Sri Mayuranathar Temple / மயூரநாதர் கோவில், மயிலாடுதுறை, Mayiladuthurai, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 156^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 39^th sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This is one of the 6 Shiva equivalents of Kashi. Since Ambal in the form of Peahen ( மயில் ) worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple, the place is called Mayuram which turned into Mayiladuthurai Lake Mylapore at Chennai.

 

Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruvaduthurai, then he went to Thiru Vila Nagar. When Appar came along with Thirugnanasambandar up to Kolakka, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thiruchemponpalli.

மல்குதண்டலை மயிலாடுதுறையினில் மருவும்

செல்வவேதியர் தொண்டரோடு எதிர்கொளச் சென்று

கொல்லை மான்மறிக் கையரைக் கோயில்புக்கு இறைஞ்சி

எல்லை இல்லதோர் இன்பம் முனபெருகிட எழுந்தார்

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் புராணம்

மேவுபுனல் பொன்னி இரு கரையும் சார்ந்து

        விடை உயர்ந்தார் திருச்செம்பொன் பள்ளி பாடிக்

காஉயரும் மயிலாடுதுறை நீள் பொன்னிக்

        கரைத்துருத்தி வேள்விக்குடி எதிர்கொள்பாடி

பாஉறு செந்தமிழ்மாலை பாடிப் போற்றிப்

        பரமர் திருப்பதி பலவும் பணிந்து போந்தே

ஆஉறும் அஞ்சு ஆடுவார் கோடிக்காவில்

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

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

ஊனத்திருள் நீங்கிட வேண்டில்

ஞானப்பொருள் கொண்டடியேனும்

தேனொத்தினியான மருஞ்சேர்

வானம் மயிலாடுதுறையே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

குறைவிலோம் கொடு மானுட வாழ்க்கையால்

கறைநிலாவிய கண்டன் எண்தோளினன்

மறைவலான் மயிலாடுதுறை யுறை

இறைவன் நீள்கழல் ஏத்தியிருக்கிலே

........ திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                        -“வேளிமையோர்

வாயூரத்தேமா மலர்சொரிந்து வாழ்த்துகின்ற

மாயுரத் தன்பர் மனோரதமே

........ திரு அருட்பா

அபயாம்பிகை சதகம்

நித்யா னந்தப் பழம் பொருளே நிமலி அமலை புகழ்விமலி

அவனைந்த சடலத் தொழில்உனது அடிக்கே இதமாய் அருள்புரிவாய்

மயிலாபுரியில் வளரீசன் வாழ்வே அபயாம் பிகைத்தாயே

.... நல்லத்துக்குடி கிருஷ்ணசாமி ஐயர்

Moolavar  : Sri Mayuranathar

Consort    : Sri Abayambigai

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

The temple faces east with a 9-tier Rajagopuram and there is an entrance on the north side too. There are two Dwajasthambas. ( Three temporary Dwajasthambas are also seen on the three sides of the outer praharam). The second level Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. In koshtam, Narthana Vinayagar, Natarajar, Aalinganamurthy, Mouna Dakshinamurthy ( Dakshinamurthy is Medha Dakshinamurthy/mouna (மௌன )  and gave upadesam to Rishaba Devar in yoga posture ), Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durgai, Gangavijarsanar / Gangadhara and Pichadanar.

In Prakaram  Chandran & Suryan worshiped Lingas, Mayilammai, Pathanjali, Viyakrapadar, Sekkizhar, Nalvar, Saptamatrikas, Subramaniar, Kuthambai Siddhar, Vinayagar, Sahasra Linga, Pancha Lingas ( Indran, Agni, Vayu, Varuna, Yaman worshiped Lingas), Mahavishnu, Mahalakshmi, Gajalakshmi, Arunachaleswarar, Natarajar sabha, Navagrahas, Saneeswarar, Bhairavar and  Suriyan.

Temples for Sundareswarar, Maha Ganapathy are too big in mandapam ), Natha Sharma, Abayambigai, Aadhi Mayuranathar. A saree  is wrapped for the Linga in the Anavidhyambigai sannadhi. Ambal is in a standing posture. Aadi Poora Amman is also in the Praharam

Chidambaram Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple as Mayura Vahanan in his Kshethra Kovai Pillai Thamizh-ஷேத்திரக் கோவை பிள்ளைத்தமிழ்

எந்தையே வருகஎனை ஈன்றதா யேவருக

        என்கண்மணி வருகவருக

எண்ணனந் தங்கோடி மன்மதா காரமாம்

        என்றுமிளை யோன்வருகவே

மைந்தனே வருகமணி யேவருக வள்ளலே

        வருகவைப் பேவருகவே

மாயூர நகர்மேவு கேயூர மணிபுய

        மயூரவா கனன் வருகவே

....... சிதம்பரநாத முனிவர்

The 15^th Century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple and mentions Mayiladuthurai as Sikandiyur.

எமதும லத்தைக் களைந்து பாடென

            அருளஅ தற்குப் புகழ்ந்து பாடிய

            இயல்கவி மெச்சிட் டுயர்ந்த பேறருள்         முருகோனே

    எழில்வளை மிக்கத் தவழ்ந்து லாவிய

            பொனிநதி தெற்கிற் றிகழ்ந்து மேவிய

            இணையிலி ரத்னச் சிகண்டி யூருறை          பெருமாளே

........ அருணகிரிநாதர்

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th Century. Later the same was reconstructed as a stone temple/KaRRali during Chozhas and later extended during Vijayanagaras.

There are 16 inscriptions recorded from this temple. The inscriptions belong to Kulothunga-I, Rajathirajan-II, Kulothunga-III, Rajaraja-III and Jadavarman Sundara Pandyan. As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called Mayiladuthurai Udayar.

Except for 5, the rest of the inscriptions record the Temple of Ayyarappar, which is southwest of the Mayuranathar temple. This temple was under Jayankonda Chozhavalanattu Thiruvazhunthur Nattu Kulothunga Chozhan Kuthalam alias Thiruvaiyarudayar. The inscriptions also record the Ayyarappar installation, Kulothunga Chozhan exempted the Taxes ( Chunkam Thavirtha Chozhan ), and a Vikrama Chozha Thirumadam existed

Rajaraja Chozha-III’s 31^st ( 29+1+1) reign year inscription records the gift of 2000 kasu deposited with the Sthanattar, of the temple of Thiru Mayiladuthurai Udayar, In Tiruvalundur nadu to meet the expenses of daily worship, sacred bath / thirumanjanam, vasthiram /apparels and offerings / naivedyam to Goddess Bhuvanapati Nachiyar consecrated by the donor in the thirunadai maligai/prahara of the temple by Ambalankoyil-Kondan ARRapodaikkudavinan of Sambangudi.

Rajaraja-III’s 14^th reign year inscription records the endowment of 500 Kuli land towards Goddess Palliyarai Nachiyar during early morning service by Araiyan Thiruvegambamudayan, of Porosaikkudi of Uyyakondar Valanadu, who is also consecrated the Goddess. The details of the quantity to be distributed after the offering are also given. In addition to that during pooja, the name of the donor has to be announced.

This temple is under the administrative control of Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam. Murugan sannathi kumara kattalai was carried out through this adheenam.

LEGENDS

Indran, Brahman, Guru, Agasthiyar, Saptamatrikas, and Umadevi worshiped Shiva at this temple.

Ambal worshipped Shiva at this temple in the form of a Pea hen, hence this place is called Mayuram which turned to the present name of Mayiladuthurai. Also, Ambal’s dance was called Gowri Thandavam, hence this place is also called Gowri Mayuram. This place was also called Soothavanam, Sikandipuram, Brahmapuram, Thenmayilai, etc.

It is believed that it will be auspicious to take a bath ie Thula Snanam in river Kaveri in the month of Aippasi. Kashi Viswanathar with Visalakshi temple is at the Thula Snana place on the banks of river Kaveri. On Kadai muzhukku day ( the last day of Aippasi month ), all the temple Urchavars of Mayiladuthurai will join with Mayuranathar at Kaveri for Theerthavari.

As per another legend, Daksha, father of ma Parvati conducted a yagna in which all the celestial deities were invited, but Lord Shiva and ma Parvati were not invited. Angered ma Parvati went to the Yagna and argued with Daksha for Lord’s Share. But Daksha didn’t give respect to Ma Parvati. Lord Shiva sent Veerabhadra to destroy the yagna and killed Daksha too. Since Ma Parvati went there without Lord Shiva’s permission, she was cursed to become a Peahen. Ma Parvati came to Mayiladuthurai and did a Penance. Satisfied with the penance of ma Parvati Lord Shiva also took the form of Peacock and danced Mayura thandavam before her. Ma Parvati was restored to her original form. Hence Lord Shiva is praised as "Mayuranathar",

 

   

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

The special celebration will be,  Mayilammai worship during Aippasi Peruvizha, Kandar Sashti in the month Vaikasi.

Brahmotsavam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Thula Snanam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Laksha deepam on the last Friday in the month Aadi Month ( July – Aug ), and all Hindu Festivals like Navaratri in the month Purattasi ( Aug – Sept), Maha Sivaratri in Masi ( Feb – March ), Annabhishekam in the month  Aippasi ( Oct – Nov )  and monthly pradoshams.   

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The landline numbers +91 4364 222 345, +91 4364 223 779,  +91 4364223 207, and mobile number +91 93451 49412 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

Bus facilities are available from all the cities in Tamil Nadu.

The temple is   1.4 KM from Bus stand, 3.5 KM from Mayiladuthurai Junction, 11.5 KM from Kuthalam, 17.1 KM from Thiruvaduthurai, 35 KM from Kumbakonam, 77 KM from Thanjavur and 271 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Mayiladuthurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---