Edaganathar temple

Coordinates: 9°35′N 77°35′E / 9.59°N 77.59°E / 9.59; 77.59
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Edaganathar Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictMadurai
DeityEdaganathar (Shiva) Elavrkuzhali (
Parvathi)
Location
LocationTiruvedagam
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Edaganathar temple is located in Tamil Nadu
Edaganathar temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates9°35′N 77°35′E / 9.59°N 77.59°E / 9.59; 77.59
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture

Edaganathar Temple (ஏடகநாதர் கோயில்)[1] is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Thiruvedagam, a village in Madurai district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple is located on the banks of Vaigai River. Shiva is worshipped as Edaganathar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Visalakshi. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.[2]

The temple complex covers five acres and it houses two gateway towers known as

gopurams
, each facing the Edaganathar and Elavrkuzhali shrine. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Edaganathar and his consort being the most prominent.

The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. The Muthu Pandal festival is celebrated during the day of the Magam (February – March) is the most prominent festival.

The original complex is believed to have been built by

Nayak during the 16th century. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu
.

Legend

Images of the sculptures in the temple walls

As per Hindu legend,

Adisesha, the serpent snake of Vishnu worshipped Shiva and later went on to become Edakam.[5]

Architecture

The temple is located on the Madurai –

Krishna Deva Raya are seen in this temple, speaking of their endowments to this shrine. As per tradition, a Pandyan queen wanted Sambandar to reconvert the king Arikesari Nedumaran to Saivism from his Jain beliefs. Sambandar accepted the plea of the queen and influenced the king to convert to Saivism. It is also believed that the king slayed around 8,000 Jains in his kingdom. The stone carvings in the temple narrate the tradition.[6][7]

Worship, religious practises and literary mention

Images of the sculptures in the temple pillar

The temple priests perform the

pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi. Sambandar's miracle is celebrated every year as Edu Ethireriya Utsavam during the Tamil month of Vaikasi. Other festivals include Vinayaka Chaturthi, Aadi Pooram, Navaratri, Aippasi Pournami, Skanda Sashti, Kartikai Deepam, Arudra Darisanam, Tai Poosam, Maasi Magam, Panguni Uththiram and Vaikasi Visakam.[4] During the Edu Ethireriya Utsavam, the act of Sambandar is reenacted in the temple. Sankabisheka, performed during Karthikai (November – December) is considered very sacred in the region.[5]

It is one of the shrines of the 275

Thirupugazh, the work of Arunagirinathar, a 13th-century saint glorifies the temple.[8]

References

  1. ^ ta:திருவேடகம் ஏடகநாதேசுவரர் கோயில்
  2. ^ Census of India, 1961, Volume 7. Director of Census publication. 1961.
  3. ISBN 9788184957877
    .
  4. ^ a b "Sri Yedga Natha Swami temple". Dinamalar. 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  5. ^ a b R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy – Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 162–3.
  6. ISBN 9781403982322
    .
  7. ISBN 9789386950543
    .
  8. ^ "Edaganathar Temple". Thevaaram.org. Retrieved 21 February 2015.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edaganathar temple, Thiruvedagam.
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