeச
    Shrine in the temple

    Chandikeswarar

    The idol of Chandikeswarar can be seen here with four faces (“Chaturmuka”). Such a form of Chandikeswarar is quite rare.

    Visit & map

    Sacred geography
    Thirumiyachur Ilangkovil Thirumiyachur Thiru Thilathaipathi Thiruppampuram Sirukudi Thirunallam Thirukkondeeswaram Vanniyur Nannilathu Perungkoil Thiru Kottaru Thirupugalur Vardhamanecharam Thiru Pugalur Thiruppanaiyur
    You are hereThis temple

    Schematic. Distances as recorded on the visit; directions approximate.

    12a6a12p6p
    Darshan today6:00 am – 12:00 noon, 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm
    6:00 – 12:004:30 – 8:30 pm

    Hours as recorded on the visit. Festival days can differ.

    Plan the day around it

    Address and phone

    Sri Meganathaswamy / Sri Sakalapuvaneswarar Temple, Thirumiyachur Post, Nannilam Taluk, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu – 609 405.

    +91 94448 36526

    *

    A day of darshan nearby

    5 more sthalams within reach, nearest first: 11.4 km in straight lines.

    Map of Thirumiyachur Ilangkovil and the sthalams nearby, in route order: Thirumiyachur, Thiru Thilathaipathi, Thiruppampuram, Sirukudi, Vanniyur. 1 Thirumiyachur 2 Thiru Thilathaipathi 3 Thiruppampuram 4 Sirukudi 5 Vanniyur 2 km N
    Drawn from coordinates. Straight-line distances; roads are longer. Faint dots are other sthalams within 50 km.

    Temple plan

    Front view of the tall, tiered and brightly painted Rajagopuram above the gateway, with shops on both sides
    01

    The Thirumiyachur temple

    Thirumiyachur Ilamkoil is a part of the Thirumiyachur temple and is situated inside that temple itself.

    1 / 5

    Summary written with AI help from the temple write-up.

    Pathigam

    Saint Thirunavukarasar visited this temple and sang this Pathigam.

    Devotees visiting this temple should make it a practice to recite this Pathigam.

    V. Muthukumaraswamy

    Appar visited this temple and sang this Pathigam. Verse 1 of 10.

    Thōtṟuṅ kōyilun thōṉtṟiya kōyilum
    vētṟuk kōyil palavuḷa mīyachchūrk
    kūtṟam pāyntha kuḷirpuṉ saṭaiyaraṟ
    kētṟaṅ kōyilkaṇ ṭīriḷaṅ kōyilē

    The verse says that Thirumiyachur has many other temples, some ancient and some that came later. For the lord with cool matted hair, who leapt upon Yama, the Ilam temple is the excellent one, and devotees are asked to see it.

    Tap any Tamil word for its meaning

    Verse text and transliteration as given in the write-up. Word meanings and the English meaning are AI-assisted drafts.

    All ten verses

    1. 01

      தோற்றுங் கோயிலுந் தோன்றிய கோயிலும்வேற்றுக் கோயில் பலவுள மீயச்சூர்க்கூற்றம் பாய்ந்த குளிர்புன் சடையரற்கேற்றங் கோயில்கண் டீரிளங் கோயிலே

      Thōtṟuṅ kōyilun thōṉtṟiya kōyilum / vētṟuk kōyil palavuḷa mīyachchūrk / kūtṟam pāyntha kuḷirpuṉ saṭaiyaraṟ / kētṟaṅ kōyilkaṇ ṭīriḷaṅ kōyilē

    2. 02

      வந்த னையடைக் கும்மடித் தொண்டர்கள்பந்த னைசெய்து பாவிக்க நின்றவன்சிந்த னைதிருத் துந்திரு மீயச்சூர்எந்த மையுடை யாரிளங் கோயிலே

      Vantha ṉaiyaṭaik kum'maṭith thoṇṭarkaḷ / pantha ṉaiseythu pāvikka niṉtṟavaṉ / sintha ṉaithiruth thunthiru mīyachchūr / entha maiyuṭai yāriḷaṅ kōyilē

    3. 03

      பஞ்ச மந்திர மோதும் பரமனார்அஞ்ச ஆனை யுரித்தன லாடுவார்நெஞ்சம் வாழி நினைந்திரு மீயச்சூர்எந்த மையுடை யாரிளங் கோயிலே

      Pañcha manthira mōthum paramaṉār / añcha āṉai yuriththaṉa lāṭuvār / neñcham vāzhi niṉainthiru mīyachchūr / entha maiyuṭai yāriḷaṅ kōyilē

    4. 04

      நாறு மல்லிகை கூவிளஞ் செண்பகம்வேறு வேறு விரித்த சடையிடைஆறு கொண்டுகந் தான்றிரு மீயச்சூர்ஏறு கொண்டுகந் தாரிளங் கோயிலே

      Nāṟu mallikai kūviḷañ cheṇpakam / vēṟu vēṟu viriththa saṭaiyiṭai / āṟu koṇṭukan thāṉtṟiru mīyachchūr / ēṟu koṇṭukan thāriḷaṅ kōyilē

    5. 05

      வெவ்வ வண்ணத்து நாகம் வெருவவேகவ்வ வண்ணக் கனல்விரித் தாடுவர்செவ்வ வண்ணந் திகழ்திரு மீயச்சூர்எவ்வ வண்ணம் பிரானிளங் கோயிலே

      Vevva vaṇṇaththu nākam veruvavē / kavva vaṇṇak kaṉalvirith thāṭuvar / sevva vaṇṇan thikazhthiru mīyachchūr / evva vaṇṇam pirāṉiḷaṅ kōyilē

    6. 06

      பொன்னங் கொன்றையும் பூவணி மாலையும்பின்னுஞ் செஞ்சடை மேற்பிறை சூடிற்றுமின்னு மேகலை யாளொடு மீயச்சூர்இன்ன நாள்அக லாரிளங் கோயிலே

      Poṉṉaṅ koṉtṟaiyum pūvaṇi mālaiyum / piṉṉuñ cheñchaṭai mēṟpiṟai sūṭitṟu / miṉṉu mēkalai yāḷoṭu mīyachchūr / iṉṉa nāḷaka lāriḷaṅ kōyilē

    7. 07

      படைகொள் பூதத்தன் பைங்கொன்றைத் தாரினன்சடைகொள் வெள்ளத்தன் சாந்தவெண் ணீற்றினன்விடைகொ ளூர்தியி னான்றிரு மீயச்சூர்இடைகொண் டேத்தநின் றாரிளங் கோயிலே

      Paṭaikoḷ pūthaththaṉ paiṅkoṉtṟaith thāriṉaṉ / saṭaikoḷ veḷḷaththaṉ sānthaveṇ ṇītṟiṉaṉ / viṭaiko ḷūrthiyi ṉāṉtṟiru mīyachchūr / iṭaikoṇ ṭēththaniṉ tṟāriḷaṅ kōyilē

    8. 08

      ஆறு கொண்ட சடையினர் தாமுமோர்வேறு கொண்டதோர் வேடத்த ராகிலுங்கூறு கொண்டுகந் தாளொடு மீயச்சூர்ஏறு கொண்டுகந் தாரிளங் கோயிலே

      Āṟu koṇṭa saṭaiyiṉar thāmumōr / vēṟu koṇṭathōr vēṭaththa rākiluṅ / kūṟu koṇṭukan thāḷoṭu mīyachchūr / ēṟu koṇṭukan thāriḷaṅ kōyilē

    9. 09

      வேதத் தானென்பர் வேள்வியு ளானென்பர்பூதத் தானென்பர் புண்ணியன் றன்னையேகீதத் தான்கிள ருந்திரு மீயச்சூர்ஏதந் தீர்க்கநின் றாரிளங் கோயிலே

      Vēthath thāṉeṉpar vēḷviyu ḷāṉeṉpar / pūthath thāṉeṉpar puṇṇiyaṉ tṟaṉṉaiyē / kīthath thāṉkiḷa runthiru mīyachchūr / ēthan thīrkkaniṉ tṟāriḷaṅ kōyilē

    10. 10

      கடுக்கண் டன்கயி லாய மலைதனைஎடுக்க லுற்ற இராவணன் ஈடறவிடுக்க ணின்றி வெகுண்டவன் மீயச்சூர்இடுக்கண் தீர்க்கநின் றாரிளங் கோயிலே

      The last verse speaks of Ravanan, who tried to lift Mount Kailash, and says the lord of the Ilam temple at Thirumiyachur removes distress.

      Kaṭukkaṇ ṭaṉkayi lāya malaithaṉai / eṭukka lutṟa irāvaṇaṉ īṭaṟa / viṭukka ṇiṉtṟi vekuṇṭavaṉ mīyachchūr / iṭukkaṇ thīrkkaniṉ tṟāriḷaṅ kōyilē

    Photos

    Photographs

    12 photographs, in the order they appear in the write-up. Captions are AI-assisted.

    Brightly painted shrine domes with white bull statues, and a tiered tower rising in the background
    Front view of the tall, tiered and brightly painted Rajagopuram above the gateway, with shops on both sides
    A courtyard view with a tall flagstaff under a blue canopy, and a painted gopuram rising on the right
    Stone doorway with a blue Tamil name board, lit lamps inside, and a small Vinayakar idol on each side
    A dark doorway with a blue Tamil name board and small lamps, between stone pillars and a yellow wall
    Garlanded stone idol of a standing god in white cloth, with a smaller figure in red silk at his side
    A dark shrine opening with a blue Tamil name board; a small idol in a red and gold sari is faintly seen inside
    A stone shrine with a small doorway, topped by a colourful dome with white bull statues, in the courtyard
    Brightly painted shrine domes with white bull statues, and a tiered tower rising in the background
    Several painted shrine domes with white bulls above stone bases, around a paved courtyard; a man walks at right
    Painted domes with white bulls above a stone wall; more shrines and an arched roof stand further along
    A paved courtyard between stone walls, with shrines topped by painted domes under a clear blue sky