Tiruvaikal Sri Vaikalnathar Temple, Nagapattinam

Address

Tiruvaikal Sri Vaikalnathar Temple, Vaigal Madakoil, Aduthurai, Nagapattinam District- 612 101, Phone: +91 – 435 – 246 5616

Diety

Vaigalnathar (Shenbaga Aranyeswarar) Amman: Kombial Kothai (Shaka Komalavalli)

Introduction

Tiruvaikal Vaikalnathar Temple is a Shiva temple located at Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Shiva. He is called as Vaigalnathar (Shenbaga Aranyeswarar). His consort is Kombial Kothai (Shaka Komalavalli).It is one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams.This Temple is considered to be the Mukkan Kshetram of Vaikal Village. The Temple is considered to be one of the 70 Maadakovils, temples with elevated structure where elephants cannot reach the sanctum, built by Sangam era Chola Emperor Kochengata Chola. The temple is considered as one of the 276 Devaram Paadal Petra Sthalams. This Temple is considered as 150th Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 33rd Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Thala Virutcham : Shenbagam Theertham : Shenbaga theertham

Puranic Significance

Mother Earth –Bhoomidevi prayed to Lord Maha Vishnu to marry her which Lord obliged and had Her as His consort. This was not acceptable to Mother Mahalakshmi and left the Lord. She came to this Shenbagavanam and took on a severe penance to get back her Lord. Lord Vishnu and Bhoomidevi came in search of Mahalakshmi. Brahamma followed in search of Lord Vishnu. They found Mother Mahalakshmi here and prayed to Lord Shiva. By the grace of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu had both Lakshmi and Bhoodevi as His consorts. Lord Shiva is a swayambumurthy in the temple.

Beliefs

Lord grants every wish of His devotee. The devotee may offer what he/she could to continue the pujas.

Special Features

This is one of the Mada temples built by Kochengannan. As the three eyes of Lord Shiva, the place has three Shiva temples. The right eye of the Lord is Viswanatha-Visalakshi temple, the second left is with Lord Brahammapureeswarar with Mother Perianayaki and the third forehead is for LordVaigalnathar with Mother Kombial Kothai. Lord Brahmma, Lord Vishnu, Mother Mahalakshmi and Sage Agasthya had worshipped in this temple. One elephant, searching for its calf damaged an anthill of ants. They bit the elephant and killed it. Both prayed to Lord Shiva and attained salvation here.

Festivals

Maha Shivrathri in February-March; Purattasi Navarathri in September-October; Aipasi Annabishekam in October-November; and all important festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva are celebrated in the temple.