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 55^th Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. Now this place is called as 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 has 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 is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram at first level and a 3 tier Rajagopuram on the second level. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in between two Rajagopurams. It is believed that Moolavar was made by Kali by her hands. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. Somaskandar is on the back side of the moolavar.

In prakaram 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 bow.

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

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

The 15^th 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 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 7^th Century. Latter the same was reconstructed as stone temple during Chozha period and further extended during Vijayanagaras and Marathas.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Rajaraja, Rajendra Chozha- 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 as Thirumakala Udayar, Thirumakalathu Mahadevar. 

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

The Pandya king Kulasekara Pandya’s 40^th reign ( 1308 CE ), inscription records the power of taking decision of collecting the 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 by name 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 13^th century inscription without king’s name records that oil of one uri was supplied from the pandaram / treasury for burning of 9 perpetual lamps. Since it was not sufficient, additional one ulakku oil was supplied and to burn 5 lamps on specified days, further details are not known.

One of the fragment inscription mentions as “Palli santham..” which indicates that gift of a land as Irayili during Rajendra Chozha period. Usually the word Palli santham indicates that anything gifted to a Jain temple. But gifted to a Jain temple was recorded in this temple also. Perhaps a Jain temple might have existed near that 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 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 Vikrama Chozha Period.
Aatkonda Nayagar & Ambal was established and arranged for naivedyam. For Naivedyan, a land was gifted by Kshathriya Sigamani Valanattu Panaiyur Nattu Siruveluran alias Amudhan Thiruchitrambalam udayan Udhayamarthanda Mooventha Velan. For the same Ambal temple Siruvelurudayan gave a gift of land. As per the experts the Aatkonga Nayagar is somaskandar, which is also mention 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 lamp and thiruvizha / celebrations. Vikrama Chozha may have established  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 sage Durvasa. They were the ardent devotees of Lord Shiva and blessed with the various powers. They misused the powers by terrorizing the Devas. When this was brought to the notice of Lord Shiva, asked Ambal to to take action against them. Kali another form of Ambal took the form of an young girl with Mahavishnu as an old man went to Amban and ambasuran. On seeing Kali as an young girl, both Amban and Ambasuran started fight 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 due to killing of Ambasuran, Kali came to this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva after making the Shiva linga on her own hands. The hand finger marks can be seen on the moolavar. The place where Ambasuran was killed was called as Ambagarathur.    

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

Soma yagna was performed for Somasimara Nayanar in this place and Lord Shiva also participated. Somasimara Nayanar express his wish of conducting a Soma yagna in which Lord Shiva wants to be participated to Sundarar. So he sought the help of Sundarar to bring Lord Shiva for the Yagna. Sundarar requested Lord Shiva to participate in the 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, Saptarishis worshiped Lord shiva of this temple.

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

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

CONTACT DETAILS :
Mobile and Land line numbers +91 94427 66818, +91 4366 291 457 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH :
On the bus route 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.
Nearest Railway Station is Poonthottam and Junction is Karaikal.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---