Sri Mahakalanathar Temple / Mahakalanathaswamy Temple /மகாகாளநாதர் கோயில் – திருமாகாளம் / Ambar Makalam / Kovilthirumalam, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 172^nd Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam and the 55^th Sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. Now this place is called Kovilthirumalam. 

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this Temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirupugalur.

அம்பர்மாநகர் அணைந்து மாகாளத்தில் அண்ணலார் அமர்கின்ற

செம்பொன் மாமதில் கோயிலை வலங்கொண்டு திருமுன்பு பணிந்து ஏத்தி

வம்புஉலாம் மலர்தூவி முன்பாவியே வண்தமிழ் இசை மாலை

உம்பர் வாழநஞ்சு உண்டவர் தமைப் பணிந்து உருகும் அன்பொடு தாழ்ந்தார்

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

அடையார் புரமூன்றும் அனல்வாய் வெழவெய்து

மடையார் புனல் அம்பர் மாகா ளம்மேய

விடையார் கொடியெந்தை வெள்ளைப் பிறைசூடும்

சடையான் கழலேத்தச் சாரா வினைதானே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

காளையர்கள் ஈளையர்கள் ஆகிக் கருமயிரும்

பூளையெனப் பொங்கிப் பொலிவழிந்து – சூளையர்கள்

ஓகாளஞ் செய்யாமுன் நெஞ்சமே உஞ்சேனை

மாகாளங் கைதொழுது வாழ்த்து

......ஐயடிகள் காடவர்கோன்

                                                            --- ஒருவந்தர்

மாகாளங்கொள்ள மதனைத் துரத்துகின்ற

மாகாளத் தன்பர் மனோலயமே

....... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Mahakalanathar, Sri Kalakandeswarar.

Consort    : Sri Bayakshambikai. Sri Acham Thavirtha Nayaki

Some of the salient features of this temple are as follows.
The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram at the first level and a 3-tier Rajagopuram at the second level. Balipeedam and Rishabam are between two Rajagopurams. It is believed that Moolavar was made by Kali with her hands. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. Somaskandar is on the back side of the moolavar.

In praharam Vanmika Nathar, Somasiyar with his wife Susila, 63var, Vinayagar, Subramaniar, Sattainathar (On the north side 2nd tier - side of Compound wall). Sannathi for Mahalakshmi, Eesana Jwarahara Lingam, Navagrahas, Natarajar Mandapam, Saneeswarar, Bhairavar, Dhandapani, and Subramaniar with a bow.

Urchavars  Thyagarajar, Katchi Kodutha Nayagar, Somachimarar with his wife, Murugan with a bow,  Somaskandar, Shiva Lingam in the hands of Kaali. Urchavar Thyagesar is not of a regular image and is different from other temples. Shiva is in the form of Vettiyan, and Ambal is his wife with a kallukudam/toddy pot on her head. Vinayagar & Murugan are small children.

Katchi Kodutha Nayagar – Rishabanthikar (With the right leg on the ground, left leg a little folded, and left hand touching Rishabam’s head).

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

மாதாபு ராரிசுக வார்பரை நாரியுமை

            ஆகாச ரூபியபி ராமிவல மேவுசிவன்

            மாடேறி யாடுமொரு நாதன்மகிழ் போதமருள்      குருநாதா

    வானோர்க ளீசன்மயி லோடுகுற மாதுமண

            வாளாகு காகுமர மாமயிலின் மீதுதிரு

            மாகாள மாநகரில் மாலொடடி யார்பரவு                   பெருமாளே

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, maha mandapam, and a Mukha mandapam. The mukha mandapam is of Vavval nethi style.

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 as a stone temple during the Chozha period and further extended during the Vijayanagara and Maratha periods.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Rajaraja, Rajendra Chola-III, Kulothunga-III, and Pandya Kings Kulasekara Pandyan. As per the inscriptions, this place was under Uyyakondar Valanattu Ambarnattu Ambar Thirumahalam (Kulothunga-I), Bhoobalakulavalli Valanattu Ambarnattu Ambar Makalam (Kulothunga-III).  Lord Shiva was called Thirumakala Udayar, Thirumakalathu Mahadevar. 

There are 59 fragment inscriptions, recorded from this temple between the 12^th to 13^th centuries. The inscriptions belong to both Chozhas and Pandyas. These inscriptions record the gift of land for burning perpetual lamps and worship. Some of the land periphery limits are also given. Some of the inscriptions record the names of People, and the names of the water channels, like Kulothunga Chozha Vaikkal, Ramadeva Vaikkal, Vethavabavathy, Pirantaka Vaikkal, etc. The grading of lands was given based on the produce and water feeding, etc.

In the Pandya king Kulasekara Pandya’s 40^th reign (1308 CE), the inscription records the power of taking decisions to collect taxes in terms of the paddy produced from the area of Land by the  Village sabha and Village important persons. 

Rajendra Chozha-III’s 8^th reign year inscription records the endowment of Land gifted to this temple with periphery limits. It further mentioned that a land named Maturantakavathi, as a Thirunamaththukkani to Thirugnanasambanda Pillayar (Nayanar) sannathi. This was established by the Village Sabha. This is inscribed in the form of two inscriptions, and both are incomplete.    

A Fragment of a 13th-century inscription without the king’s name records that oil of one uri was supplied from the pandaram / treasury for the burning of 9 perpetual lamps. Since it was not sufficient, an additional ulakku oil was supplied to burn 5 lamps on specified days; further details are not known.

One of the fragment inscriptions mentions “Palli santham..” which indicates the gift of a land as Irayili during the Rajendra Chozha period. Usually, the word Palli santham indicates anything gifted to a Jain temple. But the gift to a Jain temple was recorded in this temple also. Perhaps a Jain temple might have existed near this temple. Another fragment inscription indicates the “Padukkai”-  whether this means Jain beds or not, is not known.

Kulothunga-I’s period inscription records that tax was exempted for the Maththur Thiruchitrambala Natarajan Paravuvari, represented by Nulamba Rajan's 42^nd reign year inscription, Vedhanthur Village, gifted by Udhayamarthandan. Sekkizhanvelan Thiruvaikulamudayan gifted Eyinikudi Village to this temple. He replaced the farmer with a new person. A Land was gifted to this temple during the Vikrama Chozha Period.

Aatkonda Nayagar & Ambal was established and arranged for naivedyam. For Naivedyan, the land was gifted by Kshatriya Sigamani Valanattu Panaiyur Nattu Siruveluran, alias Amudhan Thiruchitrambalam Udayan Udhayamarthanda Mooventha Velan. For the same Ambal temple, the Siruvelurudayan gave a gift of land. As per the experts, the Aatkonga Nayagar is Somaskandar, who is also mentioned in Vikrama Chozha’s inscription.   

Muthu Kazhuththani / Pearl mala, Vairamudi / crown was gifted to Lord Shiva by Karipuli alias Chozhamarayan.  Vikrama Chozha constructed the prakara. Also, he gave a gift of Gold and lands for burning perpetual lamps and thiruvizha/celebrations. Vikrama Chozha may have established the Mudhupakavar temple. This may be Uma Parameswari as Kali. Vikrama Chozha arranged for Pooja and naivedyam. Rajendra Chozha also gifted Lands to this Uma Maheswarar Shrine.  

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 12^th September 1960, 18^th May 1998, and 24^th April 2011.

LEGENDS
As per the legend, Amban and Ambasuran are the sons of the sage Durvasa. They were the ardent devotees of Lord Shiva and were blessed with various powers. They misused their powers by terrorizing the Devas. When this was brought to the notice of Lord Shiva, he asked Ambal to take action against them. Kali, another form of Ambal, took the form of a young girl with Mahavishnu as an old man, went to Amban and Ambasuran. On seeing Kali as a young girl, both Amban and Ambasuran started fighting with each other for the young Girl. In the process of fighting, the elder was killed, and Kali killed the younger brother. To get rid of the sin caused by to killing of Ambasuran, Kali came to this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva after making the Shiva linga with her own hands. The hand-finger marks can be seen on the moolavar. The place where Ambasuran was killed was called Ambagarathur.    

This place obtained the name Maakalam since a sage Maakaalan worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Hence, this place is called Maakaalam. The sage was also worshiped in four other places. They are Ambar Makalam, Irumbai Makalam, and Mahakaal in Ujjain of Madhya Pradesh.

Soma yagna was performed for Somasimara Nayanar in this place, and Lord Shiva also participated. Somasimara Nayanar expressed his wish to conduct a Soma yagna in which Lord Shiva wants to participate. So he sought the help of Sundarar to bring Lord Shiva for the Yagna. Sundarar requested Lord Shiva to participate in Somasimaran’s yagna. Lord Shiva readily accepted and participated. Lord Shiva and Parvati gave darshan to Somasimara Nayanar and  Sundarar.

அம்பர்நக ரந்தணார் சோமாசி மாற 

        ரன்பர்களாம் யாவர்க்கு மன்பினமு தளிப்பர்

ரும்பர் நிகழ்வகையாமம் பலவுஞ் செய்யு

        முண்மையினர் ரைந்தெழுந்து மோவா நாவார்

நம்பர்திகழ் திருவாரூர் நயந்து போற்று

        நாவலர்கோ னடிபரவு நன்மையாலே

யிம்பர்தொ வும்பணிந் தேத்த மேலை

        யேழுலகு முடனாளு மியல்பி நாரே

...... திருத்தொண்டர் புராணசாரம்... சோமாசிமாற நாயனார்

It is believed that Indra, Nagakanni, Vyasar, Durvasa, and Saptarishis worshiped Lord Shiva at this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Somasi Mara Nayanar’s – soma Yagna festival is celebrated grandly in the month of Vaikasi (May – June), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month of Aavani (Aug – Sept), Navaratri in the month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month of Aippasi (Oct – Nov), Thiruvathirai in the month of Margazhi (Dec – Jan), Makar Sankranti in the month of Thai (Jan- Feb), Maha Shivaratri in the month of Masi (Feb – March) and monthly pradosams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :
Mobile and landline numbers +91 9442766818 and +914366291457 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :
On the bus route from Mayiladuthurai to Thiruvarur, after Peralam – Poonthottam, from there, this place is 4 km on the east side.
The temple Kovilthirumalam is 2 km from Ambal, 2.4 km from Poonthottam, 6.8 km from Peralam, 23 km from Karaikal, 23.3 km from Mayiladuthurai, 23 km from Thiruvarur, 38 km from Kumbakonam, and 282 km from Chennai.
The nearest Railway Station is Poonthottam, and the Junction is Karaikal.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---