Marundeeswarar Temple / Idaiyattrunathar Temple / Sri Marudeeswarar Temple / Sri Marudheesar Temple Temple / T. Edaiyar Shiva Temple, Thiru Idaiyaru / T. Edayar, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The place referred to in Thevara hymns as Idayaru, is now called T. Edayar. This place T. Edayar is on the banks of Then Pennai River. There are many places of the same name to distinguish, the Local block Thiruvennainallur Edayar ie T. Edayar. This is the 45^th  Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 13^th  Sthalam of Nadu Naadu. Even though we could get Sundarar’s hymn on this temple, Sekkizhar did not mention Sundarar’s visit in his Periya Puranam.

Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. In each song of the pathigam/ hymn, he mentions all the other temples where he worshiped Lord Shiva and ends this temple’s name. Vallalar also mentions praise in his Thiru arutpa.

    முந்தை யூர்முது குன்றம் குரங்கணின் முட்டம்

    சிந்தை யூர்நன்று சென்றடை வான்திரு வாரூர்

    பந்தை யூர்பழை யாறு பழனம்பஞ் ஞீலி

    எந்தை யூர்எய்த மானிடை யாறிடை மருதே

..... சுந்தரர் தேவாரம்

                                                “தாவாக்

    கடையாற்றின் அன்பர்தமைக் கல்லாற்றினீக்கும்

    இடையாற்றின் வாழ் நல் இயல்பே”

.. திருவருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Marundeeswarar,  Sri Idaiyattrunathar

Consort    : Sri Ganambigai, Sri Sitridai Nayagi.

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

The temple faces west with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Only balipeedam without dwajasthambam and Rishaba mandapam without Rishabam. Dakshinamurthy and Durgai are in the koshtam. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing east. It is believed that Lord Shiva and Ambal are in Kalyana Kolam since they are facing each other.

In prakaram Balamrutha Vinayagar, Murugan as Shanmugar with Sri Valli Devasena (Lord Murugan as a Shanmugar is also called “Kaliyuga Rama Pillaiyar”), Chandikeswarar, Agastheeswara Lingam, Navagrahas, Saptamatrikas, Saint Maraignanasambandar. Sukha Brahma Maharishi is in a separate sannadhi at the entrance.  The sthala vruksham associated with Sukha Maharishi’s legend, the “Marutha” tree is in the outer praharam.

A small sannathi of Sukhar is also there in this temple. (In my earlier post we had seen the Sukhavaneswarar temple at Salem. The statue is very similar to this with a parrot face).  

Sun rays fall on moolavar 15^th and 16^th of the Tamil month Masi ( Feb – March) and believed that Surya worshiped Lord Shiva.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, ardhamandapam and a mukha mandapam. the Adhistanam is simple pada bandha adhistanam with 3 patta kumudam. The prastaram is with Valapi, Kapotam and Viyyalavari. An eka thala Vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.

 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple was existed before the 7^th Century and reconstructed by Chozhas, Pandyas, Vijayanagaras and Chalukyas. This place was under Rajararaja Valanattu, Thirumunaipadi  Idayatru Nattu Idayaru, and Lord Shiva was called Thirumaruthanthurai Udaya Nayanar.

The inscriptions belong to Chozha kings Kulothunga Chozha and Rajendra Chozha, Pandya Kings Jadavarman Sundara Pandyan, Maravarman Vikrama Pandyan, Maravarman Veera Pandyan, Vijayanagara Kings Achuthadevamaharaya, Sadhasiva Maharaya, Ramadevamaharayar and Chaluva Kins Narasinga Devamaharayar.

Veera Pandya’s 23rd-year reign inscription records the donation of “Pallavarayan Enthal” which must be an eri / water source like a reservoir.

The Maravarman Vikrama Pandyan’s inscription records that the Sivathaneeswaram Udayar shrine was established by Anumaluzhan Velan Vilanattaraiyan of Thirumaruthanthurai Udayan and donations were also made for worship.

Thiribhuvana Chakravarthi Konerimai Kondan period inscription records that an order was passed by the King to give some of the Taxes Collected to Kaliyuga Rama Pillaiyar (Lord Murugan’s daily worship. This shrine was established by Anumaluzhan Kongarayan.

Vijayanagara King Bukka Rayan-II’s son Veera Bhoopathy inscription saka 1337 ie 1415 CE, re-establishment of poojas, which was discontinued for 4 years.    

The temple was demolished by Orissa King Gajapathy in 1461 CE, then after 10 years the same was reconstructed by Chaluva King Narasimha Maharayar’s representative. As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called Marundurai Udaya Nayanar.  

As per the inscriptions, Vinayagar is called “Marutha Ganapathy” and “Polla Pillayar”.

LEGENDS

Maharishi Sukha believed that he could change into any form. Once he took the form of a parrot and flew to Mount Kailash. He saw Lord Shiva was imparting the knowledge of “Shiva Gnanam” to Goddess Parvati. Curious to know the Sivagnanam flew and sat near them. Knowing this Ma Parvati cursed Sukha Maharishi to be born on earth. Sage Sukhar begged Lord Shiva to pardon him. Lord Shiva told him that he would be born to Sage Veda Vyasa and would live in Thirumaruthanthurai (Idayaru) as a human body but with a Sukha ( Parrot in Sanskrit) face. Further advised him to do penance and worship him to absolve his sin. Lord Shiva on Swati Nakshatra day gave darshan and taught him astrology.

Maharishi Sukha is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama. He was blessed with Lord Rama’s darshan, at Yoga Ramar Temple at Nedungunam. He also worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. It is also believed that Brahma, Saptamatrikas, and Sundarar Marai Gnanasambandar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

This is the birthplace of Marai Gnana Sambandar, one of the four Santhana kuravars. He was blessed by Polla Pillaiyar and moved to Pennadam where he joined with Marai Ganana Sambandar another santhana kuravar. Since both are Ganasambandar, differentiate Maruthai Marai Gnanasambandar and Kadanthai Marai Gnanasambandar (Maruthai for Edayar and Kadanthai for Pennadam). Sage Agasthiyar also installed Shiva Linga and worshiped. Hence the Shiva Linga is called Agastheeswarar.   

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Aatru Thiruvizha in Thai month (Jan – Feb).

CONTACT DETAILS : 

Telephone and mobile numbers are - + 91 4146 216 045 / 206515 and +91 94424 23919. Priest and trustee Gnanaskantha Gurukkal +91 98847 77078

HOW TO REACH :

The bus from Villupuram to Thirukoilure via Thiruvennainallur passes through Idayar and the temple is on the south side of the road which can be located very easily. 

The temple is 5.6 km from Thiruvennainallur, 17.5 km from Thirukovilur, 21 km from Villupuram, 52 km from Thiruvannamalai, and 187 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Junction is Villupuram

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---