Mullaivananathar Temple / திருமுல்லைவாசல் முல்லைவன நாதர் கோயில் / அருள்மிகு அணிகொண்ட கோதையம்மை சமேத முல்லைவன நாதர் திருக்கோயில், திருமுல்லைவாசல்., Thirumullaivasal ( Then Thirumullaivasal ), Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 61^st Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 7^th sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri. This place is now called Then  Thirumullaivasal, since there is also another Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam near Chennai with the same name to differentiate,  this temple is called Then Thirumullaivasal, and the temple near Chennai is called Vada Thirumullaivayil. Then Thirumullaivasal is on the seashore. Also, it is believed that this is one of the Pancha Vana Temples and the others are Chidambaram, Chayavanam, Pallavanecharam, and Thiruvenkadu.

As per Sekkizhar Thirugnanasambandar after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvenkadu, came to this temple. After worshiping Lord Shiva Sri Yuthika Parameswarar / Sri Mullaivaneswarar, He went to Sirkazhi after visiting Shiva Temples on the way.

அருமையாலோ பறம்பு போந்து  வணங்கி அங்கு அமரும் நாளில்

திருமுல்லைவாயில் எய்திச் செந்தமிழ் மாலைச் சாத்தி

மருவிய பதிகள் மற்றும் வணங்குவார் மறையோர் ஏத்தத்

தருமலி புகலி வந்து ஞானசம்பந்தர் சேர்ந்தார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. This temple also has the sthala purana, which was written by Vadugunatha Desikar.

நெஞ்சார நீடு நினைவாரை மூடு வினைதேய நின்ற நிமலன்

அஞ்சாடு சென்னி அரவாடு கையன் அனலாடு மேனியரனூர்

மஞ்சாரு மாட மனைதோறு மைய முளதென்றுவைகி வரினுஞ்

செஞ்சாலி நில்லின் வளர் சோறளிக்கொ டிருமுல்லை வாயிலிதுவே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                -“கயேந்திரனைக்

காயலுறாதன்று வந்து காத்தோன் புகழ்முல்லை

வாயிலினோங்கு மணி விளக்கே”

........திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Yuthika Parameswarar, Sri Mullaivaneswarar,

                  Sri  Mullaivananathar.

Consort    : Sri Sathyanantha Soundri, Sri Kothaiammai.

                  Sri Anikonda Kothai.

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

The temple faces east with an entrance arch with a stucco image of Shiva and Parvati. The temple tank is on the side of the temple. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and Rishabam are after the entrance arch. Moolavar is a little big swayambhu  with two cut marks. Stucco Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum. In koshtam only Dakshinamurthy. Mandapam is of flat stone slabs roof. ( Very cool in the evening hours )

In praharam Single slab stone bas reliefs- of sthala Purana (The king’s sword hits Lord Shiva and the King tries to cut his head and Lord Shiva blesses the King in three stages). Nalvar, Bhairavar, Mahalakshmi, Navagrahas, Chandran, Suryan. Also sannadhi for Vinayagar, Lingas, Pichadanar, Thirugnanasambandar. Sthala Vruksham Mullai on the Kiluvai Tree/maram, Karpaga Vinayagar, Maha Vishnu, Kshethra Lingam, Balasubramaniar, Mahalakshmi. .

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar sang hymns on Lord Shiva of this temple, the temple might have existed before the 7^th Century. The Temple might have been reconstructed during the Chozha period and extended during the Marathas Period.   

This temple is under the administration of Dharmapura Adheenam. The last Kumbhabhishekam was done on 07^th Sep 1989.

LEGEND: 

It was believed that Ma Parvati wanted to learn the meaning of the Panchatcharam mantra “Namasivaya – Na-ma-Shi-Va-Ya”. She came to this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Pleased by her devotion Lord Shiva taught the meaning of the Panchatcharam mantra “Namasivaya”. Hence there is no “Palliayarai” and the pooja associated with that at night. Since Lord Shiva taught the Panchatcharam mantra, many students worship Lord Shiva to excel in education. It is further believed that those who chant the Panchatcharam mantra on Eclipse days (solar and lunar) and Amavasya - (New moon days) will be blessed with prosperity and happiness and get relief from birth and death.

  

Sri Shiva is Teaching the meaning of the Panchatchara mantra

In one legend The Chozha King Killivalavan, the grandfather of Karikal Valavan was affected by a skin disease. As advised he took a bath, then the theertham of the temple and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. He was cured of the skin disease.  

It is believed that Indra, King Yudhishthra ( Dharmar ), Karkodakan the Serpent, and Chandran worshipped Shiva to get relief from the curse.

The Chozha King Killivalavan came to bathe in the sea. When he passes through this place, his horse’s feet are struck up with the mullai flower creeper. The King tried to release the horse’s leg, by cutting the creepers through his sword. The sword hit a place, where blood was oozed out. Frightened the King cleared the mullai creepers and found  Shiva Lingam. The king prayed to Shiva and constructed a temple on the place itself. 

Sthala Purana - The King's sword hits Lord Shiva - King tries to cut his head - Lord Shiva appears and blesses the King  - the bas-relief is in three stages 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, maha Shivaratri, Masi magam theerthavari festival (for the same Urchavars of Lord Shiva and Parvati, took to the beach in procession), Vinayagar Chathurthi  and Thai poosam. Devotees carry 108 kavadi to this temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The Mobile number +91 94865 24626 may be contacted for further details.  

HOW TO REACH: 

Both Private and Govt town buses (Sirkazhi to Alakudi via Thirumullaivasal and Sirkazhi to Thirumullaivasal) are available from the Sirkazhi town bus stand ( old bus stand).

The temple is 17 KM from Sirkazhi, 33 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 33 KM from Chidambaram, and 250 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Sirkazhi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

The sthala vruksham Mullai creeper

Gnana Dakshinamurthy

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---