Aamra Vaneswarar Temple

The Aamra Vaneswarar Temple is located in Mandurai and is dedicated to God Aamra Vaneswarar. According to legend, a maharshi committed a wrong to God Shiva and was cursed to be born as a deer in this place. This was a dense mango forest. The Rishi (deer) was born to other deer, demons in their earlier birth. They left the baby deer to forage for prey. God Shiva with Mother Parvathi came there in the guise of a hunter, shot the deer and released them from their curses. They came to the baby deer waiting for its parents. Mother Parvathi fed the hungry baby deer, the Rishi in earlier birth. God Shiva consoled it and released it from the curse. As requested by the Rishi, they stayed here. This is one of the pancha (five) Shiva Temples in Tiruchi. Bhagwan Sri Adi Sankara has worshipped the God here as also Sage Mrigandu. Shri Sankara is facing south in the goshta - wall around the sanctum. Saint Sambandar had sung a pathigam (10 verses) in praise of the God of this temple. Saint Arunagiriar had praised his favourite God Muruga in his Tirupugazh. Mother Durga on the goshta is all cool and smiling with demon Mahishasura absent from under Her feet. God Muruga graces from a separate shrine with His consorts Valli and Deivayani. The name Mandurai has its origin as the region was dense with mango trees and also as God blessed a maan (deer) in this place.