Sri Sakalabhuvaneswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ சகலபுவனேஸ்வரர் கோயில் / திருமீயச்சூர் இளங்கோயில் / Thirumeyachur Ilangkovil /Thirumeeyachur /Thirumeyachur, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 174^th Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri and the 57^th Sthalam of Chozha Nadu. Even though this temple is a part of Thirumeeyachur main temple and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung in praise of Lord Shiva during palalayam ( a procedure followed during temple renovations), hence this temple is considered a separate Paadal Petra Sthalam. As per the experts the temple in palalayam is called as Ilangoil/Ilankovil/Ilamkovil.

 

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Akkur. But he didn’t sing in praise of Lord Shiva of this Ilangoil, perhaps this temple may not under Palalayam during his visit. In Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal Puranam, Sekkizhar didn’t mention his visit to this temple, in particular, but mentioned other temples on the way. 

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

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

பொன்னம் கொன்றையும் பூவணி மாலையும்

பின்னும் செஞ்டசடை மேற்பிறை சூடிற்று

மின்னு மேகலை யாளொடு மீயச்சூர்

இன்ன நாள்அக லார்இளங் கோயிலே

.........திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                                    ஓகாளக்

காயச்சூர் விட்டுக்கதிசேர வேட்டவர் சூழ்

மீயச்சூர் தண்ணென்னும் வெண்ணெருப்பே” – மாயக்

களங்கோயில் நெஞ்சக் கயவர் மருவா

இளங்கோயில் ஞான இனிப்பே

..... திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Sakalabhuvaneswarar

Consort    : Sri Megalambigai / Sri Minnummegalaiyal

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

This temple is facing east in the north praharam of the main temple. In Koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma.

In prakaram, Sthala Vinayagar, Chaturmukha Chandikeswarar, Arunachaleswarar, Bhairavar, SuriyanAkasa Lingam, and Vayu Lingam.  

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. A vesara Vimana is over the Sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Since Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal 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 main temple was built by Ko Chengat Chozha. The original temple was constructed with brick and the same was reconstructed into a stone temple by Sembiyan Mahadevi, during the Chozha King Rajaraja-I, period. Further extended during the Pandya period.

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.

LEGENDS
This is the birthplace of Garuda, Aruna the Charioteer of Sun, Vali, Sugriva, Yaman, and Saneeswaran. 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 Chithirai ( April – May ). Special poojas are conducted on these days.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on all the important Hindu festivals. Anna Paavadai is celebrated in a grand manner in  Sri Meganathaswamy, the main temple on Vijayadasami day in the Navaratri festival, Ashtami day in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Full moon day in the month Vaikasi.

Ratha Saptami is celebrated in a grand manner. Ratha Saptami is the starting 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 between 07.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :
The LlndLine 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

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---