Sri Madhuvaneswarar Temple / மதுவனேஸ்வரர் கோயில் / Nannilathu Perungoil / நன்னிலம், Nannilam, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 188^th Thevara Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 71^st sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. This temple is on the southern banks of the river Mudikondan.

 

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that after getting bricks as gold at Thirupugalur, Sundarar went to Thiruvarur after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirupanaiyur on the way and celebrated Panguni Uthiram Thiruvizha with Paravai Nachiyar. From Thiruvarur, Sundarar came to this temple.

பலநாள் அமர்வார் பரமர்திருஅருளால் அங்கு நின்றும் போய்

சிலைமா மேரு வீரனார் திருநன்னிலத்துச் சென்று எய்தி

வலமாவந்து கோயிலினுள் வணங்கி மகிழ்ந்து பாடினார்

தலம் ஆர்கின்ற தண்இயல்வெம் மையினான் என்னும் தமிழ்மாலை

Sundarar and Vallalar have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Sundarar records that this temple was built by the Chozha King Ko Chengat Chozha. There are many types of temples like Gajabirushta Vimana temple, Kara Koil, Kukudikoil, Perungoil, Mada Koil, etc. In this hymn, Sundarar records this temple as Perungoil.

தண்ணியல் வெம்மையினான் தலை யிற்கடை தோறும்பலி

பண்னியன் மென்மொழியார் இடங் கொண்டுழல் பண்டரங்கன்

புண்ணிய நான்மறையோர் முறையால்அடி போற்றிசைப்ப

நண்ணிய நன்னிலத்துப் பெருங்கோயில் நயந்தவனே

……… சுந்தரர்

                                                             -“ஆஞ்சியிலா(து)

இந்நிலத்தும் வானாதி எந்நிலத்தும் ஓங்குபெரு

நன்னிலத்து வாழ் ஞானநாடகனே”

………. திரு அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Madhuvaneswarar, Sri Prakasa Nathar,

                  Sri Devaranyeswarar.

Consort    : Sri Madhuvaneswari, Sri Devakandhara Nayagi

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

The Temple faces east without Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Rishabam, and balipeedam are after the entrance and in front of Ambal Sannathi. Moolavar on the square avudayar worshiped by Brahma. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai in the ground level. In the Upper level only Dakshinamurthy.

In praharam Brahma worshiped  Mahadeva Lingam, Agasthiyar worshiped Agastheeswarar, Vinayagar, Murugan with his consorts, Gajalakshmi, Somaskandar, Bhairavar, Suriyan, Saneeswarar, Chitragupta, Navagrahas, and Chandikeswarar. Chandikeswarar is with his wives. Only a picture of Natarajar is available in the Sabha mandapam.

All the mandapas are of Vavvalnethi type

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This is one of the maada/Perungoil temples built by Ko Chenkat Chozhan (செம்பியர் கோன்), which has 18 steps. Sundarar also records the same in his hymns. Also, there are many types of temples like Gaja Birushta Vimana temple, Kara Koil, kukudikoil, mada Koil, Perungoil, etc. In this hymn, Sundarar records this temple as “Perungoil”.  As per Thevaram this temple was called as “நன்னிலத்து பெருங்கோயில்”

கருவரை போல்அரக்கன் கயி லைம்மலைக் கீழ்க்கதற

ஒருவிர லால்அடர்த்தின் அருள் செய்த உமாபதிதான்

திரைபொரு பொன்னிநன்னீர்த் துறை வன்திகழ் செம்பியர்கோன்

நரபதி நன்னிலத்துப் பெருங்கோயில் நயந்தவனே.

கோடுயர் வெங்களிற்றுத் திகழ் கோச்செங் கணான் செய்கோயில்

நாடிய நன்னிலத்துப் பெருங்கோயில் நயந்தவனைச்

சேடியல் சிங்கிதந்தை சடை யன்திரு வாரூரன்

பாடிய பத்தும்வல்லார் புகு வார்பர லோகத்துள்ளே

A 9^th to 10^th Century Rajakesari or Parakesari Varman’s period inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp at this temple for which 12 Kalanju gold was gifted by one Naranan. The same was received by three people and agreed to burn from the interest earned. The first and last lines of the inscription were damaged. There is a mention of Thara Lamp in the last line.

The other 18^th to 19th-century inscriptions were damaged very heavily.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 15^th September 1996.

LEGENDS

This place was called Madhuvanam, Devaranyam, Sundaravanam, and Birukathpuram during ancient times.

Suriyan, Agasthiyar, and Devas (in the form of honey bees) worshiped Lord Shiva in the form of bees, not able to bear the torture of Viruthirasuran.

As per the legend, Lord Shiva turned Devas into honey bees and bee hives in the form of Shiva Linga. The Devas stayed inside the bee hive Shiva Linga so that they would not be visible to the demon. Hence this place was called Madhuvanam (Madhu is also called honey in Tamil), Lord Shiva was called "Madhuvaneswarar" and Ambal "Madhuvana Nayaki".

It is believed that Indra worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple to get relieved from the Brahmahathi dosha, due to the killing of Viruthirasuran.  Indra, Brahma, Suriyan Sage Agasthiyar, and Devas in the form of honey bees worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi (May – June), Aani Thirumanjanam in the month Aani (June – July), Aadi Pooram in the month of Aadi (July – Aug), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani (Aug – Sept), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi  (Oct – Nov), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Thiruvathirai in the month of Margazhi (Dec – Jan), Makar Sankranti and Thaipoosam in the month of Thai (Jan – Feb), Maha Shivaratri in the month of Masi (Feb – March) and monthly pradosams.

Saint Sundarar’s Guru pooja on the Aadi Swathi star day in the month Aadi (July – Au ) is also celebrated in a grand manner. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS : 

The Mobile numbers +9194426 82346, and +91 99432 09771 the temple priest Sivakumar Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile at +91 7904374770 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH : 

This place is on the bus route from Mayiladuthurai to Thiruvarur. Buses are also available from Kumbakonam.

The temple is 17 KM from Thiruvarur, 30 KM from Kumbakonam, 30 KM from Srivanjiyam, 31 KM from Mayiladuthurai 324 KM from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Nannilam and Junction is Thiruvarur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---