164 feet tall Raja Gopuram - 30 day Theerthavari in Aipasi
The temple finds reference in various Puranic Scriptures
Located 5kms South
West of the railway station is the over 1000 years old Mayuranathar temple in
Mayiladuthurai, a temple praised by Thiru Gnana Sambanthar and Appar in
30verses as ‘Vallal Mayiladuthurai’ and the Lord as one providing relief from
Navagriha Dosham.
Lord Mayuranathar is a Swayambu
idol while Abhayambigai Ambal is seen in a peacock form, the one in which she
undertook a penance here. The 7 tiered
Raja Gopuram at 164 feet high is among the tallest in the state and is taller
than the Sarangapani Perumal temple tower in Kumbakonam.
Puranic
References
Puranas such as
Skantha Purana, Shiva Purana, Brahmmanda Purana, Chidambara Purana refer to the
greatness of Mayiladuthurai and glorify the presence of Cauvery. There is also
a reference of Lord Muruga making his way here to invoke Lord Mayuranathar’s
blessings and then moving on from here to Thiru Vidaikkazhi (near Thiru
Kadaiyur).
Thiruvaduthurai
Aatheenam
While the temple was under the
control of the Chozhas from the 11th Century AD when this was
separately referred to as the Swami temple and the Ambal temple of
Mayiladuthurai, Thiruvaduthurai Aatheenam took over the management once it was
established. Originally the temple was of brick construction and was renovated
to big Granite construction only in the early 20th century AD. Ancient inscriptions indicate significant
contributions by Rajendra I, Kulothunga III, Raja Raja and Sadaya Varma Sundara
Pandya.
The Legend
Seeking re-union with the Lord
after being cursed in anger, Ambal performed pooja through the entire month of
Aipasi with Nandi Theertham. While she was thus undertaking penance here,
Kanvar Rishi was undertaking penance in Kasi. He noticed that Ganga, Yamuna and
Saraswathi were quite dirty having gathered the sins of the people. He asked
them to go to the place where Ambal was undertaking penance and to do pooja
there to cleanse their sins.
Lord provided darshan to all
four, liberating Ambal from the curse and the sacred rivers from the sins that
they had collected. The Lord saw Ambal
in the form of a peacock. Pleased with her prayers, the Lord took the form of a
male peacock and the two of them presented a dance here referred to as Gowri
Thaandagam on the 25th day of Aipasi. Thiru Kalyanam took place on the 27th
day of Aippasi. Hence he is also referred to here as Gowri Mayura Nathar. In
memory of the above event, Theerthavari is performed on all the 30 days in
Aippasi, quite a unique feature.
Another story goes that Lord
Shiva with a slight push of his little toe sent Idaba crushing down to the
nether world. Once when Shiva decided to come here on a trip along with Vishnu
and Brahmma, Idaba (Rishaba Vahana) in an arrogant display of high speed rushed
a long way ahead leaving behind Garuda and Anna Vahana. Later, he was brought
back to Mayiladuthurai to the middle of Cauvery where Lord provided darshan
facing west.
Darshan
to the Handicapped Couple
A physically handicapped couple
from Vriddachalam – Natha Sarma and Ana Vidya went to Thiruvayaru to have
darshan of the Theerthavari Utsavam. From there, they came here to the
Mayuranathar temple to witness the last day of the Theerthavari. But as they
reached, it seemed that the utsavam had just concluded.
Saddened by this, they slept on
the banks of the Cauvery. Pleased with their devotion, the Lord appeared in
their dream and indicated to them that the new month had still not begun and that
they should bathe early in the morning and promised to give them both an early
morning darshan before the start of the new month.
When they wanted to head back to
Thiruvaryaru, Lord Airaappar indicated that he himself will come there and provide
darshan to them at Mayliduthurai. Thus one finds an Airaarappar temple in
Mayiladuthurai as well. It is now a sub temple here.
In memory of this event, there is
a separate sannidhi for both at this temple. To the right of Ambal is Ana
Vidya seen in a linga form. A special feature at this
temple is the draping of a red saree for the linga idol.
There are 16 lingams at this
temple. Going around the temple 16 times is equivalent to undertaking a Giri
Valam.
Distance
to Mayiladuthurai in ancient times
In ancient times, the
distance to this temple was indicated as being one yojana from Gaja Samhara
Kshetram of Vazhuvur in the South, Kaala Samhara Kshetram of Thiru Kadavur in
the East, Dakshaya Kshetram of Pariyalur in the South East and Kamakathagan
(Manmadan) of Korukkai in the West.
Praised
by Saint Poets
Thiru Gnana Sambanthar
has praised the Lord in the 1st and 3rd Thirumurai while
Appar has sung praise in the 5th and 6th Thirumurai.
Arunagirinathar has praised Lord Muruga of this temple in his Thirupugazh while
Sekkizhaar in his Periya Puranam refers to Sundarar coming here and having bath
in the Cauvery. Muthuswamy Deekshithar has composed 9 Keerthanais on the Ambal
of the temple as per an inscription at the temple.
In these ancient
scriptures, this town finds reference as Mayiladuthurai and was changed to
Mayavaram only a couple of centuries ago. In 1982, the town got back its
original name.
Boundaries
of Mayiladuthurai
After having darshan
at Thiru Vilanagar on the northern banks of Cauvery, Thiru Gnana Sambanthar
wanted to visit Mayura Nathar here in Mayiladuthurai but floods in the Cauvery
meant he could not cross over to the Southern side. Seeking darshan of
Mayuranathar, he sung a verse in praise of Vilanagar Lord. And pleased with
this, Goddess Cauvery gave way to the great poet. It was after this special
event that he came to Mayiladuthurai and sang praise of the Lord here. Hence
the Vilanagar Lord is referred to as Thurai Kaattum Vallal.
From Mayiladuthurai,
when Devas lost their way to other sacred places, it was the Lord in the West
at Moovalur who showed them the direction. Hence he is referred to as Maarga
Sahayar. Mayura Nathar stands here in
the middle as the Vallal Nayaka.
Famouos
Sapthasthaana Festival here too
On the day of Chitra
Pournami, Airaappar and Aram Valantha Nayaki, the deities of the sub temple go
to 7 other temples around Mayiladuthurai before finally congregating here at
Mayuranathar temple to invoke the Lord’s blessings. They go back to their
respective temples from here.
Festivals
There is a big sacred tank on the
Eastern side of the temple referred to as the Brahmma Theertham with a huge
mandapa in the middle. Theerthavari is
celebrated here on Chitra Pournami, Vaikasi Visakam and Margazhi Thiruvathirai
day in the presence of both Mayuranathar and Ambal.
The Theppotsavam follows soon
after the 10 day Vasanthotsavam in Vaikasi.
In centuries gone by, Ambal from
7 different places around Mayliduthurai - Thanthoneeswarar
(Indhalur),
Karunapuri, Kanjaru (Anantha Thaandava Puram), Pasupatheeswavaram (Pasupathi
Agraharam), Sakthipuram, Tharumapuram and Vallalar temple (Senthankudi) congregated here to seek Mayura Nathar’s
blessings.
A 30 day theerthavari festival is
celebrated during each day of Aippasi. On the first day, Amavasya and on the 30th
day, pancha moorthy from Mayiladuthurai temple, Vallalar Koil, Kasi Viswanathar
(both southern and northern banks) and Ayaarappar arrive here and the 25 Lords
provide darshan to the devotees.
During the festival in Aippasi,
Ambal in a peacock form goes around the four streets and to the banks of the
Cauvery and all the prakaras dancing around as a peacock and finally merges
with the Lord. This is indeed a special festival.
The
temple is open from 6am-12noon and from 430pm-9pm. Contact: Balamani Gurukal @
94422 12270.
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