Sri Mandhirapurieswarar Temple / Mandirapureeswarar Temple, மந்திரபுரீசுவரர் கோயில், திருவுசாத்தனம் / கோயிலூர். Tiruvusaattaanam /Thiruvusathanam / Muthupettai Kovilur, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 224^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and the 107^th sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. This place is now called Kovilur. Since there are a lot of places named Kovilur, to differentiate, the place Muthupettai /Muthupet is added and called Muthupettai Kovilur.

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

திருஉசாத் தானத்துத் தேவர்பிரான் கழல்பணிந்து

மருவியசெந் தமிழ்ப்பதிக மலர்போற்ரும் படிபாடி

இருவினையும் பற்றுஅறுப்பார் எண்இறந்த தொண்டருடன்

பெருகுவிருப்பினர் ஆகிப் பிற்பதியும் பணிந்து அருள்வார்

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

நீரிடைத் துயின்றவன் தம்பிநீள் சாம்புவான்

போருடைச் சுக்கிரீவன்அநு மான்தொழக்

காருடை நஞ்சுண்டு காத்தருள செய்தஎம்

சீருடைச் சேடர்வாழ் திருவுசாத் தானமே

……….. திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                                -“கற்றவர்கள்

எங்குமு சாத்தானம் இருங்கழக மன்றமுதல்

தங்கும் உசாத்தானத் தனிமுதலே”

----- திரு  அருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Mandhirapurieswarar

Consort    : Sri Birukantha Nayagi, Sri Periyanayagi.

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. A Temple tank is in front. A Vinayagar sannathi is on the banks of the temple tank.  The second level Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam are before the second level of Rajagopuram. Moolavar is of swayambhu, ruff, and white in color  on a square avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. Dwarapalakas and Sangu Nidhi and Padma nidhi are at the entrance of Sanctum sanctorum.

In praharam  Suriyan, 63var, Jurahareswarar with three heads and 3 legs, Katchi kodutha Nayagar with Ambal, Saptamatrikas, Saptha kannis, Veerabhadra, Kali, Kasi Viswanathar,  Suthavana Vinayagar, Somaskandar, Varunan worshiped Linga, Ramar and Shiva Linga worshiped by him, Markandeyar and worshiped Lingas, Annapoorani, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Saraswathy, Navakannis, Saneeswarar, Bhairavar, Chandran and Natarajar Sabha. Sthala Purana is painted on the walls of the praharam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. A Two tier vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in a separate temple with Kodimaram, balipeedam, and Rishabam.

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. The same was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period and further extended and maintained by Nayaks and Nattukottai Nagarathars.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Chozha Kings Vikrama Chozha, Kulothunga Chozha-III, Rajendra Chozha-III, and Pandya King Sundara Pandya. As per the inscriptions  Lord Shiva was called “Thiruvusathanamudaya  Nayanar” and Ambal was called “Periya Nachiyar”.

Rajaraja Chozha-I’s 25^th reign year inscription at Thanjavur Rajarajecharam, records this place Purakarambai Nattu Koyilur Puthukudi alias Kothandarama Chaturvedi Mangalam”.... Lord Shiva was called as “Thiruvuchathanamudaya Nayanar” and “Thiruvuchathanamudayar”. 

Ambal was called as “Periya Nachiyar”. The same was mentioned in the Rajaraja-III’s 20^th reign year inscription, which mentions “Thirukamakottamudaya Periya Nachiyar”. In that Pillaipurosaikudayar, mentioned was the son of Rajaraja-III. One part of the temple thirupani was done by Ezhupathonpathu Nattupathinen Bhumikarar alias Karpaga Pillayar and Andar Prasanna Devar.

Tribhuvana Chakravarti Rajaraja-III’s 30^th reign year inscription records the establishment of Subramaniya Pillaiyar ( Murugan ) by Kanrappoorudayar in the western prakara.  The same King's 8^th reign year inscription records Pallavaneeswarar was established by Payyurnattu Payyuzhan Pichan Pallavarayan alias Chozhiya Pallavarayan on the western prakara.

Tribhuvana Chakravarti Rajaraja-III’s 30^th reign year inscription records the establishment of Subramaniya Pillaiyar (Murugan) by Kanrappoorudayar in the western prakara.  The same King's 8^th reign year inscription records Pallavaneeswarar was established by Payyurnattu Payyuzhan Pichan Pallavarayan alias Chozhiya Pallavarayan on the western prakara.

Rajendra Chozha’s period inscription records the establishment of Bhuvanapathi Nachiyar by Kalarikuddayan Ponnambala Koothan alias Irumudi Chozha Pallavarayan and Thirugnanam Petra Pillayar was established by Mummudi Chozhapura Merchant Chembagudayan Thiruchitrambalam Udayan Koothaadunayanar.

Rajendra Chozha’s 11^th reign year inscription records the celebration of Brahmotsavam in Vaikasi month.

The inscriptions mainly speak about Lands and Farms gifted to this temple as Irayili.  As per the records and Sthala Purana of this temple, the temple had 1018 acre punjai land, Coconut farms, 36 Kapaditusts ( ..?), and 229 housing plots. In addition to this Silvar kavasas, Gold and Silver ornaments/jewelry,  gifted by Nagarathars. The Girl’s School, Periyanayagi Secondary School is run by this temple. 

LEGENDS

It is believed that Hanuman, Markandeyar, Gauthamar, Indran, Viswamitra, Ramar, Lakshmana, Jambavan and Sugreeva.

Lord Shiva gave dance darshan to Viswamitra. Rama worshiped Lord Shiva, before constructing the Sethu bridge to Sri Lanka. So Lord Shiva preached a mantra to Sri Ramar for constructing the bridge to Sri Lanka.  Hence Lord Shiva of this temple is praised as Mandhirapurieswarar.  Since Rama had got the details of constructing the Sethu bridge  – Usavia ( கேட்டறிந்த ), this place was called “Usathanam” later it became “Thiruvusathanam”. In support of this legend, the places Raman Koil, Jambavan odai, Hanuman Kadu, Sugreevan pettai, and Thambikku Nallan Pattinam are around this temple.

Since Lord Shiva is under a “Suthavanam” and Vinayagar is holding a mango leaf.

There is a Shiva Lingam in the prahara. A wall was raised around the Shiva Lingam, which formed like a pit with a capacity to hold 3000 liters of water. It is believed that water will be filled above the Shiva Lingam to get rain. This is being practiced even in the present day.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on all Fridays, Monthly Karthigai days, monthly Pradosham, Chithira Brahmotsavam on Pournami day in the month Chithirai ( April – May ), Aani Thirumanjanam in the month Aani ( May – June ), Aadi Pooram Amman Purapadu in the month Aadi ( July – Aug ), Vinayagar Chathurthi and Avani Moolam in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Sashti  in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Masi Maham and Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ).

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS 

The mobile and landline numbers +91 99420 39494 and +91 4369 262 014 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH 

3 KM from Muthupet(tai) after crossing national hi-way.

Buses are available from Mannargudi, Thiruthuraipoondi, Vedaranyam, and Pattukottai to Muthupettai.

The temple is 3 KM from Muthupettai, 23 KM from Pattukottai, 24 KM from Thiruthuraipoondi, 36 KM from Mannargudi, 57 KM from Thiruvarur, 71 K M from Thanjavur, 72 KM from Kumbakonam, and 412 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Thiruthuraipoondi and Pattukottai. ( Muthupet / Muthupettai is a small station )

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---