Malaieswaran Temple / மலையீஸ்வரன் கோயில் / Kailayanathar Temple, Melakottaivasal, Nagapattinam, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

The Heritage visit to this Sri Malaieswaran Temple Melakottaivasal, Nagapattinam in Nagapattinam District was a part of the “Mada Temples Heritage Walk in Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai Districts”, organized by “Chozham Mandala Varalatru Thedal Kuzhu – GCHRG, on 05^th and 6^th March 2022. This temple at Malieswaram / Melakottaivasal, a part of Nagapattinam City and about 250 meters from Sri Neelayadhakshi Kayarohaneshwarar Temple, one of the 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Temples. Thanks to V Ramachandran, Tahasildar of Nagapattinam, who took us to all these Temples.

Moolavar  : Sri Kailasanathar / Sri Malaieswaran
Consort    : Sri Tripurasundari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces east with an entrance arch with stucco images of Lord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar and Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar on both sides. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Entrance. A sandstone squatting Lion with eroded Uma Maheswarar on the Chest is in front of Rishaba mandapam.  There are 18 steps to climb up the upper level. Moolavar is with 16 fluted surfaces Dhara lingam in the upper level on a round avudayar. Uma Maheswarar relief in sukhasana sitting posture on a sandstone squatting Lion is on the back of Moolavar. Lord Shiva is in Abhaya and kadaka hastam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Dakshinamurthy and Durgai Amman are in the kostam. Ambal Tripurasundari, Annapoorani, and Parasara Maharishi are on the upper level.

At the Ground level, the parivara deities are, Vinayagar as Maha Ganapathi, Bairavar, Suriyan, Siddhi Vinayagar, Juradevar, Nagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniya, Natarajar, Maha Lakshmi, Saneeswarar and Chandikeswarar.

ARCHITECTURE
This is one of the Mada Temples with an upper level and a lower level / veRRuthalam. The Parivara deities are on the lower level and the main temple is on the upper level. The main temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a padma upanam and padabandha adhistanam. The walls are supported with Brahma kantha pilasters. Panjaras are between sala pathi and karnapathi. The sanctum sanctorum measures 3.85 meters in the south-north direction and 3.48 meters east-west direction. Only Dakshinamurthy is in Koshtam and the rest are empty. Manickavasagar in anjali hastam is near Dakshinamurthy Kostam.

An ekathala dravida Vimanam on the sanctum sanctorum. In greeva koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu with Sridevi and Bhudevi and Brahma with his consorts.

The Ambal temple also with similar construction, to Moolavar Vimanam. Mahisasuramardhini is on the back side of koshtam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the original temple was constructed  by the Chozha King Ko Chenkat Chozha.  ( As per the Historians This temple is about a KM from the sea. Since Chozha’s capital Kavipoompattinam was destroyed by the Tsunami – azhiperalai-to save from tsunami the temples along the sea shore were built as a mada Temple ). Later received contributions from Pallavas, Chozhas, Vijayanagaras and Dutch. A Chozha period inscription ( upside down ) is found on a pillar in front of Gajalakshmi sannidhi.

The 1777 CE, Dutch inscription on the compound wall and at the entrance of the temple records that the temple was reconstructed by Governor Reynier Van Vlisingen.

Ashtabandhana maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 14^th September 1997.  The contribution to the front Gopuram ( mottai Gopuram ) was by Thiyagarajan Chettiar & Sons.  

An upside down inscription shown in horizontal Direction

LEGENDS
Maharishis and Munis worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Veda Vyasa’s father Parasara Maharishi worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple and attained mukti and Lord Shiva with Parvati gave the Kalyanakola darshan.

Since Uma Maheswara’s bas relief is on the sandstone Simham on the back of Shiva Lingam, devotees worship for the reunion of separated couples, for a peaceful married life and marriage boon, etc,.

Similar to Thiruvarur Sapthasthanam temples, this is one of the Sapthasthanam places around Nagapattinam and they are Poigainallur ( Nagapattinam ), Pappakoil, Sikkal, Palur, Vadakudi, Thethi and Nagore.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Maha Shivaratri days. Margazhi Dhanur matha pooja, Thai Pongal, Thai month last Friday Mahalakshmi Abhishekam, Tamil New Year Day, Aadi month 1^st Friday and Karthigai, Durgai Amman Abhishekam on Tuesdays, Avani -Maha Sankatahara Chaturthi, Avani -Vinayagar Chaturthi, Puratasi - Navaratri, Aippasi -Annabhishekam, Deepavali, Karthigai - Thirukarthigai and Karthigai Somavara Sangu abhishekam.

This temple is the 5^th temple out of 12 Shiva Temples of Nagapattinam, where special worship is conducted on Maha Shivaratri days. ( The 12 Temples are… Velivai Shiva Temple, Kayarohaneshwarar temple, Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Amara Nadeeswarar Temple, Malaieswarar Temple, Kattiappar Temple, Naduvatheeswarar Temple, Azhanatha Swamy temple, Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, Chokkanatha Swamy Temple, Sattaiyappar Temple and Naganathar Temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH
This temple at Malieswaram / Melakottaivasal, a part of Nagapattinam City and about 250 meters from Sri Neelayadhakshi Kayarohaneshwarar, one of the 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Temples.
This temple is about 1 KM from Nagapattinam railway station, 20 KM from Karaikal,  20 KM from Thiruvarur,  53 KM from Mannargudi, and 303 KM from Chennai.
The nearest railway station is Nagapattinam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Parasara Maharishi

Juradevar / Jurahareswarar

Uma Maheswarar bas- relief on the back side of Shiva Linga too

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---