Muzhaiyur Parasunathar Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Muzhaiyur Parasunathar Temple, Muzhaiyur, Kumbakonam Taluk, Thanjavur District – 612 703 Phone: +91 4374 267 237

Diety

Parasunathar Amman: Gnanambigai

Introduction

Parasunathar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Muzhaiyur Village near Patteeswaram in Kumbakonam Taluk in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Parasunathar and Mother is called as Gnanambigai. The Temple is believed to be 1000 years old. The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar. The Temple is also called as Pazhayarai Thenthali. The Temple is situated on the northern banks of T.R. Pattinam River.

Puranic Significance

The city of Pazhayarai was one of the capital towns of the Chola Empire. It consisted of present Patteeswaram, Muzhaiyur, Udaiyalur, Cholan Maligai, Thirusakthimutram, Darasuram and Ramanathan Koil. Pazhayarai is surrounded by the river Mudikondan on the south and the river Thirumalairayan on the north. This town was also a capital for few years during later Cholas. Sundara Chola, father of great Rajaraja Chola I ruled Chola Dynasty from Pazhayarai. Pazhayarai was called as Pazhayarai Nagar in the 7 th century, Nandipuram in the 8 th century, Pazhayarai Nandipuram in the 9 th and 10th centuries, Mudikonda Cholapuram in the 11th century and Rajarajapuram in the 12th century. Pazhayarai housed four battle camps of the Cholas namely Aariyapadaiyur, Pampapadaiyur, Manapadaiyur and Puthupadaiyur. Pazhayarai was considered as birthplace of Amaraneedi Nayanar and Mangayarkkarasiyar, a saint amongst the 63 Nayanmars. During Devaram times, Pazhayarai was divided into four major divisions namely; Pazhayarai Vadathali, Metrali, Keezhthali and Thenthali. Thali means Temple in ancient Tamil. Kailasanathar Temple was situated in Metrali, Dharmapureeswarar Temple in Vadathali, Somanathar Temple in Keezhthali and Parasunathaswamy Temple in Thenthali. Thenthali is called as Muzhaiyur now. Before Vijayalaya Chola could set up his capital in Thanjavur (850 B.C.) and lay the foundation for the powerful Chola Empire that followed, the Chola kings were the chieftains in Pazhayarai. It was in this metropolis that Raja Rajan (985 – 1014) spent his childhood and where his sister Kundavai lived with her husband. King Rajendran I (1012-1044) lived here before shifting his capital to Gangai Konda Chola Puram. Parasunathar: As per legend, Sage Parasurama came to Muzhaiyur to get relief from Brahmmahathi dosha that afflicted him for killing his own mother as instructed by his father Sage Jamadagni. He installed a Shivalinga and worshipped here and was relieved from the dosha. Hence, Lord Shiva came to be called as Parasunathar. Nandini, daughter of Kamadhenu worshipped Lord Shiva here Nandini, the daughter of Kamadhenu worshipped here. Other daughters of Kamadhenu, Patti worshipped Lord Shiva in Patteeswaram, Sabhali worshipped Lord Shiva in Pazhayarai Mel Thali and Vimali worshipped Lord Shiva in Pazhayarai Vadathali. Muzhaiyur: Muzhavu is a drum instrument used for making announcements of royal and official orders also used in temples for festival and Puja announcements. There were people who were skilled in using this instrument for singing Veda hymns. These people stayed in this place and hence, the place came to be called as Muzhaiyur.

Special Features

This Temple is facing towards west with three tiered Rajagopuram and has two prakarams. The entrance to the inner prakaram is immediately after the Rajagopuram. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found immediately after this entrance. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Artha Mandapam and Sanctum. Another Nandi and Balipeedam can be seen in the Artha Mandapam facing sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Parasunathar and is facing west. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy. It is round in shape with eight corners and belongs to the Beejakshara Linga form. The Linga is praised as Neenda Kombu Nedundhidai Lingam in Tamil. Sunrays will fall on Lingam on Masi 13, 14 and 15. Nardana Ganapthy, Arthanareeswarar, Dakshinamoorthy, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. Mother is called as Gnanambigai. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. There is a shrine for Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Deivanai in the eastern side of the inner prakaram. He is holding Trisula (trident) in between the two fingers in the left hand, attributed to Shakti instead of his Vel (lance) weapon. There are shrines for Uchchhishta Ganapathi, Appar, Sundarar and Tirugnanasambandar in the temple premises. There is a Buddha idol (only head portion was available, the rest was lost) in the temple.

Festivals

Akshaya Tritiya in Chithirai (April-May), Mahashivaratri in Masi (February-March), Margazhi Thiruvadhirai (December-January), Panguni Uthiram (March-April) and Tirukarthikai in NovemberDecember are the festivals celebrated in the temple. Akshaya Tritiya festival was conducted in a grand manner during ancient times as the Kumbakonam Mahamaham festival. Many from the north also thronged here then. During this festival the Lord would be garlanded with gold coins.