Sri Vaikalnathar Temple / Sri Vaikalnatheswarar Temple / Vaikal Maadakovil, Thiru Vaigal / Thiru Vaikal, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 150^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 33^rd Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Now this place is called Thiru Vaigal. This place has  Viswanathar Temple at Valanagar a part of Thiru Vaigal, Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Brahma worshiped and Vaigalnathar Temple a Madakoil. Vaigalnathar Madakoil is the Paadal Petra Sthalam. The place Vaikal is derived from Vai+Kuru+kal + a small hill.

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirukozhambam.

வைகல்நீடுமாடக் கோயில் மன்னிய மருந்தைக்

கைகள் அஞ்சலி கொண்டு தாழ்ந்து எழுந்துகண் அருவி

செய்ய இனிசைச் செந்தமிழ் மாலைகள் மொழிந்து

நையும் உள்ளத்தராய்த் திருநல்லத்தில் நண்ணி

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

துளமதியுடைமறி தோன்று கையினர்

இளமதி யணிசடை எந்தை யாரிடம்

உளமதியுடையவர் வைகல் ஓங்கிய

வளமதி தடவிய மாடக்கோயிலே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                   -:ஞாலத்து

நீடக்கோர் நாளுநினைந்தேத்திடும் வைகல்

மாடக் கோயிற்குண் மதுரமே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Shenbagaranyeswarar, Sri Vaikalnathar

Consort    : Sri Kobiyal kodhai, Sri Saga Komalavalli,

                  Sri Vaikalambigai

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

This temple was built like Mada Koil. The temple is facing east with an entrance mottai gopuram/base. Before the entrance, Vinayagar is on the left and Murugan is on the right. Rishabam and balipeedam are in front of the Temple on a platform. In the sanctum, Moolavar is of swayambhu.

In Prakaram, Chandikeswarar with his consort, Sridevi Bhudevi Sametha Srinivasa Perumal, Subramaniar, Bhairavar, Saneeswarar, and Suriyan. Sannadhi.  Ambal is in a separate sannadhi on the base level. There are no Navagrahas. 

ARCHITECTURE

This temple is one of the Mada-style temples built by Ko-Chengat-Chozhan. The temple consists of sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, ardhamandapam and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a raised level of 5 feet and adhistanam is simple pada bandha adhistanam with jagathi, three patta kumuda, and pattika. The Bhitti starts with Vedika. The pilasters are of Brahma kantha pilasters with Thamaraikarttu, kalasam, thadi, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai and veerakandam. The Pothyal are Vettu pothyal. An Ekathala Vesara Vimana is on the top of the sanctum sanctorum with extended adhi thalam. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar had sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple existed before the 7^th Century, and the same was reconstructed during the Chozha Period and later extended during the Vijayanagara period.

LEGENDS

This place was called Shenbagaranyam, Nithyavasapuram, etc. Sri Mahalakshmi worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

Mahalakshmi / Sridevi left Maha Vishnu came to this place and did a rigorous penance on Lord Shiva. In the meantime, Maha Vishnu and Bhoodevi also came to this temple in search of Mahalakshmi and worshiped Lord Shiva. Maha Vishnu married Maha Lakshmi in this temple.

In another Legend, An elephant came in search of its calf which was separated in the midst of the forest. The elephant inadvertently damaged an ant hill. The ants bit the elephant and the elephant died. Both the Elephant’s calf and the ants prayed to Lord Shiva to get rid of the sin. Lord Shiva consoled the Elephant’s calf for the loss of its mother and pardoned the ants.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular oru kala pooja, special poojas are conducted on Maha Shivaratri in the month of Masi ( Feb – March ), and Annabhishekam in the month of Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ).

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 07.00 hrs, which is unpredictable. Hence it is advised to contact the Gurukkal who is living near this Village. The caretaker or the Meikavalar will help with the darshan.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Gurukal may be contacted for darshan on the landline at 0435 2465616 or Meikavalar Balakrishnan on his mobile number at +91 9788992860 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :

On the bus route from Kumbakonam to Karaikal, after Thiruneelakudi get down at Paliyangiya Nalloor and the temple is 2 KM from there. The frequency of the bus is limited.

The Village Thiru Vaikal and Temple is 3 KM off Manthai – Karuppur Main Rd after crossing Nattar River, 21 KM from Kumbakonam, 27 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 66 KM from Thanjavur and 284 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar

Maha Vishnu with sridevi and Bhudevi

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---