Maanturai Amravaneswarar Temple / Sri Aamra Vaneswarar Temple / Thiru Mandurai Shiva Temple / ஸ்ரீ ஆம்ரவனேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், திருமாந்துறை / Mandurai, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 112^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 58^th Sthalam on the northern side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. During ancient times this place was called Aamravanam, Brahmandapuram, and Mirugandeesuvarapuram. This place is now called Mandurai.

Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruanbilathurai / Anbil, Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple.

சென்று திருமாந்துறையில் திகழ்ந்து உறையும்  துறைநதிவாழ் சென்னியார்தம்

மூன்றில் பணிந்து அணி நெடுமாளிகை வலம் செய்து உள்புக்கு முன்பு தாழ்ந்து

துன்று கதிர் பரிதி மதிமருந்துக்கள் தொழுது வழிபாடு செய்ய’

நின்றநிலை சிறப்பித்து நிறைதமிழின் சொன்மாலை நிகழப்பாடி

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

செம்பொன் ஆர்தரு வேங்கையும் ஞாழலும்  செருந்தி செண்பகம் ஆனைக்

கொம்பும் ஆரமும் மாதவி சுரபுனை குருந்தலர் பரந்துந்தி

அம்பொ னேர்வரு காவிரி வடகரை மாந்துறை யுறைகின்ற

எம்பி ரான்இமை யோர்தொழு பைங்கழல் ஏத்துதல் செய்வோமே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                    ---“நீலங்கொள்

தேத்துறையில் அன்னமகிழ் சேக்கைபல நிலவும்

மாந்துறை வாழ் மாணிக்கமலையே

....... திருஅருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Aamra Vaneswarar, Sri Suthrathaneswarar,

                  Sri Aathirathneswarar

Consort    : Sri Azhagammai, Sri Balambigai

The following are the important features of the temple.

The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Rishabam,  and a Guarding deity sannadhi are in front. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma and Durgai.  Adi Sankarar is also in one of the niches/kostam on the south side.

In praharam Sthala Viruksha,  Vinayagar, Murugan (Valli Devasena Subramaniar), Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas, Nalvar and Bhairavar. Navagrahas are facing the SUN and Sun is with his wives Samukya and Saya Devi. In Nalvar, Sundarar is holding a stick in his hands. Stucco image of Mirugandu Maharishi worshiping Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva came in the form of mother to an orphaned deer. Urchavars  are in the moolavar sannadhi, antarala.   

The 15^th Century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung Hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple.

வேங்கையுமு யர்ந்த தீம்புனமி ருந்த

            வேந்திழையி னின்ப                              மணவாளா

வேண்டுமவர் தங்கள் பூண்டபத மிஞ்ச

            வேண்டியப தங்கள்                                புரிவோனே

மாங்கனியு டைந்து தேங்கவயல் வந்து

            மாண்புநெல்வி ளைந்த                         வளநாடா

மாந்தர்தவ ரும்பர் கோன்பரவி நின்ற

            மாந்துறைய மர்ந்த                                 பெருமாளே

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and Artha mandapam. Moolavar Vimana sigaram is of Dravida style and has beautiful stucco sculptures.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century.  Later Chozhas reconstructed the temple with stone.  

Rajaraja Chozha-I’s 15^th reign year inscription records that people started vacating the village due to draught and could not pay the Taxes ( வானவ நாயக்கன் பெருந்திருக் குடிகள் வரி ). So Rajaraja waived the tax and resettled them in the same Village.

Rajarajan-I’s 16^th reign year inscription records the gift of land for creating a nandavanam to this temple and the king waived the tax on that gifted Land.

The Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1987.

LEGENDS

During the ancient period, the temple was in the midst of the Mango tree forest. Hence Lord Shiva is called Aamravaneswarar and the place was also called Mandurai / Maanthurai. ( Aam- Mango in Sanskrit ).  

Brahma, Indra, Suryan, Chandran, Samudhra Rajan, and Maruthanthagan for Sukola munis’ son, worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple to get rid of the curse, hence this temple is called Saba vimosana sthalam. Sage Mirigandu and Adi Sankarar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple His idol is also in one of the koshtam on the south side of the sanctum sanctorum. Special poojas are conducted on his Jayanthi day.

A Maharishi was cursed to become a deer due to a bad act to Lord Shiva. He was born to Two deers who are demons ( cursed to become deers ) during their previous birth. Lord Shiva with Parvati came to this forest in the form of a hunter, shot both deer, and relieved them from their curse. Since Maharishi was born to the deers has become an orphan and waiting for his father and mother. Ma Parvati took care of the deer calf and Lord Shiva relieved the deer from the curse. 

It is believed that the children affected by the balagraha dosha, get cured after drinking Abhisheka theertha of Ambal. A Parihara homam is conducted in this temple on the moola nakshatra day of every month and the charge is Rs 301.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi (Oct – Nov), Thirukarthigai Deepam in the month Karthigai & Karthigai Somavaram (Nov – Dec), Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti in the month Vaikasi (May – June), Aadi Velli / Fridays (June – July), Navaratri in the month Aippasi (Oct – Nov), Thiruvathirai, Pradosham in every month and Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi (Feb – March).

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Mobile numbers + 91  99427 400562, +91 99427 40062, and  +91 94866 40260 may be contacted for further details.

HR&CE officer phone numbers are + 919842521947 and +91 9443617783

HOW TO REACH : 

This place is on the bus route from Tiruchirappalli to Lalgudi, and Mandurai is 3 km before Lalgudi. 

The Temple is 3 km from Lalgudi, 15 km from Tiruchirappalli, 50 km from Thanjavur, 50 km from Ariyalur, and 319 km from Chennai.  

Nearest Railway station is Lalgudi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---