Sri Mehanadhar Temple / Sri Meganathaswamy Temple /மேகநாதசுவாமி கோயில்/ Lalithambigai Temple / திருமீயச்சூர் லலிதாம்பிகை திருக்கோயில், Thirumeeyachur /Thirumeyachur, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 173^rd Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the south side of the river Kaveri and the 56^th  temple of Chozha Nadu. Even though this is one of the Paadal Petra Shiva Temples, this temple is popularly known as the Lalithambigai Temple. Thirumeeyachur Ilangkovil is a part of the main temple

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

தக்க அந்தணர் மேவும் அப் பதியினில் தான் தோன்றி மாடத்துச்

செக்கவார் சடை அண்ணலைப் பணிந்து இசைச் செந்தமிழ் தொடைபாடி

மிக்க கோயில்கள் பிறவுடன் தொழுதுபோய் மீயச்சூர் பணிந்து ஏத்திப்

பக்கம் பாரிடம் பரவநின்று ஆடுவார் பாம்புர நகர் சேர்ந்தார்

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

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

பொன்னேர் கொன்றை மாலை புரளும் அகலத்தான்

மின்னேர் சடைகள் உடையான் மீயச் சூரானைத்

தன்னேர் பிறரில் லானைத் தலையால் வணங்குவார்

அந்நேர் இமையோர் உலகம் எய்தற் கரிதன்றே’

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                    ஓகாளக்

காயச்சூர் விட்டுக்கதிசேர வேட்டவர் சூழ்

மீயச்சூர் தண்ணென்னும் வெண்ணெருப்பே” – மாயக்

களங்கோயில் நெஞ்சக் கயவர் மருவா

இளங்கோயில் ஞான இனிப்பே

..... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Meganathar, Sri Muyarchinathar.

Consort    : Sri Soundaryanayagi, Sri Lalithambigai.

Some of the salient features of this temple are........
The Temple faces east with a 5-Tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. A second level 3-tier mini Rajagopuram is in front of the Temple complex. Moolavar is of Swayambhu. In Koshtam Kshetra Bhubaneswar (Gangadhara/Alingna Murti – Lord Shiva pacifies ma Parvati’s anger), Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy with Brahma and Vishnu on both sides, Brahma, Durgai, Chandrasekar, and Rishabaroodar. Dwarapalakas are made of stucco.

In praharam, Nagalingam, Sekkizhar, Naalvar, Saptamatrikas, Vinayagar, Pancha Lingas- Agni, Appu, Akasa, Vayu, and Prithvi, Shiva Lingas worshiped by Indran, Kubera, and Yaman, Bhairavar, and Suriyan.

Ambal Lalithambigai is in  a separate Temple with sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam. Ambal is in a sitting posture (Suhasana) with a provision to wear anklets. This temple is considered the 1^st Sakthi peedam of Sakthi, hence Ambal Lalithambigai is referred to as an Adi Parasakthi. It is believed that “Lalitha Sahasranamam” originated from this Lalithambigai. The temple is  on the right side immediately after the Rajagopuram. A Vesara Vimana is over the sanctum. Deva koshta murtis are around the sanctum sanctorum.

ARCHITECTURE

The main sanctum sanctorum consists of the sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum (Gajaprishta) is on a padma bandha adhistanam with virudha kumudam. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudus and vyyalavari. A single-tier / eka tala  Gajaprishta Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum with 3 kalasas. In addition to Deva Koshtas, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the Giriva Koshtam.

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. It is believed that the temple was built by the Ko Chengat Chozha. The original temple was constructed with brick, and the same was reconstructed into a stone temple by Sembiyan Mahadevi during the Rajaraja period. Further extended during the Pandya period.

There are 7 inscriptions recorded from this temple. The inscriptions belong to Chozhas Parakesari, Rajakesari, and Pandyas. There are no medieval-period inscriptions found. Most of the inscriptions record the endowment of burning perpetual lamps for which a gift of lands was made to this temple.  

Koparakesarivarman’s 3^rd reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 90 Sheep/goats were gifted by Vetkovan Pukazhan MunnooRRuvan of Thirumeeyachur. The same person also donated land for burning a perpetual lamp.

Parantaka Chozha-I’s 7^th reign inscription records the endowment of burning two perpetual lamps for the same uncultivated land was reformed into a cultivable land and gifted to this temple by Yaazhakan in the name of his sister and mother.

A 15^th to 16th-century inscription without the King's name records the endowment of Parivattam, naivedyam, Vegetable rice, oil for the perpetual lamps, for which a Pooja mandapam, Mathilsala Samudra tank (looks like a sea),  and the farm that contains the trees, coconut, mango, jackfruit, and Iluppai on the 4 banks of the Sala Samudram.

Parakesarivarman Prantaka Chozha-Is, 15^th reign year inscription records the endowment of Musical instruments like Timilai and other instruments, by Cholai Sathan, alias KansirukaiParalurudayar.

A 10^th to 11^th Century fragment of inscriptions records the burning of Sandhi lamps for which money of 10 kasu, and 20 Kasu is gifted by ladies Perumchelivisani, Umaiyazhvi, Thiruvagastheeswaramudayar

As per Nannilam Vattak Kalvettukal and SII inscription Volume 8, it was mentioned as Mihiraruneswarar Temple at Thirumeeyachur. It is not known whether Lord Shiva was called by this name also, or whether another Shiva temple existed in the same Village during that period. The inscriptions belong to Parantaka Chozha-I, Rajakesari Varman, Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan, Sadayavarman Sundara Pandyan, and Maravarman Srivallabha Pandyan. These inscriptions mainly record the gift of lands, housing land, Taxes collected, and money, to this temple towards pooja, worship, Naivedyam, burning of perpetual lamps, sandhi lamps, etc, for both Lord Shiva and Kamakotta Nachiyar shrines (Ambal). In one of the Pandya Inscriptions, it was mentioned that the taxes levied like pala Pattadai, Thari Irai, Thattar pattam, Chenaikkadai, Vettaikarar Kadai, Kulavaadai, Meenpattam, Chekkayam, Vannarkarkasu, and Uppuvazhsarikai. The name of the money mentioned was Bhuvanesuveeran kasu.   

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 3^rd November 2000 and 08^th Feb 2015, after renovations. The temple is under the administrative control of Thirupugalur Velakurichi Adheenam.

Ref

1. Nannilam Vattak Kalvettukal and 

2. SII inscription Volume 8

LEGENDS
This is the birthplace of Garuda, Aruna the Charioteer of the Sun, Vali, Sugriva, Yaman, and Saneeswarar. They all worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Kali also worshiped Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati of this temple. 

Suriyan worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple to get rid of the curse and get back his power.  The sun's rays fall on Moolavar from the 21^st to the 27^th of the month of Chithirai (April – May). Special poojas are conducted on these days.

In another legend, Ma Parvati got angry with Lord Shiva when he took the Ganga on his head. Lord Shiva is pacified in this temple, hence Ambal is called Shantha Nayagi. In the process of Lord Shiva pacifying Ma Parvati as Lalithambigai, it is believed that 8 angles called “Vachinies”- a personification of speeches- emerged from the mouth of Ambal Lalithambigai, which started praising Ambal with 1000 names – Lalitha Sahasranamam. This legend is beautifully sculpted in the form of an idol installed in one of the koshtams.

In another legend, Lord Hayagreeva, one of the disciples of Ambal Lalithambigai, conveyed the significance of “Lalitha Sahasranamam” to the sage Agasthiyar. Agasthiyar came to this temple and worshiped Lord Shiva and Ambal Lalithambigai. Ambal granted the darshan in the form of “Navaratna” – nine precious stones. The sage Agasthiyar has sung hymns “Navaratna malai” and “Rahasyanamasahasram”.

It is believed that Yama, the deity of death, came to this temple and worshiped Ma Lalithambigai after doing abhishekam with 1008 conches/sangu. And also offered “Pirandai Rice” to Ambal ( -Pirandai – a herbal creeper which is the best medicine for the backbone pains).

There is an interesting incident that happened during the  year 1999. Ma Lalithambigai wants to wear anklets and is told in a dream by a Bangalore devotee. Since she didn’t know the exact temple, she went to many temples. Finally, she came to this temple. Initially, the priest and the temple authorities were reluctant to see the provision. After her continuous persuasion, the temple authorities found holes to provide anglet, which was blocked due to so many years of abhishekam materials and oil.  Later, it was a hole in the nose to adorn the nose, too. Devotees now offering kolusu to Ambal Lalithambigai.     

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on all the important Hindu festivals. Anna Paavadai is celebrated grandly in this temple on Vijayadasami day in the Navaratri festival, Ashtami day in the month of Masi (Feb – March), and Full moon day in the month of Vaikasi.

Ratha Saptami is celebrated grandly. Ratha Saptami is the start of Uttarayanam, in which the Sun travels from North to South during the period Thai (Jan – Feb) month to Aani (June – July).

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs, and from 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :
The landline and mobile numbers +91 4366 239170 & 9444836526 may be contacted for further Details.

HOW TO REACH : 
This place Thirumeeyachur is on the way from Mayiladuthurai to Thiruvarur (Via Peralam), from there 2 km.
The place Thirumeeyachur is 2 km before Peralam. 18 km from Mayiladuthurai, 26 km from Thiruvarur, 27 km from Karaikal, 33 km from Kumbakonam, and 275 km from Chennai.  
The nearest Railway Station is Peralam, and the Junction is Mayiladuthurai.   

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Some of the photos are taken from Google's website. Thanks to the unknown photographers 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---