Anayur Sri Iravadeeswarar Temple, Madurai

Address

Anayur village, Madurai district,

Tamil Nadu 625 017.

Phone: 93450 42860

Moolavar

Iravadeeswarar, Agneeswaram Udayar

Amman

Meenakshi

Introduction

Anayur, Iravadeeswarar Temple is a Sivan temple and is located in Anayur, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu state, India. Here the Presiding deity is called as Iravadeeswarar and Mother is called as Meenakshi. The deity is known with other name is Agneeswaramudayar. The temple is said to be more than 1500 years old. Anayur is 45 kms from Madurai and 7 km from Usilampatti.

Puranic Significance

In days of yore, the region known as Valandur was under the rule of a hunter community king. Uthappa Naickanur, a town nearby was a trading centre. Traders passing through the Kattrazhaikadu (where the temple now exists) noticed elephant (Iravadam) carrying water in its trunk from the Pottramarai tank and going into the jungle. They informed this to the king. The king ordered cleaning of the bushes and found that at one spot blood began to ooze out. They found Lord Shiva as a Swayambulinga and built this temple

Sage Durvasa presented a garland he got as the result of his Shiva Puja to Indira. He received it with scant respect and placed it on his Iravadham elephant. The animal pushed it down and stamped it. Indira was dethroned from his position due to the curse of the sage and Iravadham fell down on earth as a wild elephant losing its status. Iravadam worshipped Lord Shiva and got relieved of the curse of the sage. Hence, Lord of this place was named Iravada Eswarar. This is one of the ancient temples of Tamilnadu. The Linga is a swayambumurthy facing west. A five hooded serpent made of copper is above His head. The rays of Sun fall on the Lord on the pradosha days of Tamil months Chithirai and Aadi. There is an idol of Lord Vinayaka in Artha Paryangasana form – with three eyes, right leg folded and the left leg in a sitting form. The date of the idol goes back to the 10th century according to historians. Sri Jeshtadevi, sister of Mother Sridevi appears with her son Rishaban and daughter Agnimadha on both sides. Some people say that this is Sri Anjaneya gracing with His Mother Anjanadevi. It is also noteworthy that some of the sculptures in the temple had been damaged during the invasion of Nawab. Remembering the event of elephant (Aanai in Tamil) Iraadam relieved of the curse of Sage Durvasa, a wooden idol made of Kadhamba tree exists in the temple.

Beliefs

People pray to realize their wishes and believe that they would be relieved of the sins covering them. People happy with their prayers perform abishek to Lord and Vilwa archanas. They offer sari to Mother Meenakshi and contribute for the renovation of the temple.

Special Features

Lord Shiva in his Linga form is a swayambumurthi facing west. The rays of Sun fall on the Lord on the Pradosha days in Chithirai (April-May) and Aadi ((July-August) as if he performs the puja to Lord directly himself. The sculptures in the temple remind us of the temple architecture of the period of early kings.

Festivals

The temple does not have regular archakas – priests as such for conducting daily pujas. Yet devotees coming to the temple do the pujas themselves and execute their prayer commitments. Special pujas on Pradosha days; Aipasi Annabishekam on Poornima day in October-November; Tirukarthikai in November-December and Shivrathri in February-March are performed in the temple.