Masilamaniswara Temple, Thirumullaivoyal

Coordinates: 13°08′11″N 80°07′57″E / 13.136417°N 80.132400°E / 13.136417; 80.132400
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Masilamaniswara Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictTiruvallur
DeityMasilamaninathar(Shiva) Kodiyidai Nayagi(Parvati)
Features
  • Temple tank: Manasa Pushkarani
  • Temple tree: Mullai Kodi
Location
LocationThirumullaivoyal
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Masilamaniswara Temple, Thirumullaivoyal is located in Tamil Nadu
Masilamaniswara Temple, Thirumullaivoyal
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates13°08′11″N 80°07′57″E / 13.136417°N 80.132400°E / 13.136417; 80.132400
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture
Completed9th century CE

The Masilamaniswara Temple, Thirumullaivoyal or Masilamaniswara Temple is a

Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thirumullaivoyal in the Chennai-Avadi road, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Tevaram and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Sundarar, Ramalinga Swamigal and Arunagirinathar.[1] His consort Parvati is depicted as Piraisoodi Amman. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th-century Tamil Shaiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam
.

The temple is believed to have been built by

gopurams
. The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Masilamaniswarar and Kodiyidai Nayagi Amman being the most prominent. The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar.

The temple is one of the Sakthi triad in the region of

Thiruvudai Amman Temple at Minjur
.

Legend

Main Entrance of the Thirumullaivoyal Masilamaniswara Temple
Dwajasthambham (mast) on the eastern side of the temple
Slant view of the main entrance
Eastern entrance

In ancient times, the forest surrounding

Nandi in this temple faces outwards, ready to leave for the battle on the orders of Shiva, whereas in all other Shiva temples, it faces inwards facing the sanctum.[2]

History

The temple has inscriptions from the period of

Nandi Bull statue is believed to have been built to commemorate the victory of king Thondaiman over two demon brothers.[5]

Architecture

Outer view of the temple

The vimana (roof) of the sanctum sanctorum is designed in a special way that is exclusive to

Kurumbars—two pillars made of the tree trunk of 'Vellerukku' (white Crown flower - Calotropis gigantea). These pillars can be seen even today placed on both sides, decorating the sanctum sanctorum of the presiding deity.[6]

Religious importance

Thirumullaivoyal is one of the many temple towns in the state which is named after the grooves, clusters or forests dominated by a particular variety of a tree or shrub and the same variety of tree or shrub sheltering the presiding deity. The region is believed to have been covered with Chamapaka forest and hence called Chamapakavanam.[7] She and Her counterparts, Tiruvudai Amman Thirumanangeeswarar Temple- She who symbolises Lakshmi and Vadivudai Amman Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvottiyur- She who is resplendent with her gracious beauty, are believed to be three Goddesses who shower all auspicious things in life if visited and worshipped on the same day of Chitra Pournami - the full moon day in the Tamil month of Chithirai.

Sundarar, an 8th-century Tamil Shaiva poet, venerated Masilamaniswarar in ten verses in Tevaram, compiled as the Seventh Tirumurai. As the temple is revered in Tevaram, it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 275 temples that find mention in the Shaiva canon. The temple is counted as the 52nd in the list of temples in the northern banks of Cauvery.[8]

The temple with Kodiyidai Amman as its chief goddess is the third of the Sakthi temple triad in the region of the Tondaimandalam, namely, Thiruvudai Amman (also known as Ichchaa Sakthi, the goddess who fulfills devotees' wishes), Vadivudai Amman (also known as Gnaana Shakti, the goddess who blesses with gnana or knowledge), and Kodiyidai Ammam (also known as Kriya Shakti, the goddess who assists in all actions). The Vadivudai Amman shrine or Thyagaraja Temple is at Tiruvottiyur while the Thiruvudai Amman shrine or Thirumanangeeswarar Temple is at Minjur.[6]

Worship practices

Manasa Pushkarini, the sacred pond on the eastern side of the temple

The temple priests perform the

pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi. Mahashivaratri during February - March and Thiruvadihari during December are the major festivals celebrated in the temple.[2] Every year in the month of Chittirai (Mar-Apr), on Sadaya nakshatra (Sadayam star), the Santhana kappu is refurbished with Veru kappu. This is believed to be the treatment for the blood that oozed out of the deity because of the king's attack.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Iyengar, P. T. Srinivasa. History of the Tamils: from the earliest times to 600 A.D. p. 26.
  2. ^ a b c d "Sri Othandeeswarar temple". Dinamalar. 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  3. ISBN 9788183794688
    .
  4. ^ S.R., Balasubramanyam (1975). Early Chola temples Parantaka I to Rajaraja I (AD. 907-985) (PDF). Thomson Press (India) Limited. pp. 209–14.
  5. ISBN 9789350093917
    .
  6. ^ a b R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 386–7.
  7. ISBN 978-81-7823-542-4
    .
  8. ^ Swamigal, Tirunavukkarasu. "Tevaram Of Tirunavukkaracu Cuvamikal Tirumurai 5 part - 2 Poems(510-516)" (PDF). projectmadurai.org. pp. 33–34. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
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