Sri Uthirakosamangai Temple- Ramanathapurem

Address

Sri Uthirakosamangai Temple Uthirakosamangai, Ramanathapuram District.

Diety

Mangaleswarar(Shiva) Amman: Mangalambigai(Parvathi)

Introduction

Uthirakosamangai, Mangalanathaswamy temple is a Shiva temple situated in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. This temple is the world’s first Shiva temple which is over 8000 years old. The locust tree here has been in bloom for over 3300 years.* World’s first Shiva temple The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Mangalanathar, Mangalambigai and Natarajar being the most prominent. The temple houses a 6 ft (1.8 m) tall ancient maragatha Nataraja idol carved out of emerald, being the one of its kind. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Puranic Significance

The temple is believed to have been modified by the Cholas , Pandya kings, AchutappaNayak (1529–1542 ), Muthuveerappar and other kings of Ramanthapuram at various times. The temple has been glorified by the hymns of 9th-century saint Manickavasagar and 15th-century saint Arunagirinathar.The temple is considered sacred along the lines of Ramanathapuram. The antiquity of Sri Mangalanathar-Mangaleswari temple dates far back. Mandodhari (wife of Ravana) was very adamant that she would marry only a Shiva devotee and did not mind waiting for the choice. She prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva, asked the sages in the Ashrams to take care of one of the Veda Script (Agamas) as He was going to grace Mandodhar and told them that He would take back from them then on His turning back. The Lord appeared before Mandodhari as a child. Ravana who came there touched the child knowing It was Lord Shiva. Lord tested Ravana by changing Himself as fire. All the places in the world were caught in the fire. The sages, unable to protect the book given by the Lord fell in the fire tank nearby (Agni theertham) and died. But sage Manickavasagar courageously withstood the fire and saved the scripture. The Lord graced Mandodhari’s wish and helped her wedding with Ravana. The Lord graced Manickavasagar granting His Linga form. The sage is still in the temple in the Linga form. The Lord is a Swayambu Linga appearing from the Ilandha tree. This is the only temple having a Nataraja idol made of Emerald.

Beliefs

Mother Mangaleswari helps removal of obstacles in marriage alliance efforts. Worshipping the God and Goddess in the morning will remove the sins brought from the previous birth, praying in the afternoon removes sins of the present birth while worshipping the Lord and the mother in the evening grants the devotee longevity, progress in profession and profitability. Devotees offer abishek and Vastras (clothing) to the God and Goddess.

Special Features

Generally, people visit a temple, worship once and turn back. This is a temple where people worship thrice a day and gain more benefits. This is one such temple in Utharakosamangai in Ramanathapuram district. This is the only temple where an Emerald Nataraja idol is available for darshan of the devotees. Also this is the only temple where the fragrant flower Thazhamboo is permitted for worship whereas the flower is forbidden for use in worship in other Shiva temples as this flower gave false evidence in favour of Brhamma as if he found the head of Lord Shiva. Brahmma also got relieved from the curse by worshipping the Lord from this temple. The Lord is a swayambumurthi appearing from the Ilandha tree which still exists in the temple.