Sri Mangalanathar, Maragatha Natarajar Temple at Uthirakosamangai / Utrakosamangai Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu.

... a continuation post ( Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram )

 10^th January 2017.

After darshan of Sri Ramanathaswamy at Rameswaram, boarded a bus to Ramanathapuram from there went to Uthirakosamangai. 2 of my office friends and family also joined me to Uthirakosamangai.  It was learned that the sandalwood paste will be removed throughout the day on 10^th January 2017  and abhishekam will be done during early hours of 11^th January 2017. Sandalwood paste will be applied immediately after the abhishekam.

The temple towers of Moolavar and Ambal welcomed us from a long distance.  After the darshan of Sri Mangalanayagi samedha Sri Mangaleswaran, joined in the Rs 10, ‘Q’ for the darshan. There were three Qs collected @ Rs 10 & 100 and a separate ‘Q’ for the free darshan. The crowd was a little smaller in the free darshan Q. So, the second time had the darshan through the free darshan Q also. Police pushed everyone not to stand before the sanctum for more than a second.

Manickavasagar has sung hymns on Shiva of this Uthirakosamangai Temple in his Thiruvasagam. Also, Manickavasagar says that Shiva belongs to Pandiya Nadu, Uthirakosamangai. 

சீரார் பவளங்கால் முத்தங் கயிறாக

ஏராரும் பொற்பலகை ஏறி இனிதமர்ந்து

நாரா யணன் அறியா நாண்மலர்த்தாள் நாயடியேற்கு

ஊராகத் தந்தருளும் உத்தர கோசமங்கை

ஆரா அமுதின் அருள்தா ளிணைப்பாடிப்

போரார்வேற் கண்மடவீர் பொன்னூசல் ஆடாமோ. ⁠

பாண்டி நாடே பழம் பதி ஆகவும் பத்திசெய் அடியரைப் 

பரம் பரத்து உய்ப்பவன்உத்திர கோச மங்கை ஊர் ஆகவும் ….

தாதாடும் பூஞ்சோலைத் த்த்தாய் நமைஆளும்

மாதாடு பாகத்தன் வாழ் பதி என் – கோதாட்டி

பத்தர் எலம் பார்மேல் சிவபுரம்போற் கொண்டாடும் 

உத்தர கோச மங்கை ஊர்..

குதிரைச் சேவக னாகிய கொள்கையும்

ஆங்கது தன்னில் அடியவட் காகப்

பாங்காய் மண்சுமந் தருளிய பரிசும்

உத்தர கோச மங்கையு ளிருந்து 

வித்தக வேடங் காட்டிய இயல்பும்..... .. 

Moolavar    : Sri Mangalanathar

Consort      : Sri Mangala Nayaki

Some of the important features of this temple are...

The temple faces east with a 7-tier Rajagopuram. At the entrance of Rajagopuram Murugan and Vinayagar sannidhis are interchanged. After the main Rajagopuram, there is another Rajagopuram of 5 tiers in the second stage. Between the two,  Nagars with Vinayagar under a Bodhi tree. In the front mandapam balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam/Idabam. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Durgai. There is no Brahma Statue.

In one of the pillars of the front mandapam Ramanatha Sethupathi’s statue. Dwarapalakas are in front of the sanctum.  In the front mandapam of Sri Mangalanathan, there are 12 Balipeedams on a single stone (What for? The reason is not known) and on the right Chandikeswarar Not on the outside).

In the outer praharam sannadhi for 63var, Saptamatrikas, Rishabarooder, Kannimoola Ganapathi, Lingas with their concerts ( Paramasivan, Kasthuri Lingam, Kaviraja Lingam, Chandrakantha Lingam, Somanatha Lingam, Rajagopala Lingam, Sankara Lingam ), Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Shethrabalar, Bhairavar, Chandran, Nandhiyam Peruman and Surya.

Amman is in s separate temple with a 5-tier Rajagopuram at the first stage and a mini Rajagopuram at the second stage facing east.

Sahasra Linga with sthala vruksham – Jujibi tree-  are in a separate Temple. Maragatha Natarajar and a Shiva shrine are on the same premises. There is a separate Sannidhi for Manickavasagar.

Manickavasagar ( PC - Ananth )

Believed to be a Pallava period Squatting Lion Pillar ( PC Web site )

HISTORY 

The temple is under the control of Ramanathapuram Samasthanam and first preference is given to them. This temple is also called Adhi Chidambaram, due to the presence of Maragatha Natarajar. The original temple has existed since the Sangam age and received contributions from Pallavas, Pandyas, etc. 

Apart from Tamil Inscriptions, some Urudu language inscriptions are also found in this temple. The Urdu inscriptions record the donations made to Islam Pallis, the Islamic kings. The inscriptions are recorded on Avanam 11 - 2000, 24, Utharakosamangai 24-1,2 & 3, Avanam -7, 1996, 41, Utharakosamangai Thiruvasi Kalvettu. 

The 1433 Veera Pandyan's 3rd reign year ( 2+1 ) inscription records the gift of land with ponds, wells, trees, etc, to this temple by Narayana Sarman Veerapandya Thevan of Brahmadeyam Marungur alias Panditha Chozha Chaturvedi Mangalam in Muthoor Kootram. 

The 1471CE inscription without the King's name records abhishekam on Karthigai 25th day to Chembi Nattu Brahmadesam Thiruuthirakosamangai Udayar Marai Mangai Perumal Nayanar by Nanchal Udayan Poovandan Sethirayan of Thirukanapair Kootram.

The 1503 CE year inscription without the King's name records the endowment of Maha Shivaratri Pooja by Sri Rudra Sr Maheswrarom Pavur nattu Vendru Mudichoodiya Sundara Pandyapurathu Puliyurudayan, for the same 303 panam was deposited in the treasury. The inscription gives the details of 4 sandhi poojas, the amount of naivedyam, quantity, and Type of Naivedyam to be offered are clearly inscribed. 

There is a Yazhi mukha Thiruvasi on the back side of Rishabam. This Yazhi mukha thiruvasi was made with a provision of lighting 230 old lamps. The 1924 year  (Salivahana Sahaptham 1845) inscription records that the Thiruvasi was made by Veeraputhira Asari and the Thiruvasi weighs 842.3/4 ser, as per instruction of a Muslim Sayubu, a manager called Ismayil.  This was recorded in the Avanam -7. The inscription reads as,…..

1. சாலிவாஹன சகாப்தம் 1845 சரியான குரோதி வருஷம் ஆவணி மாதம்
2. 27 உ சோமவாரமும் கிருஷ்ணபக்ஷத்து துவாதெசியும் பூச நச்த்திரமும்
3. வரிக நாழி யோகமும் கவுல பால்கரணம் கூடிய சுபதினத்தில்
4. திருவுத்தரகோசமங்கை ஸ்ரீ மங்களேசுவரியம்மன் சன்னதிக்கு மதுரை
5. இலிருக்கும் மகாராசராச மகி சையது யிசுமாயில் சாய்பு அவர்கள் மானேஜர் அதிகாரத்தில் மேற்படி கோவில் அமிஷத்திலிருந்து செய்து வை
6. த்த 230 விளக்குள்ள வெங்கல யாழிமுகத் திருவாச்சி
7. க்கு சேர்
8. 842 3/4
9. சில்ப்பம் வீரபுத்திர ஆசா
10. ரி ஸ்வஹஸ்த லிகிதம்.

PC - Abi Shek

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Mandodari married  Ravanan with the blessings of Lord Shiva of this temple. In the process, Manickavasagar saved the Vedas from the fire of Lord Shiva and hence Manickavasagar is in the form of Lingam in this temple.

There is a legend behind the Maragatha Natarajar. There was a fisherman called Marakayar. One day while fishing, his boat drifted and hit a rock due to the cyclonic storm. The Rock broke into three pieces and fell into his boat. Immediately the storm stopped and rain also stopped. After getting up from shock, and praying to Sri Mangalanathar, somehow The Marakayar reached Mandapam. Without knowing the value of the rock he laid it as a stepping stone in front of his house. Due to wear,  the stone changed to its original color of green and glittering in the sunlight. He thought of giving the stone to the king, assuming that the King would give him some money, which he would recover from poverty. The king with the help of experts came to know the stone was a Maragatha Stone. The Fisherman Marakayar was rewarded.  

The King decided to make a Natarajar out of this Maragatha stone. He understood that a sculptor of Kayavagu -I, of Srilanka can make Natarajar. On seeing the rock the sculptor fainted and refused to make it. When the king was praying to Mangalanathar, the Siddhar Shanmuga Vadivelar came forward to make the Natarajar and he did the same. Later a temple was built for this Natarajar. The Natarajar will be always with Santhana Kappu and on Arudra darshan day only the abhishekam will be done.  ( It is believed that The Natarajar belongs to the 2nd Century, based on Kayavagu-I, war On Chozhas ).

Interestingly it was noted that Thalampoo is offered to Shiva of this temple.

Maragatha Natarajar Darshan

PC Website

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be opened between 07.00 Hrs to 11.30 Hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The Uthirakosamangai is a small Village about 17 KM from Ramanathapuram.

Town buses are available from the new bus stand up to Uthirakosamangai and special buses are operated during important function days.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:  CLICK HERE

 

PC Rajavel

SRI VARAHI AMMAN & MAKALI AMMAN, UTHIRAKOSAMANGAI / Utrakosamangai. 

These two temples are on the banks of the temple pond. As per the local Sri Varahi Amman is very powerful and Makali Amman is a Village deity. Both are in the same complex. The Poojas are conducted by the non Brahmins and turmeric paste is being offered as prasad. At the entrance of the Rajagopuram on the left there are two statues, Iyyanar and Kali in a tiled roof shed.  

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

... to be Continued ( Thirupullani )

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---