the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Shiva

As per Sthala Puranam, Goddess Lakshmi visited this temple and worshiped the lord to seek relief from the curse by Sage Birugu. Lord Shiva blessed her with his darshan and got reunited with Lord Mahavishnu. Hence this place gets the name Thiru Marugal meaning Lakshmi Sthalam in Tamil. The name Marugal also comes from the sthala viruksham – Vaazhai (plantain). As per Sthala Puranam, a king named Kusakethu worshiped the lord here. There was a severe drought at that time, and the king prayed to the lord to help the people. It is believed that to answer his prayers, Lord Shiva made a rain of gems here. Hence, the lord here is praised as Sri Rathnagireeswarar (Rathinam means gems in Tamil). Rathinam is also known as Manickam and hence the lord here is also praised as Sri Manikkavannar. Another legend is that a Chola King was suffering from severe fever and he prayed to Lord Vinayakar here. Lord Vinayakar cured his illness and saved his life. This Vinayakar is known as Juram Theertha Vinayakar (Juram means fever in Tamil) and has a separate shrine in the corridor. This is one of the temples where Lord Shiva enacted his 64 holy plays (Thiruvilaiyadal). According to legend, Dhaman, a trader lived in Vaippur, a nearby village, promised to offer one of his 7 daughters to their maternal uncle for marriage but didn’t keep up his word. When they attained the marriageable age, he arranged marriages for them with some other persons one by one. The 7th daughter, a Shiva devotee, realizing that her father will cheat her uncle in her case also, she decided to leave the house and went out with him. They reached this place and stayed back as it was night. Unfortunately, the boy got poisoned up with a snake bite and was dead. She cried and prayed to the lord for help. Incidentally, Saint Thirugnanasambanthar was coming to this temple the next day morning, he heard her cry and consoled her. The saint sang the Pathigam Sadaiyai Enumaal ..…, known as Vidam Theertha Pathikam and brought back her uncle to life. The saint also conducted the wedding to both of them in this temple with Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy standing as a witness under the Vanni tree and the well. The boy’s parents, who were at Madurai, didn’t accept the marriage because there was no witness to the marriage. The girl prayed to the lord, and he gave dharshan at Madurai in the form of a Vanni tree and a well as a proof of marriage. Thus, this temple is the source of the famous holy play that was enacted at Madurai. This event is commemorated in a celebration every year here. The vanni tree and the well can still be seen in the corridors of this temple. The Sadaiyai Enumaal … pathigam is considered to be very powerful songs in resolving problems in marriages. Another legend associated with this temple is that a legend related to Ramanadeecharam temple (a nearby and another Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam). The legend is that a local king prayed to Lord Shiva for child boon and performed a yagna. Through his divine voice, the lord informed the king that Goddess Parvathy would be his daughter soon. At a later date when the king went to the forest for hunting, he found four female children under a tree. He brought them to his palace and brought up as his own daughters. By nature, they were Shiva devotees. When they attained the marriageable age, the king prayed to Lord Shiva to marry them. It is believed that the lord married them. They are the four Goddesses in four temples – Sri Sarivar Kuzhali in Ramanadeecharam, Sri Vaaitha Thirukuzhal Nayaki in Thiruchengattangudi, Sri Karundhar Kuzhali in Thirupugalur and Sri Vanduvaar Kuzhali in Thirumarugal (this temple). The four Goddesses also bear the common name Sri Choolikambal as they individually helped pregnant women during their delivery times. Chool or Karu means pregnancy in Tamil. As they returned to the temple after the last pooja, they stayed a little bit away from the lord’s shrine. It can be seen that in all the four temples, goddess’s shrine is located separately. In this temple, Goddess Parvathy is also praised as Sri Karu Katha Ambigai. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Brahma, Sage Birugu, Sage Parasarar, King Kusakethu, Saints Thirugnanasambanthar and Thirunavukkarasar have worshiped the lord here.

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 80th Shiva Sthalam on the Southern bank of the river Cauveri in Chozha Nadu (Thenkarai). Lord Shiva in this temple is a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). This temple is counted as one of the Maada Koils built by Chola King Kochenganan. This is the place where Saint Thirugnanasambanthar brought back to life of a dead boy due to snake bite. This east facing temple has two corridors and its main tower (Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers.This temple was originally built by a king called Kusakethu. Later Chola King Kochenganan rebuilt it in 7th century as a Maada koil. There is a stone inscription which dates back to the period of Tanjore Maratha king. This temple is under the administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu (HR&CE). It is believed that no one is dying in this place due to snake bite. It is believed that King Kochengat Chola built about 70 Madakkoils. The distinguishing feature of a Madakkoil is that it is not easily approachable by an elephant. He built these temples at an elevation and there are a few steps that need to be climbed before seeing the lord. Also, the sanctum sanctorum’s (Karpagragam) entrance is narrow such that no elephant can enter it. The idols of Lord Brahma, Durgai and Nalvar look very beautiful. There is a separate shrine for Lord Saneeswarar at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Siddhars Kakapujandar and Korakkar have praised this Saneeswarar. This type of placement of Saneeswarar is unique to see. Saint Arunagirinadhar has sang songs in praise of Lord Murugan of this temple in his revered Thirupugazh. Beautiful sculptures depicting the story of snake bite can be seen at the entrance of the main tower. There are many paintings on the wall in the main hall depicting various legends associated with this temple. It is believed that Seeralan, son of Siruthondar studied in a school in this place. Siruthondar is one of the 63 Nayanmars, who lived in a nearby village, Thiruchengattangudi. Another play (Thiruvilayadal) of Lord Shiva with Siruthondar took place in that place. Devotees believe that by worshiping the lord here, obstacles from their marriage proposals will be removed. It is also believed that worshiping Lord Shiva here will result in the reunion of separated couples. Devotees worship Sri Juram Theertha Vinayakar to seek relief from fever related diseases.

Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Chithirai (Apr-May) is celebrated here in a grand manner. Some of the other important festivals celebrated in this temple are – Aani Thirumanjanam in the Tamil month of Aani (June-July), Aadi Pooram in the Tamil month of Aadi (July-Aug), Vinayakar Chaturthi in the Tamil month of Aavani (Aug-Sept), Navarathri in the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Shashti and Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Oct–Nov), Thiru Karthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (Nov-Dec), Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month of Markazhi (Dec-Jan), Makara Sankranthi in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb), Shivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-Mar) and Panguni Uthiram in the Tamil month of Panguni (Mar-Apr). Pradosham is also observed regularly.