Sri Idaiyattrunathar Temple

Overview

Marundeeswarar Temple (also called Idayatrunathar Temple) is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in T. Edaiyar, a village in Viluppuram district in Tamil Nadu, India. Lord Shiva is worshipped as Marundeeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Goddess Parvati is depicted as Balambigai. The temple is located on the Southern banks of Thenpennai River on the Thirukoilur - Thiruvennainallur road. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. The temple is praised in the Thevaram hymns of saints Sundarar and Tirunavukkarasar. This is the 13th Lord Shiva Temple in Tamil Nadu region praised in Thevaram hymns.

Tirugnana Sambandar, a 7th-century Tamil Saivite poet, venerated Idaiyatreeswarar in ten verses in Tevaram, compiled as the First Tirumurai. Sundarar, and 8th century nayanmar, also venerated Idaiyatreeswarar in 10 verses in Tevaram, compiled as the Fifth Tirumurai. As the temple is revered in Tevaram, it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon.

About The Temple

The temple complex covers an area of one acre and all its shrines are enclosed with concentric rectangular walls. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Marundeeswarar and his consort Irulneeki Thayar being the most significant. The original complex is believed to have been built by kings Cholas, while the present masonry structure was built 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.

The temple has a three-tiered gopuram, the gateway tower and all the shrines of the temple are enclosed in concentric rectangular granite walls. The central shrine has the entrance through the gateway tower, a flag post, a mukha mandapa and an Ardha mandapa, all of which are axial to the inner sanctum. The central shrine has an idol of Marundeeswarar in the form of Lingam. The shrine of Irulneeki Thayar (also called Anthaga Nivarini), facing West is located in a shrine behind sanctum. The central shrine has entrance through a Mahamandapam and Arthamandapam. As in other Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, the shrines of Goddess Durga, Lord Chandekeswara, Lord Vinayaka, Lord Murugan and Navagraha are located around the passage way of the main shrine. There is a shrine of Agastheeswarar in the second precinct to the Southeast direction. The shrine of Gnanambigai is on the South West corner of the temple facing east. The temple is so designed that the Sun rays fall directly on the Lingam during two days of April.

As it is noted that against the tradition, in between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi, Lord Vinayaka is placed as infant Ganapathi or Bala Ganapathi – holding sweets and jack fruit in His upper hands and holding sugarcane in one of the lower hands while other lower hand assures boons – Abhayahastha – to devotees. Usually Lord Muruga as Somaskanda is stationed between Lord Shiva and Mother Goddess’ shrines. Saint Sundarar while singing the praise of 39 Shiva temples had mentioned this temple as Idayaaru, meaning as one of them. Saint Tirunavikkarasar and Ramalinga Vallalar had praised the Lord in their hymns.

Sage Agasthya came to this place during his pilgrimage, made a Linga and worshipped the Lord. This Linga is worshipped as Agasthya Linga. There is also an idol for the sage. This is the birth place of Saivite Guru Marai Gnana Sambandar. He lived in Pennadam. He is known as Marudamarai Gnanasambandar and Kadanthai Marai Gnanasambandar. Kadanthai is the scriptural name of Pennadam. Sukham in Sanskrit means a parrot. As Sukhabrahmma Maharshi worshipped in this place, there is a huge number of parrots in this place. Lord Muruga in this temple is praised as Kaliakarama Pillayar.

Temples where Lord is facing west and Mother Goddess is facing east are known as wedding boon temples, as if they are changing garlands. Devotees facing prolonged delays in their marriages worship here and take the garlands home exchanged between Lord Shiva and Mother Goddess. This will expedite the proposals, it is believed.

About The deity

Mother Goddess blesses the devotees from Her shrine facing east in a standing form. Sages Agasthya, Marai Gnanasambandar, Sundarar, Sukha Muni and Lord Brahma have also worshipped the Goddess in the temple.

Legend and Stories

As per Hindu legends, sage Sukhabrahmma was overhearing the Sivarahasya, the secret that Lord Shiva was telling to his wife Goddess Parvathi in Kailasa. Lord Shiva cursed the sage for the offence. The sage then prayed to Lord Shiva to pardon his sins - Shiva was pleased by the devotion and blessed him that he would be born as sage Vyasa in his next birth. It is believed that sage Vyasa resided in this place and worshipped Lord Shiva to relieve off his curse. As per another legend, sage Agastya installed and worshipped a Linga, which is called Agastya Linga. Another legend indicates that Somaskanda depiction is usually indicated with child Skanda (Muruga) depicted between Shiva and Parvathi. This temple has Bala Vinayaga in place of Skanda in the Somaskanda image.

The original complex is believed to have been built by Cholas, while the present masonry structure was built during the 16th century. There are inscriptions from later Chola emperors like Rajaraja Chola I (985–1014), Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120) and Rajendra Chola III (1246–1279). There are inscriptions from Pandya kings like Maravarman Sundara Pandyan (1216–1238), Maarvarman Vikrama Pandiyan and Maravarman Veerpandiyan. The contributions of the kings of the Vijayanagara Empire like Achyuta Raya, Sadasiva Raya (1542–1570) and Rama Deva are also found in the inscriptions.

Festivals

There are monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), fortnightly rituals like pradosham, weekly rituals like somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday), kiruthigai, pournami(full moon day) and sathurthi. The Thayar Aaratu festival during theTamil month of Thai (January - February) is the most important festivals of the temple.

Special Rituals

The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed three times a day; Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m. Uchikalam at 12:00 a.m. and Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for Marundeeswarar and Gnanambigai.

Thanks Giving

On realizing their wish, devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother offering vastras.

Rare Facts

Lord Shiva, a swayambu Linga is facing west. Surya Puja-Sun worship is performed in the temple on Masi 15 and 16 (February-March) from 5.00 p.m. to 5.15 p.m. as the rays of Sun fall on the Lord.

Significance

Those facing prolonged delays in their wedding proposals perform Abhishek to Lord and Mother Goddess with garlands changed between the deities hoping an early marriage.

Accessibility

Airport

The nearest airport is at Chennai.

Railways

The nearest major railway station is at Villupuram.

Road

This temple is located 5 Kms to the north-west of another Paadal Petra Sthalam Tiruvennainallur Tiruvidaiyaru is located on the Tirukkovilur - Tiruvennainallur - Arasur road. You can also reach this thalam from Villupuram. Town bus facilities are available from Villupuram.

Temple Address

Sri Marundeesar (Krupapureeswarar) Temple,
T. Idayaru-609 209. Tirukovilur Taluk,
Villupuram district.