Mahendrapalli Sri Tirumeni Azhagar Temple- Nagapattinam

Address

Mahendrapalli Sri Tirumeni Azhagar Temple, Mahendirapalli Post, Sirkazhi-Taluk, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu – 609 101.

Diety

Sri Thirumeni Azhagar, Sri Somasundareswarar, Amman: Sri Vadivambikai

Introduction

Mahendrapalli Tirumeni Azhagar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Mahendirapalli in Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Tirumeni Azhagar. His consort is known as Vadivambigai. It is one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar. It is believed that Mahendra worshipped Shiva here and hence the place came to be known as Mahendrapalli. Theertham (Holy water): Mahendra Pushkarini Sthala Vriksham (Sacred Tree): Vilvam

Puranic Significance

This is a small sea shore temple and it was renovated recently. The temple is on the southern banks of river Kollidam. This river merges with the sea about 2 kms away from this temple.The historical name of this place is Mayendirapalli but now it is known as Mahendrapalli. Another name of this place is “Koyiladippalayam”. It is believed that Indiran tried to woo Akalika, the wife of Maharshi Gautama. Indiran was cursed by the Rishi to have his body covered with eyes. He sought relief from this curse and came to Earth and prayed to Lord Shiva in many temples and this is one among them. As Indiran – “Maha Indiran” is believed to have worshiped the lord here, this place is known as “Mahendira Palli” (“Palli” means place in Tamil). The lingam in this temple is very small and lustrous. It is called “Thiru Meni Azhagar” (“Meni” means body and “Azhagar” means beautiful in Tamil). Lord Shiva is believed to have given the darshan of his cosmic dance to Indiran, Brahma, Suryan and Chandran.It is also believed that in the tank (pushkarini) of this temple, Lord Krishna performed Amavasya rituals (Tharpanam) on a new moon day before the Kurukshetra war. He created the “Bodhayana Amavasya”.

Beliefs

The holy water of this temple is believed to be attributed to Lord Brahma – the creator. Hence, devotees believe that by taking a dip in the holy water and worshiping the lord here, Lord Brahma would absolve them off their curses and sins.

Special Features

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 6th Shiva Sthalam on the northern bank of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu (Vadakarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This east facing temple’s main tower (Rajagopuram) has 3-tiers and it has a single corridor. The last consecration ceremony took place on 22.01.1999. In the corridors, idols of Lords Vinayakar (having planets Ragu and Ketu on his either sides), Murugan with his consorts, Natarajar, Kasi Viswanathar, Goddess Visalakshi, Meenakshi Sundareswarar, Bhairavar, Saneeswarar, Suryan and Chandran can be seen. Chandikeswarar graces with his consort. There is no Navagraham here.