Moovalur Marga Sahayeswarar Temple, Mayiladuthurai

Address

Moovalur Marga Sahayeswarar Temple, Moovalur Village, Mayiladuthurai District- 609806

Diety

Marga Sahayeswarar / Marga Sahayar / Vazhi Kattum Vallal / Punnaga Vaneswarar Amman: Mangalambikai a

Introduction

Marga Sahayeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Moovalur village near Mayiladuthurai Town in Mayiladuthurai Taluk in Mayiladuthurai District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Marga Sahayeswarar / Marga Sahayar / Vazhi Kattum Vallal / Punnaga Vaneswarar. This temple has two Ambikas namely Mangalambikai and Soundara Nayagi. The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar had a mention about this Temple. This Temple is considered as one of the Nakshatra (Star) Temples of Uthira Nakshatra. This temple is considered as one of the temples participating in Saptha Sthana festival of Mayiladuthurai. This temple is considered as one of the Pancha Dakshinamoorthy Sthalams around Mayiladuthurai. This temple is considered as one of the Vallal Temples of Mayiladuthurai. This temple is situated on the southern bank of the Cauvery River. Moovalur is considered as the birth place (Avathara Sthalam) of Namashivaya Moorthigal, First Adheenam (Muthal Kuravar) of Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam.

Puranic Significance

As per legend, a demon named Mahishasura (mahisha meaning buffalo and asura meaning demon) lived in Mysore. Mahishasura was born of the union of a demon Rambh and Mahishi, a cursed half woman half buffalo. Rambh had obtained a boon from Agni, the God of fire, to have a powerful son who would rule over the three worlds and so Mahishasura was born. When he came of age, he obtained a boon from Lord Siva that he would not die from the hands of a male. Soon, he captured heaven and earth, terrorizing the Devas. The Devas, left with little recourse, took refuge at the mercy of the trinity of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu. On seeing the plight of the Devas, Lord Shiva directed Goddess Durga to slay the demon. She fought Mahishasura and his demon army for nine continuous days slaying Mahishasura army and eventually killing the powerful demon king Mahishasura. Hence, she came to be called as Mahishasura Mardini. Her face turned terrific and ugly due to the sin of killing Mahishasura. Mother Durga prayed to Lord Shiva and requested him that she should regain her original form. Lord Siva directed her to offer worship to the Lingam in Moovalur.As directed by Lord Shiva, she came to Moovalur, created a tank, took bath in it and started worshipping Lord Shiva. She got back her original form as promised by Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva married Durga in this place. To commemorate this incident. Even now a marriage festival is conducted in this place in the Tamil month of Panguni. This Temple might have been built in early 10th century CE by Cholas. The temple was extensively renovated by Cholas, Pandyas and Vijayanagara Kings. Moovalur was mentioned as Jayamkonda Chozha Valanaatu Thiruvazhundur Naatu Thiru Moovalur in inscriptions. The deity is mentioned as Thiru Moovalur Udaiya Nayanar, Vazhi Thunai Nayanar and Margasahayar in inscriptions. There are about 15 inscriptions in this temple. All these inscriptions are dated to several kings who were ruling over this region namely Vikrama Chola, Kulothunga Chola III, Rajendra Chola III, Sri Vallaba Pandya, Vijayanagara Kings Veera Viruppanna & Achyutaraya and Thanjavur Nayaks Achuthanayaka & Sevappa Nayaka. An inscription of Vikrama Chola refers to a temple of Madurantaka Vinnagar Alwar probably a Vishnu temple present in this place. An inscription of Vijayanagara ruler Vira Viruppanna Udaiyar records that the temple of Kazha Koothar was destroyed by fire and the lands belonging to the Lord was transferred to the main temple. The inscription of Rajendra Chola III refers to an image of Koothaadum Devar (Nataraja) in the temple. An inscription dated to Kulothunga Chola III records the gift of gold ornaments and articles of worship to this temple by an individual Selvapillai Andar. An inscription dated to Vijayanagara ruler Achutha Deva records the renewal of cake offerings in this temple for welfare of Vijayanagara ruler Achutha Deva by an individual Meiboganayakar, son of Ramappa Nayakar. An inscription dated to Sevappa Nayaka, one of the Tanjore Nayaks, records the gift thirteen velis •of lands for maintaining a feeding house attached to the temple of Marga Sahayar. An individual named Pillai Perumal Chedirayar gifted land for repairs to the temple. The gopuram carries an inscription in praise of this chieftain, Chedirayar also called Pillai Perumal and Sadayan. The gopuram of this temple might have been built by this chief. Moovalur is hailed as one of the sacred Saivite centres of the South. Moovalur is considered as the birth place (Avathara Sthalam) of Namashivaya Moorthigal, Muthal Kuravar of Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam. Moovalur is also famous for social reformer Moovalur Ramamirtham. She was a Tamil social reformer, author, and political activist of the Dravidian Movement, who worked for the abolition of the Devadasi system in the Madras Presidency. She was born in the village of Moovalur, in Mayiladuthurai Taluk.

Beliefs

People suffering from heart ailments light 11 ghee lamps and perform archana & milk abhishekam to Lord for cure. There is a belief that consuming the abhishekam milk cure them from heart ailments. The temple is considered as Parihara Sthalam for skin diseases and eye problems

Special Features

The Temple is facing towards east with five tiered Rajagopuram. The temple covers an area of about 1.5 acres and has two prakarams. Shrines of Vinayagar and Murugan can be seen in front the Rajagopuram. Dhwaja Sthambam, Balipeedam and Nandi can be found immediately after the Rajagopuram. Balipeedam is flanked by four Nandis on the four corners. This arrangement is a rare feature. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antrala, Ardha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam. The Maha Mandapam is designed to look like the forehead of a bat. Shrines of Maha Ganapathy, Sapta Matrikas and Saptha Nagas can be seen in the Ardha Mandapam. Sculptures of Aatkondar and Uyyakondar can be seen at the entrance of sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Marga Sahayeswarar / Marga Sahayar / Vazhi Kattum Vallal / PunnagaVaneswarar and he is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). Vinayaga, Dakshinamoorthy, Lingodbhava, Brahma, Durga, Pipalar, Chandrasenar, Veerasenar, Kariyasenar and Karkodakan are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Dakshinamoorthy is called as Medha Dakshinamoorthy. It is a rare feature it is a rare to see the face of an elephant, lion, deer, Rishaba, Muyalagan, Sanagathiyar and four disciples under the feet of Dakshinamoorthy. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his location. This temple has two Ambikas namely Mangalambikai and Soundara Nayagi. Soundara Nayagi is housed in a separate south facing shrine in Maha Mandapam. Intricate carvings can be seen on the outer walls of her shrine. Mangalambikai is also housed in a separate south facing shrine in Ardha Mandapam.

Festivals

Lord Aiyarappar and Aram Valartha Nayagi of Aiyarappar Temple along with Lord Shiva & Mother of Mayuranathaswami Temple, Moovalur Margasahayesvarar Temple, Sozhampettai Azhagiyanathar Temple, Thula Kattam Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Sitharkadu Brahmapureeswarar Temple and Punugeeswarar Temple goes in procession around Mayiladuthurai on the day of Chitra Pournami and finally gathering at Mayuranathar temple to invoke the blessings of Mayuranathar. They go back to their respective temples from here. This festival is called as Saptha Sthana festival of Mayiladuthurai. Navaratri, Shivaratri, Margazhi Thiruvadhirai, Arudhra Darshan, Mondays, Karthigai, Sankatahara Chathurthi, Rahu Kala Pooja on Fridays, Pradoshams, Amavasya, Theipirai Ashtami, Skanda Sashti and Aippasi Annabishekam are the other festivals celebrated here.