Edaganathar Temple / Yedaga Natha Swami Temple / Edaganatheswarar Temple / ஏடகநாதேஸ்வரர் கோவில். Thiruvedagam, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 248^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 4^th Sthalam of Pandya Nadu. This place Thiruvedagam is on the banks of river Vaigai. The river flows from North to south at this place. 

  

As per Sekkizhar in Periya Purana, he narrates the punal vatham did by Thirugnanasambandar with Tamil Jains ( Samanars. When the palm leaf went against the Vaigai river at a faster rate, than air wind and Kulachiraiyar went fast on the horse to pick up the leaf. Sambandar sung this hymns to stop and float on the river. This is the place where the palm leaf landed  on the river bank.

    ஆற்றின்மேல் செல்லும் ஏடு தொடர்ந்து எடுப்பதற்கு வேண்டிக்

    காற்றி என விசையின் செல்லும் கடும்பரி ஏறிக் கொண்டு

    கோல் தொழில் திருத்த வல்ல குலச்சிறையார் பின் சென்றார்

    ஏற்றுஉயர் கொடியினாரைப் பாடினார் ஏடு தங்க

    ஏடகம் பிள்ளையார் தாம் வன்னி என்று எடுத்துப் பாடக்

    கூடிய நீரில் ஏடு குலச்சிறையாரும் கூடிக்

    காடுஇடம் ஆக ஆடும் கண்ணுதல் கோயில் மாட்

    நீடுநீர் நடுவுள் புக்கு நின்ற ஏடு எடுத்துக் கொண்டார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

    வன்னியும்  மத்தமும் மதிபொதி சடையினன்

    பொன்னியல் திருவடி புதுமலர் அவைகொடு

    மன்னிய மறையவர் வழிபட அடியவர்

    இன்னிசை பாடலர் ஏடகத்து ஒருவனே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                        -“வானவர்கோன்

    தேமேடகத்த னொடுசீதரனும் வாழ்த்துஞ்சீர்

    ஆமே டகத்தறி வானந்தமே

......திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Edakanathar / Yedaga Natheswarar

Consort    : Sri Elavarkuzhali, Sukuntha Kunthalambigai

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with 5 tier Rajagopuram separately for  Lord Shiva and Ambal. In Kambathadi mandapam, Balipedam and Dwajasthambam ( They are not in horizontal line, but at an elevated level to match the sanctum level of 9 steps). Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of the shrine. Moolavar Edakanathar is of Shiva Lingam is of swayambu in a Sanctum sanctorum with beautiful architecture. The Dwarapalakas are big and beautiful and installed in front of the sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar and Durgai.

In Prakaram 63var, Urchavars ( Edaka Nathar, Elavar Kuzhali Amman, Vinayagar, Arumuga Swamy, Somaskandar, Thirugnanasambandar ), Irattai Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Nagalakshmi, Durgai, Sakthi Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar, Pancha Lingas, Saptamatrikas, Navagrahas, Vallaba Ganapathy, Sastha, Chandran & Suryan with their consorts, Karthikai, Bhairavar,  Natarajar Sabha ( Natarajar in stone and Cheppu murtis ).

Ambal  is in a separate Temple  with a separate Rajagopram. Dwarapalakas instead of Dwarapalakis are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum, which is unusual. Thirugnanasambandar’s relief with out thalam is on the mandapam pillar. In Koshtam Sakthis, icha, Kiriya etc.

In prakaram Vinayagar and Palliyarai. Rishabam is on and elevated level to match Ambal sanctum of 7 steps. The bell tower is in-front of Amman temple and it was told that the was imported from Malaysia ( is not available now ).

There is a shrine of Thirugnanasambandar on the main road facing east.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple may be existed before 6^th Century and renovated / extended  during Pandyas and Vijayanagara Nayak’s period.

There are 14 inscriptions recorded  Under Annual Report of South Indian Epigraphy 1905 from 677 to 689. These inscriptions belongs to Maravarman’s son Sundara Pandyan, Sadayavarman also called as Parakrama Pandyan, Jadavarman also called as Vikrama Pandyan, Jadavarman Sri Vallaba devan and Krishna Devarayar ( 1448). Sri Vallabadevan’s inscription this place belongs to Pakanoor Kootram.   As per the inscriptions this place was called as Pakanur Kottathu Thiruvedagam and Lord Shiva is called as Thiruvedakamudaya Nayanar

The inscriptions records that Maravarman Sundara Pandyan conquered Chozha  country and Coronation ( Vijayabhishekam and veerabhishekam – விஜயாபிசேகம் & வீராபிசேகம் ) was held at  Mudikonda Chozhapuram. Also he assumed the titles of Chozha nadu vazhangiya Sundara Pandyan and Konerimaikondan.

Sundara Pandyan period inscription records the endowment of feeding 20 thabasis  of Thirugnanasambandar Thirumadam  for which a land was gifted.

Krishna Devarayar period inscription records that a land was donated to this temple by Pachchai Peruml Pachchai Kandiya devar.

LEGENDS

Brahma, Maha Vishnu, Garudan, Viyasar, Parasarar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

Thirugnanasambandar came to Madurai, when Koon Pandyan was ruling.  The Jainisam was on the peak with the support of the King. Jain monks were afraid of Sambandar and his camp was set fire. Thirugnanasambandar sung the hymn in which he mentions that fire should go slowly and attack the king. Due to this the king was affected by the burning small pox boils. Jain monks tried their best but couldn’t cured the small pox. When Thirugnanasambandar was called, he asked to bring the ashes from Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple’s kitchen. The ash as Vibhuthi was applied all over the body of the king and immediately the small pox boils vanished. The Pandya King realised the power of Lord Shiva and started his yathra to some temples along with Thirugnanasambandar.

Since  Samanar ( Tamil Jains ) challenged Sambandar to 'anal vadham' (hot dispute)  at Thirunallaru where he wrote  pachai pathikam. The Samanar ( Jains ) were defeated by Sambandar in the anal vadham and they came down to this temple for punal vadham. The Samanars wrote 'Athi Naathi' on a Palmyra leaf and floated on the river Vaigai. As per Sekkizhar, Sambandar wrote in Tamil as...

   `அவரும் விரைசூழ் பொழில்காழிஉன் ஆதிஞானம்

    மலரும் திருவாக்குடை வள்ளலார் உள்ள வண்ணம்

    பலரும் உணர்ந்து உய்யப் பகர்ந்து வரைந்து யாற்றில்

    நிலவும் திருஏடு திருக்கையால் நீட்டி இட்டார்”

and floated it down the Vaigai. The palm leaf that Sambandar floated against the course of river and reached the bank on the other side where there lies an idol of Lord Ganesha who is known as "vaathu venra Vinayagar" .

Sambandar was feeling happy  and called this place as 'Edu Senranai Tharum Edagam' which came to be known as Thiruvedagam. The Palmyra leaf which the Samanars left was swept away by the river and reached 'Thirupasethi' ( thiru + pa + serthal) later to be known as Thirupachetty.

Sundarar didn't came to the temple, but worshiped from a boat in the Vaigai River, he don’t want step in to temple, since Thirugnanasambandar visit made the temple as holy temple.

 

Thirugnanasambandar Sannadhi

Thirugnanasambandar

The Vaigai river bank where the palm leaf / edu landed 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Chithirai Thiruvizha, Avani 1^st day Edu eriya vizha on Avani avittam star day which combines with full moon, Kandar Sashti, Navaratri, Adipooram, Masi Maha kadalaattu & Float festival, Panguni Uthiram, Karthikai somavaram 108 Sangabhishekam, Karthikai Deepam, Arudra Darishanam.

Once in a year on Vijaya Dhasami day Urchavar is taken to near by village called Thachampattu for dhasara celebration.

On Maha Shivaratri day 4^th kala pooja ( Night ) will be dedicated for Bhairava like Kasi.  

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple is kept open between 06.30 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The Archakar may be contacted on his mobile  number +91 4543 259311 for further detail.

Mobile No : 99432 61487

E-Mail: edaganaathaswami@gmail.com

Web site : http://thiruvedagamedaganaathar.tinfo.in/

HOW TO REACH :

Thiruvedagam is on the way to Sholavandan from Madurai.

Town bus Route numbers are 68A, 54R and 29A from Periyar Bus stand, 93 A from Mattuthavani, 28 A and 93 from Anna Bus stand.

Thiruvedagam is 5 KM from Sholavandan, 20 KM from Madurai, 25 KM from Thirumangalam, 47 KM from Dindigul, 145 KM from Trichy and 480 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Madurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Ambal Sannadhi

Road side entrance arch

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---