Aangarai Sri Marudandhanadheswarar Temple, Trichy

Address

Lalgudi-Aangarai, Trichy district,

Tamil Nadu 621703

Moolavar

Sri Marudandhanadheswarar

Amman

Sundara Kanchani

Introduction

Aangarai Sri Marudandhanadheswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Aangarai village, Trichy district, Tamil Nadu. Here the presiding deity is called as Sri Marudandhanadheswarar and Mother is called as Sundara Kanchani.

Puranic Significance

Marudandhan was the son Sage Suholar. His wife was of doubtful character. So the Sage divorced her. After the divorce, the woman practiced sinful profession. Marudandhan grew into a youth and earned the friendship of the prince who was after women. Mardandhan also developed this habit. They visited the house of a woman who was older than them. The woman had her doubts about Mardandhan on seeing him. Yet they enjoyed the day. The woman became sure that it was her alone who shared the bed with her. On knowing the truth, Marudandhan felt a stinging pain in him and cried loudly for having committed a sin of highest magnitude. Frustrated, he went to the forest and sat in meditation and vowed that that he would not take a grain of food till he had the darshan of God. God appeared before the boy who committed the sin unknowingly. Lord Shiva told the boy that every youth should consider women as his mother and that He staged this cruel play to teach this lesson to the world. The Lord also said that such sins may become common during Kaliyuga. His intention was to correct them. Lord Shiva excused the boy. When Marudandhan insisted a way to repent for the sin, the Lord asked him to build a temple for total washing off of the sin. The boy labored hard and built this temple. Mother Sundara Kanchani consoled the boy.

Beliefs

People pray for removal of obstacles in marriage alliances, for child boon and excellence in education. People pray for removal of obstacles in marriage alliances, for child boon and excellence in education

Special Features

The shrines of Lord and Mother are constructed in such a way side by side that the devotee can go round both at the same time. This model is very rare. The temple has a one Prakara-corridor only having shrines for Dakshinamurthy, Vinayaka, Gajalakshmi, Durga, Chandikeswara and Navagrahas – the 9 planets. The consecration of the temple was performed last in the year 1968. The Temple is believed to be 1000 years old.

Though the temple is facing east, the south facing entrance only is in use. While the shrine of Lord faces east, that of Mother is facing South in a single hall – mandap. The devotee can go round the shrines simultaneously. This is a rare model.

Festivals

Tamil New Year day falling almost on April 14 each year, Vaikasi Visakam in May-June, Aadi Kruthikai in June-July, Vinayak Chaturthi mostly during August-September, Navarathri during September-October, Skanda Sashti in October-November, Tirukarthikai in November-December, Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple with special pujas.