Arulmigu Thiruvappudaiyar Thirukoil

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Overview

This temple lies in the shadow of the Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple. The Pandya Kings and the Royal Sethupathi kings have made many contributions to this temple although little is known of its history to the thousands of visitors that throng Madurai.The name 'Aappudaiyaar' comes from the word 'Aappu' - a wedge that was worshipped as a Shivalingam by a Pandya ruler solandhagan because, he can’t cross the flooded river vaigai to reach the meenakshi amman temple on the other side. That 'Aappu' is said to have transformed miraculously into a Shivalingam. Shiva is also believed to have miraculously caused sand of the river to turn into rice during the time of an unbearable famine; hence he got the other name Anna Lingeswarar. The temple is praised in the hymns of Saint Tirugnana Sambandar. This is the 2nd temple of Lord Shiva in Pandya region praised in Thevaram hymns.

About The Temple

The temple was initially constructed by Pandya rulers and further developed by Nayakars. The shrine of the presiding deity lord shiva is facing east and he is called as Aappudaiyar, Rishabeswarar and the female deity his consort mother parvathy known as Kuravankamazhum Kuzhalammai, Sugandha Kudalambal. A shrine to Subramanyar is situated between the shrines of Siva and Ambal. Thus the temple is said to be in somaskanda type. The Lord Hanuman is found on a pillar and he is famous in this temple. There is a fig (Ficus religiosa) tree in between the two shrines with a vinayagar statue under its shade, this tree is considered as shtala vriksham. The Theertham is called Rishaba Theertham and river vaigai flows nearby this temple.

About The Deity

Lord Aappudayar and Mother Sugantha Kundalambika grace the devotees from this temple. The Shivalinga is small in size and big in name and fame. It is noteworthy that Lord Swaymabu Linga Appudayar is as distinct as Meru among the mounts, Kamadenu among the cows, Moon among the stars, shining brightly as Sun, charitable as rain clouds and a Lord Vishnu among the males. He equals everything that is great. The very prayer to Him means praying to all Gods according to scriptures. Of the Pancha Bhoodha Sthalas in Madurai, this temple belongs to Appu-water category.

Legend and Stories

Punyasenam in the lineage of Lord Brahmma was a staunch Shiva devotee. As advised by Sage Agasthya, he performed severe penance on Lord Shiva to become as wealthy as Kubera. Pleased with his penance, Lord Aappudayar with Mother Sugantha Kundalambika granted darshan and the boon he sought. But as fate had it, he became immediately arrogant and cast a mischievous look on Mother and lost his eyes and fell dead. Merciful Lord Aappudayar gave back his life and called him Kubera. Since then, he became the Lord of North with two wealth – Sanga Nidhi and Padhma Nidhi. King Cholandhagan was a staunch Lord Shiva devotee. During his reign, the land was fertile and prosperous with timely rains. Farm yields were plenty. His subjects were happy. All this was due to his devotion to Lord Shiva. He went on hunting on a day. As he could not succeed in chasing a deer, he fell fainted at last. Shocked attendants offered food and water to the king to recover from the weakness. The king said that he could not afford to take food before doing his usual Shiva Puja. There was no Linga for the puja. A wise minister fixed a wooden piece (Aappu) on the ground as Shivalinga and suggested that he can worship and take his food. The king believed the minister, worshipped the Aappu and ate his food.

Punyasenam in the lineage of Lord Brahmma was a staunch Shiva devotee. As advised by Sage Agasthya, he performed severe penance on Lord Shiva to become as wealthy as Kubera. Pleased with his penance, Lord Aappudayar with Mother Sugantha Kundalambika granted darshan and the boon he sought. But as fate had it, he became immediately arrogant and cast a mischievous look on Mother and lost his eyes and fell dead. Merciful Lord Aappudayar gave back his life and called him Kubera. Since then, he became the Lord of North with two wealth – Sanga Nidhi and Padhma Nidhi. King Cholandhagan was a staunch Lord Shiva devotee. During his reign, the land was fertile and prosperous with timely rains. Farm yields were plenty. His subjects were happy. All this was due to his devotion to Lord Shiva. He went on hunting on a day. As he could not succeed in chasing a deer, he fell fainted at last. Shocked attendants offered food and water to the king to recover from the weakness. The king said that he could not afford to take food before doing his usual Shiva Puja. There was no Linga for the puja. A wise minister fixed a wooden piece (Aappu) on the ground as Shivalinga and suggested that he can worship and take his food. The king believed the minister, worshipped the Aappu and ate his food. He found then what he worshipped was not a Shiva Linga but a piece of wood fixed on the ground by his minister. He cried to the Lord that if he was indeed His devotee, Lord should come into the Aappu and accept his worship. Lord appeared on the Aappu and became Aappudayar. The place came to be known as Aappanur.

During the period of another king Suguna Pandya belonging to the same dynasty, the place faced a severe famine. Yet, the priest of the temple grew some grains with difficulty and was offering the nivedhanas to Lord. Seeing this, people grew angry on the priest and harassed him for his feeding the Lord while people were starving. The priest fell at the feet of the Lord for help. Lord asked the priest to follow Him with his wife and set on His Vrushab to another place. He stopped at this place – Aappanur. As Lord stopped here on His Vrushab-Idaba in Tamil, this also came to be known as Idabapuram. The priest used the sands of the Vaigai River to cook the nivedhana for Lord. By the grace of Lord, the sand became rice-Anna. This event brought the Lord the name Anna Vinodhan.

Festivals

The Brahmmotsavam festival is very famous in the month of Masi (February-March), 10 day Navarathri festival in Purattasi (Septembe-October), Ani Uthiram with special Pujas to Nataraja (June-July), Adi Pooram (July-August), Iypasi Poornima (Octob-November), Mondays in the month of Karthikai (November-December), 10 days Margazhi Thiruvanandal (Decembe-Januay), Panguni Uthiram ((March-Apil), Deepavail, Pongal, New Year day of both Tamil and English Calenders, Ganesh Chaturthi are the festivals very devotionally celebrated in the temple.

Offerings

Realizing their wishes devotees perform abishek and archanas with Vilwa leaves to Lord and offer vastras.

Significance

Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthi. Those facing Mars planet adverse aspects (Sevvai dosham) pray to Lord Muruga and those aspiring prosperity pray to Lord Shiva performing archana with vilwa leaves.

Accessibility

The nearest airport is at Madurai. The nearest major railway station is at Madurai. This sivasthalam is located at Sellur, a part of Madurai city. Town bus services are available from Madurai Periyar bus stand. Route No.17, 17A, 17C buses from Periyar bus stand go via this temple and one has to get down at Tiruvaappudaiyar Kovil bus stop. One can also reach this temple from Simmakkal, a part of Madurai city. From Simmakkal bus stop, one narrow street leads you to Vaigai River and by crossing the river and walking a short distance, one can reach this temple.

Temple Address