Thiyakasamudram Mahalingaswamy Shiva Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Thiyakasamudram Mahalingaswamy Shiva Temple Thiyakasamudram, Papanasam taluk, Thanjavur District – 612 301

Diety

Mahalingaswamy Amman: Pruka Sundaragujambal

Introduction

Thiyakasamudram is located 2 km west of Swamimalai on the Kumbakonam – Kapistalam road. This is a village along a main highway. It is known from vickrama Chola had the names Thiyakasamudram and Akalangan. The Avur inscription mentions that the town of Vannakudi was renamed as Thiyakasamudra Nallur and donated to the Thiruidaimarudur temple as a pilgrimage land. The temple is dedicated to Lord Mahalingaswamy and Goddess Pruka Sundaragujambal. The temple is under the control of the Department of Hindu Temples and is classified as a primary temple. So most of the time the temple is closed with a one-time puja, the temple is very dilapidated and trees have sprouted in the sanctum sanctorum. We, who have been asking for blessings, are left speechless when we see the idols wearing old clothes without oil.

Puranic Significance

The temple faces east but the main gate faces south along the highway. It is as if the Lord is the great Lingamurti and that is why he is called Mahalingaswamy. The goddess has a beautiful appearance to match the name. The Lord is facing east and the Lord is facing south. The koshta idols are not very small in size to suit the structure of the temple. If so, the temple may have been in a state of great disrepair and may have been the only prototype. The koshta murtis have arrived as small as the interim budget. In the prakaram, the whirlwind Ganesha, Arumugam shrines, and Murugan, who is carrying a scepter and a diamond weapon in his hand, are in the standing posture. Adjacent to it are new idols of Iyappan and Anjaneyar as interpolations. In front of the fort you can see the ancient Sandesar sculpture. The Chandikeswara Murthy, seated with a circular pedestal (probably intended to look like a lotus), is one of the oldest. He is usually tied with both hands, and here is Sanders with four arms, one can be seen carrying an ax in his upper right hand. The right forearm is the abhaya hand, and the back is the sole of the forearm with the forearm dorsal seal. To the northeast are the shrines of Navagraha and Bhairav Sanacharan. # “With the kind permission of Sri Kadambur K. Vijayan, these are extracted from his posts”.