Maanturai Sri Amravaneswarar Temple, Trichy

Address

Maanturai Sri Amravaneswarar Temple, Maanturai Tiruchirapalli District Pinirai 621703 PH:9942740062

Diety

Amaravaneswarar, Surakthivarai Amman: Balambigai

Introduction

Maanturai Amravaneswarar Temple, is a temple dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva, located in Manturai, a village in the outskirts of Trichy, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where the three of the most revered Nayanars (Saivite Saints), Appar and Tirugnana Sambandar have glorified the temple with their verses during the 7th-8th century. The temple has been widely expanded by Chola kings during the 11th century. The temple has three tiered gateway tower and a tank. Since Shiva bestowed a deer with a mango, this place is called Manthurai. Thala Virutcham : Mango Theertham : Cauvery Agamam / Pooja : Kameekam

Puranic Significance

Shiva bestowed a deer with a mango here. Since Shiva bestowed a deer with a mango, this place is called Manthurai (maan is deer in Tamil). Surya, Chandra, Kanvar and Vishnu are said to have worshipped Shiva here. Mrikandu Munivar (father of Markandeya) and a deer are said to have worshipped Shiva under a mango tree, and this legend is illustrated in stucco in the temple. Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, is said to have brought the Gayatri Nadi at the completion of his worship here, and his act of having made the false claim of having seen the top of the column of fire in which Shiva had manifested himself, was absolved here. Indra, the king of celestial deities, is said to have worshipped Shiva to absolve himself of the sin of having deceived Ahalya, the wife of Gowtama Rishi. Bhrama and Vishnu adorn the niches in the walls of the sanctum. This place has been referred to in Thevaram, the Saiva anthology written by Saint Poet (7th Century AD) Thirugnana Sambanthar and Appar.

Beliefs

People pray to Lord for their children facing Balagruha doshas (children affected with adverse aspects of planets during their infancy years) performing milk abishek to Mother for remedy For relief from planetary adverse effects, they pray in the Navagraha shrine. Devotees arrange abishek to Lord and Mother with vastras.

Special Features

The main rajagopuram is on the east side with three tiers. Inside the temple, there are two corridors. At the main entrance, the sculptures of Ganapathy and Muruga can be found on both the sides. The main shrine accommodates the image of Shiva known as Amravaneswarar and the Ambal his consort is known as Balambigai. There are lot of inscriptions in the walls of the temple revealing Chola architecture. There is a separate shrine for Balambigai to the right of Vedapureeswarar’s sanctum. The first precinct on the four sides of the sanctum sanctorum are decorated with the images of Nayanmars, Murugan Sannadhi in the northwest and Durga Sannadhi on the northeast. The temple has Navagraha, which is sculpted in a lotus pedestal.

Festivals

The Chittirai festival during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April – May) is celebrated for fifteen days, portraying the various incidents associated with the temple legend.