Melakottaivasal Malaieswaran (Kailayanathar) Temple, Nagapattinam

Address

Melakottaivasal, Nagapattinam circle,

Nagapattinam District,

Tamil Nadu

Moolavar

Malaieswaran

Amman

Sri Tripurasundari

Introduction

Sri Malaieswaran Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Melakottaivasal, Nagapattinam in Nagapattinam District was a part of “Mada Temples. This temple at Melakottaivasal, a part of Nagapattinam City and about 250 meters from Sri Neelayadhakshi Kayarohaneshwarar Temple, one of the 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Temples. Here the Presiding deity is called as Sri Kailasanathar / Sri Malaieswaran and Mother is called as Sri Tripurasundari.

Puranic Significance

It is believed that the original temple was constructed by the Chozha King Ko Chenkat Chozha. (As per the Historians this temple is about a KM from the sea. Since Chozha’s capital Kavipoompattinam was destroyed by the Tsunami – azhiperalai-to save from tsunami the temples along the sea shore was built as a mada Temple). Latter received contributions from Pallavas, Chozhas, Vijayanagaras and Dutch. A Chozha period inscription is found on a pillar in front of Gajalakshmi sannidhi.
The 1777 CE, Dutch inscription on the compound wall and at the entrance of the temple records that the temple was reconstructed by the Governor Reynier Van Vlisingen. Ashtabandhana maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 14^th September 1997. The contribution to the front Gopuram (mottai Gopuram) was by Thiyagarajan Chettiar & Sons.

Maharishis and Munis worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Veda Vyasa’s father Parasara Maharishi worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple and attained mukti and Lord Shiva with Parvati gave the Kalyanakola darshan. Since Uma Maheswara’s bas relief is on the sand stone Simham on the back of Shiva Lingam, devotees worships for reunion of separated couples, for a peaceful married life and marriage boon etc,.

Similar to Thiruvarur saptha sthanam temples, this is one of the saptha sthanam places around Nagapattinam and they are Poigainallur
(Nagapattinam), Pappakoil, Sikkal, Palur, Vadakudi, Thethi and Nagore.

Special Features

The temple is facing east with and entrance arch with stucco images of Lord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar and Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar are on both sides. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Entrance. Sandstone squatting Lion with eroded Uma Maheswarar on the Chest is in front of Rishaba mandapam. There are 18 steps to climb up the upper level. Moolavar is with 16 fluted surfaces Dhara lingam in the upper level on a round avudayar. Uma Maheswarar relief in sukhasana sitting posture on a sand stone squatting Lion is on the back of Moolavar. Lord Shiva is in Abhaya and kadaka hastam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Dakshinamurthy and Durgai Amman are in the koshtam. Ambal Tripurasundari, Annapoorani and Parasara maharishi are on the upper level.

At Ground level the deities are, Vinayagar as Maha Ganapathi, Bairavar, Suriyan, Siddhi Vinayagar, Juradevar, Nagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniya, Natarajar, Maha Lakshmi, Saneeswarar and Chandikeswarar.

This is one of the Mada Temples with an upper level and a lower Level / Verruthalam. The barivara deities are in the lower level and the main temple is on the upper level. The main temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a padma upanam and padabandha adhistanam. The walls are supported with brahma kantha pilasters. Panjaras are between sala pathi and karnapathi. The sanctum sanctorum measuring 3.85 meter on south north direction and 3.48 meters east west direction. Only Dakshinamurthy is in Koshtam and the rest are empty. Manickavasagar in anjali hastam is near Dakshinamurthy Koshtam.