Wednesday, 24 July 2024

Arultharum Maragathambigai sametha Sri Moondreeswarar Temple, அருள்தரும் மரகதாம்பிகை சமேத ஶ்ரீ மூன்றீஸ்வரர் கோவில், Athalanallur / அத்தாளநல்லூர், Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu.

This Sri Moondreeswarar Temple is about a km from Sri Gajendra Varadar temple in the same Village, This is one of the Pancha Guru Sthalams and a Pancha Booth (akaya) Sthalam.


Moolavar   : Sri Moontreeswaramudayar
Consort     : Sri Maragathambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces east with a 4 pillar mandapam. In mukha mandapam Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam. In Koshtam only Dakshinamurthy. Moolavar is on a round avudayar. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance and Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of sanctum sanctorum.

In praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Ambal, Chandikeswarar, Adhikara Nandi, Suriyan, Chandran, Juradevar and Saptakannis.  A Shiva with Ambal is in a separate temple on the south side of the Sri Moondreeswarar Temple.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing South. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.




ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The Bhirtti starts with Vedikai. Brahmakantha pilasters are on the bhitti with kalasam, kudam, mandi, palakai, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with bhuta ganas, kapotam with plain nasikudus and viyyalavari. An ekatala vesara Vimanam is on the Bhumidesam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the greeva koshtams.



HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the original temple was constructed during the 14th to 15th century Pandya period and later reconstructed and praharam was also added by Madurai Nayakas. The mukha mandapam was extended by Nayakas and donors' images are on the pillars.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 08th April 2009.




LEGENDS
Dakshinamurthy’s sitting posture is unique in this temple with the right leg hanging and the left leg folded and resting on the right leg knee. The left leg’s palm is facing up.

There are three Shiva Lingas with Rishabams in this temple, called Moondreeswarar Temple.

This is one of the Pancha guru sthalam and a Pancha booth sthalam ie, Akaya sthalam similar to Kalahasti.

Sage Agasthiyar came to Pothigai Hills to balance the earth, on the way he worshipped many Shiva Lingas and believed that this was one of the places, where he did penance. Many siddhars and Maharishis also chose this place for penance. Hence this place is considered as a Siddhar peedam.



POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from oru kala, special poojas are conducted on Maha Shivaratri days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
As per the display board, the temple will be kept open between 09.30 to 10.30 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 18.30 hrs.  

CONTACT DETAILS
The Archakar’s mobile number is +919600416416 may be contacted for further details. The trustee’s mobile number is +917871005814 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH
The temple at Athalanallur is about 1.2 km from Thiruppudaimarudur, 11 km from Ambasamudram, 22 km from Pavanasam Shiva temple, 25 km from Tirunelveli, and 44 km from Tenkasi.
The nearest railway Station is Ambasamudram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE










--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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