Sri Prananatheswarar Temple / Praananatheswarar Temple /பிராண நாதேஸ்வரர் கோயில், திருமங்கலக்குடி, Thirumangalakudi, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 92^nd Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 38^th Sthalam on the north side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This temple is physically ( about is about a KM distance ) and mythologically closely connected with Suriyanar Koil.

In PeriyaPuranam Sekkizhar mentions that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lords Shiva of Kanjanur and Thirumanthurai.

கஞ்சனூர் ஆண்ட தம் கோவைக்

        கண்ணுற்று இறைஞ்சி முன்போந்து

மஞ்சுஅணி மாமதில் சூழும்

        மாந்துறை வந்து வணங்கி

அம்சொல் தமிழ்மாலை சாத்தி

        அங்கு அகன்று அன்பர்முன் ஆகச்

செம்சடை வேதியர் மன்னும்

        திருமங்கலக்குடி சேர்ந்தார்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

சீரினார்மணியும் அகில்சந்தும் செறிவரை

வாரிநீர் வருபொன்னி வடமங்கலக்குடி

நீரின் மாமுனிவர் நெடுங்கை கொடுநீர்தனைப்

பூரித்து ஆட்டிஅர்ச்சிக்க இருந்த புராணனே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் தேவாரம்

செல்வ மல்கு திருமங்கலக்குடி

செல்வ மல்குசிவ நியமத்தராய்ச்

செல்வமல்கு செழுமறையோர் தொழ

செல்வன் தேவியொடும் திகழ்கோயிலே

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                    --“ஓடிக்

கருமங்கலக்குடியிற் காண்டு மெனவோதுந்

திருமங்கலக் குடியிற்றேனே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Prananantheswarar

Consort    : Sri Mangalanayagi

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

The temple faces east with the 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Rishabam and Dwajasthambam are in the mukha mandapam. Stucco Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the ardha mandapam. Moolavar is of swayambhu, a little taller. Urchavars are Chandrasekar, Somas Kandar, Mayil Vahanan ( Murugan ), Nalvar, Pradosha Nayagar. In koshtam, Dakshinamurthy, Ardhanareeswarar, Rishabaroodar, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Kaveri Amman, and Durgai.

In prakaram 11 Shiva Lingas, Vinayagar, Arumugam, Stucco Gajalakshmi, Bhairavar, Two Natarajars, Haridathathar, Meikandar, Chandikeswarar,  Visalakshi, Bairavar, Suriyan, and Chandran. 

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing South. Ambal Mangalanayagi is in standing posture with abhaya varda hastam. 

63 Nayanmar's story was painted on the Praharam ceiling during the Nayaka period. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original brick temple was built during the Pallava period and the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha Period and further extended during the Vijayanagara Period.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Chozha Kings Tiribhuvana Chakravarthi Rajaraja, Tiribhuvana Chakravarthi Konerimai Kondan, Pallava King Koperunchingan and Vijayanagara King Veera Prathapa Krishnadeva Maharayar. 

As per the inscriptions, this place is called Virutharajabayanga Valanattu Manninattu Thirumangalakudi, Virutharaja Bayangaravalanattu Vempatrur alias Ethirili Chozha Chathurvedi Mangalathu Mangalakudi and Lord Shiva was called as Thirumangalakudi Udayar Prananayanar Koil.

Sakalabhuvana Chakravarthikal Avanialapiranthan Koperunchinga’s 25th-year reign inscription records that Alapiratheeswaramudayar was installed at the Nayagar mandapam by Pandyakulanasini vala nattu Arkattu kootrathu Perumangalamudayan Arayan Udhyanseythan alias Thondaiman. For the same 512 Kuli land was purchased and gifted to this temple as Thirunamaththukkani.

Rajaraja’s 24th-year reign inscription records that there was drought prevailing in that region and the temple’s properties were looted. The Looters were identified and punishment was pronounced by the judges after inquiry.

Sungam Thavirtha Chozha Kulothunga Chozha’s 16th-year reign inscription records that he imposed taxes on this temple. The lands are measured and taxes are levied on that basis 

The Vijayanagara King Krishnadevaraya’s period Saka 1439 ie 1517 CE Inscription records the abolition of the taxes to this Temple properties.

As per the inscription it was confirmed that the person in Anjali hastha standing in Dakshinamurthy sannidhi is Mullaikudayan Thyagaraja Perumal alias Vanavan Pallavarayan.

Ref:

South Indian Inscriptions Volume -XII

Thanjavur District Inscriptions 

The Chozha King 

LEGENDS

As per the legend, During Kulothungan-I’s period, a minister Alaivannar built this temple using the money collected as tax without the knowledge of the king. King ordered to behead him / shear his head and the body was brought to this village  ( as per his wish – to be buried in this place ). The minister’s wife prayed to Ambal Mangalambigai to save her mangalyam. When the body was brought to this place, the minister came alive by the blessings of Ambal. Hence Ambal saved the Mangala Sutra of the Minister Ambal is called Mangalambigai and Lord Shiva is called Prananatheswarar. ( Pranan – Life in Tamil ). Local people say this legend, in the local language as

“பிராணன் தந்த பிராணவரதேஸ்வரர்

மாங்கல்யம் தந்த மங்கலாம்பிகை”

It is believed that by worshiping Ambal of this temple, the obstacles in the marriage will be removed, Mangalya life will be extended, life will be extended, etc. Hence this is a Mangalaya dosha nivarthi sthalam. Those suffering from chronic deceases will get relieved after consuming the curd rice offered to Lord Shiva as naivedyam on the sthala viruksha leaf ( Vellerukku ). Pitru saba/ curse and sins from the previous births will be relieved after doing abhishekam and pooja to Agasthiyar Lingam.

As per Sthala Purana, Kali, Mahavishnu, Suryan, Brahma, and Agasthiyar came to this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. This was recorded by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal in his hymns as

மங்கலக்குடி ஈசனை மாகாளி

வெங்க திர்ச் செல்வன் விண்ணொடு மன்னும் நேர்

சங்கு சக்கர தாரி சதுர்முகன்

அங்க கத்திய னும்அர்ச் சித்தார் அன்றே

Sri Kali, Suryan, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Agasthiyar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.  This is a - Pancha Mangala Kshethra which has the  Mangala Vimanam, Mangala Vinayagar, Mangalambigai, Mangala theertham, and Mangalakudi.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on 10 days Panguni Uthiram Brahmotsavam festival in Panguni with Thiru Kalyana Urchavam on the second day of the month Panguni ( March – April ), Aani Thirumanjanam in the month Aani ( June – July ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( July – August ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sep-Oct), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Aadi Perukku the 18^th day of Tamil month Aadi ( July – Aug ), Maha Shivaratri in Masi ( Feb – March ), on Ashtami days to Bhairavar, monthly Sankatahara Chaturthi and Pradosham.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.30 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The landline number is +91 435 247 0480 and the mobile number is +919791481880, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

This place Thirumangalakudi is on the bus route Kumbakonam – Kathiramangalam – Mayiladuthurai. Can be reached from Thiruppanandal also.

This temple is about 1.5 KM from Suryanar Koil, 8 KM from Thiruppanandal, 14 KM from Kumbakonam, 23 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 54 KM from Thanjavur, 63 KM from Chidambaram and 271 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Shanka Nidhi and Padma Nidhi at Rajagopuram entrance

Painting on the praharam Ceiling - Anaya Nayanar

 Painting on the praharam Ceiling - Kannappa Nayanar

 Stucco Gajalakshmi

 Durga

 Kaveri

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---