Sri Maragadachaleswarar Temple / மரகதாசலேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில் / ஈங்கோய்மலை / Thiru Engoyi Malai / Engoi malai, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 117^th Thevara Paadal Petra Sthalam and the 63^rd & last Sthalam, on the northern side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This is the 52^nd, of the 64 Sakthi Peedams, Sakthi. As per Thevara Hymnas, this place was called Engoi Malai / Engoyi Malai and is now called Thiruvinganatha Malai and  Shiva Sakthi Malai. This hill is about 4 km from the Kulithalai Kaveri / Cauvery River bridge.

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar records that, after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirupaingneeli, Thirugnanasambandar came to this Temple

செங்கண் குறவரைத் தேவர் போற்றும் திகழ்திரு ஈங்கோய் மலையில் மேவும்

கங்கைச் சடையார் கழல் பணிந்து கலந்த இசைப்பதிகம் புனைந்து

பொங்கர்ப் பொழில் சூழ் மலையும் மற்றும் புறத்துள்ள தானங்கள் எல்லாம் போற்றிக்

கொங்கின் குடபுலம் சென்று அணைந்தார் கோதுஇல் மெய்ஞ்ஞானக் கொழுந்து அணையார்

.......திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar mentions that Sundarar came to this temple After worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirpainjeeli. Also, the was mentioned in legend also mentions that Sundarar has sung Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, but couldn’t get the same.  

பரவி அப்பதிகத் திருக்கடைக் காப்புச் சாத்திமுன் பணிந்து அருள்மெற்றுக்

கரவுஇல் அன்பர்கள்தம் கூட்டமும் தொழுது கலந்து இனிது இருந்து போந்தருளி

விரவிய ஈங்கோய்மலை முதலாக விமலர்தம் பதிபல வணங்கிக்

குரவுஅலர் சோலை அணி திருப்பாண்டிக் கொடுமுடி அணைந்தார் கொங்கில்

.......... சுந்தரர் புராணம்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Nakkeerar also sung the "Eengoi ezhupathu" on this temple.  

வினையாயின தீர்த்து அருளே புரியும் வீகிர்தன் விரிகொன்றை

நனையார் முடிமேல் மதியம் சூடு நம்பான் நல மல்கு

தனையார் கமல மலர்மேல் உறைவான் தலையோடு அனல் ஏந்தும்

எனையாள் உடையான் உமையாளோடும் ஈங்கோய் மலையாரே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                                        --“ நீச்சறியா

தாங் கோய்மலைப் பிறவியார் கலிக்கோர் வார்கலமாம்

ஈங்கோய் மலைவாழ் இலஞ்சியமே

....... திரு அருட்பா

அடியும் முடியும் ஆரியும் அயனும்

படியும் விசும்பும் பாய்ந்துஏறி – நொடியுங்கால்

இன்னதுஎன அறியா ஈங்கோயே ஓங்காரம்

அன்னதென நின்றான் மலை

.......நக்கீரதேவ நாயனார்

Moolavar  : Sri Maragathasaleswarar, Sri Maragatha nathar.

Consort    : Sri Maragathavalli.

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

The temple is on a small hill with 500 and odd steep steps to reach the hill shrine. The steps are not uniform and in many places, they were deformed. The temple is on the top of the hill facing east with an entrance arch with a stucco image of Lord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar. Vinayagar and Lord Muruga with his consorts are on both sides.  Stucco dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum and Stone Dwarapalakas  are also at the entrance of the sanctum. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum ie at mukha mandapam and in artha mandapam also. Moolavar in the sanctum is of green stone shining like Maragatham / Emerald. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

In Prakaram, Chandikeswarar, Vallabha Vinayagar, Murugan as Dhandayuthapani, Maha Vishnu, Rishapanthikar, Bhairavar, Nagars, Pichadanar  and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar. There is also another Durgai apart from koshtam in peace mood with abhaya varada hastham. There is an image for Agasthiya Munivar also.

Ambal is in a separate temple, facing east, like moolavar. The temple is before the main temple entrance arch ie, one level below the Shiva temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam and Mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bhanda adhisthana with three patta kumuda. A 3 tier Nagara - Vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. There are different postures in Dakshinamurthy’s stucco images of which Veena Dakshinamurthy in a standing posture, is on the moolavar vimanam. After the Entrance arch, there is a three-tier Rajagopura. Dakshinamurthy’s stucco image is on the Rajagopuram.

  

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 the same was reconstructed with stone during Chozha’s period.

This place Thiru Engoi Malai came under vadakarai Rajarajavalanattu Thiruvali nattu thiruengoimalai. Lord Shiva was called Thiruveengoi Udayar.

For worship and naivedyam of Aludaya Pillayar, Thirunavukkarasu thevar, Alala Sundara Peruman, Nakkeera Thevar, a land was donated by Vadakarai Rajaraja Valanattu Malai Sri Jayankonda Chozha Chaturvedi Mangalam maha sabahi.  

One of the Krishnadevaraya period inscriptions records that land was donated to Thirumazhapadi Sri Vaidyanatha Swamy Temple for worship.

Understand that utsava Murti Sri Valli Devasena Arumuga Peruman was gifted by Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and kept at the base temple for safety reasons. 

LEGENDS

It is believed that Musukuntha Chakravarthi, Agasthiyar, in the form of a bee worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Hence this place is called Engoi Malai / Engoyi Malai. Bogar did penance and attained the siddhi of making “Navapashanam“ in this hill temple, hence there is a Bogar Shrine at the foothills. 

In one of the legends, Adhiseshan and Vayu used to fight with each other, claiming each one as greatest and strongest. This time Adhiseshan, holds Meru Hill. Vayu blew the hill but couldn’t  do so. But a few of the precious stones like emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, etc, were blown out of the hill and fallen down. The emerald ie the green stone had fallen on this hill and formed a Shiva Linga. In another version, Adhiseshan covered the Meru hill. The Vayu went through the passage at a force and blew out some peaks. This is the place where the peak had fallen down and was called "Maragadachalam". The tamarind tree which is an incarnation / amsam of Adiseshan was grown on the hill.    

In one legend, During Sundarar’s Visit Lord Shiva was hidden in the tamarind tree to make a delay for Sundarar’s darshan. Sundarar was disappointed and searched for Lord Shiva on the hill. Lord Shiva to identify himself, threw a golden tamarind fruit on Sundarar. Sundarar found out that Lord Shiva was hiding in the Tamarind tree and cursed tree, since the tamarind tree had given the place for Lord Shiva to hide, henceforth No tamarind tree should grow on the hill.

On this hill, the Lord promised to give half of his body to Ambal. This is the 52^nd of 64 Sakthi Peetam of Ambal.  

It is believed that it will be auspicious to worship Lord Shiva of Kadambar Koil in the morning, Thiruvatpokki in the afternoon, and Thiru Engoi malai / Engoyi Malai in the evening in a single day. As per Gurukal, the hill shrine has the power to attract good forces

It is believed that it will be auspicious to do abhishekam to Lord Shiva with honey. Since Agasthiyar in the form of bees worshiped Lord Shiva and did abhishekam with honey, hence this place is called Thiru Engoyi Malai / Engoi Malai

The Sun rays fall on Moolavar from the 28^th to the 30^th in the month Masi ( Feb – March ). 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted every month Pradosham and  Pournami, Maha Shivaratri and Masi Maham in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Thai Poosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ) and 11 days brahmotsavam in the month in the month Panguni ( March – April ).

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple opens from 10.00 Hrs to 17.00 Hrs.   It is better to confirm before going to this temple. The regular Pooja is performed in the evening with Naivedyam.  

CONTACT DETAILS : 

The S Muthu Rathinam Gurukal may be contacted over his mobile at 9944120135. or 9443950031 or 04326 262744 for poojas. 

HOW TO REACH : 

Town buses are available from the Musuri Kaveri River junction.

Salem Karur buses pass through this Village.

The temple is 4.7 km from Periyar ie Kaveri river bridge, 5.6 km from Musiri, 6.7 km from Kulithalai, 13 km from Iyermalai, 46 km from Tiruchirappalli, 46 km from Karur, and 354 km from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is  Kulithalai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

A Hero Stone - Navakandam before the Rajagopuram

Iyyar Mala View

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---