Kovilyur Sri Mandirapureeswarar Temple, Thiruvarur

Address

Kovilyur Sri Mandirapureeswarar Temple ,Kovilur, Thiruvarur Distrct- 614704, PH:9942039494

Diety

Mandirapureeswarar, Amman: Brahandanayagi

Introduction

Tiruvusaattaanam Mandirapureeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Kovilur in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, as the moolavar presiding deity, in his manifestation as Mandira Pureeswarar. His consort, Parvati, is known as Periyanayagi. Historical name of this place is Tiruvusathanam. Now this place is called as Kovilur or Muthupettai Kovilur. It is one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar. This is the 224th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 107th Sthalam on the south side of River Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.

Puranic Significance

One of the wives of Kashyapa Maharishi was Vinathai. She was virtually under the control of the other wife of the Rishi, Kadru. In order to release her from the bondage, Vinathai’s son Garuda was bringing the pot of Nectar from heaven. Since Indra did not want to lose the nectar, he gave a hot chase. In this rush, a drop of the nectar fell on this place due to which the entire area became a mango garden. A small portion of nectar also fell on the Lord and this had converted Him into a White Lingam ( Swetha Lingam). Later, Patanjali Maharishi came here and cleared the forest so that everyone could access the temple.

Special Features

Presiding deity is called as Mandira Pureeswarar / Usaattaanamudaiya Naayanar. Lord of this temple is Swayambu Moorthy. The presiding deity is a white colored lingam. Moolavar is housed on a square Avudayar. His consort, Parvati, is known as Periyanayagi. Ambal is located in a separate temple. Shala Vriksham is Mango tree. Inscriptions belong to Vikrama Chozhan, Kulothunga III and Sundara Pandiyan period can be found in this temple. There are also shrines for Suryan, 63var, Ijvarakeswarar, Kaatchikodutha Nayakar with Ambal, Saptha Mathakkal, Saptha kanniyars, Veerapathirar, Kaali, Kashi Viswanathar, Suthavana Lingam, Somaskandar, Varuna, worshiped Lingams, Ramar, Markandeya, worshiped Lingams, Annapoorani, Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Gajalakshmi, Saraswathy, Navakanniyar, Sani Bhagavan, Bairavar and Chandran in this temple.

Festivals

Thai Poosam Theerthavari in January-February; Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January and Maha Shivrathri in February-March are the festivals celebrated in the temple.