Melathirumanickam Sundareswarar Temple – Madurai

Address

Melathirumanickam Sundareswarar Temple – Madurai

Melathirumanikkam,

Tamil Nadu 625535

Moolavar

Sundareswarar

Amman

 Meenakshi

Introduction

• Location: Melathirmanickam Village, Usilampatti, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu.
• Deities:
  • Lord Sundareswarar (Shiva)
  • Goddess Meenakshi
  • Lord Muruga
  • Lord Vinayaka (with 13 separate shrines, including one with a child)

Puranic Significance

• The Sundareswarar Temple is believed to have been constructed before the 10th century AD.
• The temple contains two vattezhuthu inscriptions from 949 AD, which refer to the Chola King Thalai Konda Veera Pandya.
• Inscriptions include:
  • The first inscription mentions the main deity as Thirumoolanatha Peruman Adigal and the village as Thirumanikayam, which came under the jurisdiction of Mutta Naadu, a subdivision of the Pandya Kingdom.
  • The second inscription documents donations made to the temple, including one by Athiyan Yetti, a merchant from Arungkulam, who donated 40 goats and 10 sheep to maintain a perpetual lamp.
  • Other inscriptions dating back to the Pandya and Chola periods have been found, many of which refer to land and cattle donations for temple upkeep.
  • During the Kulasekera Pandya and Vikarama Pandya periods, several more inscriptions were added, as well as Rajendra Chola period inscriptions (though some remain fragmented).
• The Legend of Melathirmanickam:
  • According to a local legend, a priest from Cudappah, Aathi Moorthy Iyer, was sent to Kasi to fetch holy water, leaving his son to perform the pujas. The temple had a belief that a five-headed serpent would offer a precious stone to the priest every full moon night. Greedy for the stone, the priest’s son plotted to kill the serpent and collect the stones at once. The serpent, realizing his intentions, killed the son. This incident is depicted in a panel in the Meenakshi shrine.
  • The village name Melathirmanickam was derived from this tragic legend.

Beliefs

• Cure for Diseases: Worshippers believe that those who visit the temple will be cured of their ailments.
• Blessings: Devotees pray for peace and prosperity in their lives.

Special Features

• Architectural Design:
  • The Sundareswarar and Meenakshi shrines are similar in structure, featuring a garbhagriha (sanctum), arthamandapa (hall), and a mandapa with symmetrical pillars.
  • The temple is constructed entirely with granite stones, featuring various architectural elements such as athistana, upapeeda, plain jagathi, thiripattakumudha, and kandapattiga, which form the base of the temple.
  • The roof is designed with pradhara and vedigai elements.
  • The temple’s design also features niches with sculptures of deities, which is rare for early Pandya-style architecture. The Sundareswarar shrine includes sculptures of Dakshinamoorthy, Lingothbavar, and Lord Brahma in the niches.
  • The Meenakshi shrine, adhering to early Pandya traditions, has no sculptures in its niches, which is an exception for temples in this region.
  • Panchaloha Idols: The temple houses several Panchaloha idols, which are made from five metals, and efforts are underway to build a mandap to preserve them.
• Inscriptions:
  • The temple walls are unique in that they are completely covered with inscriptions, making it one of the most historically significant temples in the region.

Renovation and Preservation

• The temple was renovated under the Nayak dynasty in the 17th century.
• A major renovation took place three years ago, but this caused the displacement of many inscriptions. The temple is still undergoing efforts for further restoration, with Mr. Azhagu Chokku leading the efforts to raise funds for its preservation.

References

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com

Century/Period

10th century AD

Managed By

Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE)

Nearest Bus Station

Melathirumanickam

Nearest Railway Station

Madurai

Nearest Airport

Madurai

Location on Map

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