Mangalapureeswarar Temple

Overview

Sri Mangalapureeswarar temple is located in the city of Tiruchopuram, Thyagavalli near Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is about 1000-2000 years old. This is the 6th of the 22 Tevara Stalams in the Tamil Nadu region.

The Lord of the temple is praised by Sage Tirugnanasambandar in Thevaram hymns. In a hymn, sage Tirugnanasambandar describes the Lord of controlling the spate of Ganga though his long hair and his fury while destroying the Tripuras with his battle-axe, bow and arrow, now gracing the devotees in Chopuram. This is the 6th temple in Tamil Nadu region praised in Thevaram hymns. Legends say that Lord Shiva was worshipped by Agasthyar and a princess by name Tyagavalli, hence the shrine goes by the name Tyagavalli.

About The Temple

The temple is facing west surrounded by raised compound wall on all the sides with main entrance to the west. There is no Rajagopuram. There are shrines in the corridor – prakara for Lord Subramaniar, Goddess Gajalakshmi, Lord Veeratteswara Lingam, Lord Kannappar, King Tribhuvana Chakravarthi and the Linga worshipped by his queen, Bhairavar, Sun and Navagrahas (9 planets).

Buried temple

The temple is on the shores of Bay of Bengal. The sea water is the Theertha of the temple. The Lord is facing west in the inner sanctu. Saint Tirugnanasambandar had praised the Lord of the temple in his hymns. Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahmma are behind the sanctum in worshipping form. The devotee can enjoy the darshan of all the three Lords – Trimurthys – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. There is also shrine for Kannappa Nayanar.

The temple was buried in sands due to fury of the sea thousands of years ago. When a devotee came here, he could not find the temple but found a Kalasa. People of the place removed the sand and then brought the temple out.

About The deity

Lord Chopuranathar, as Sand Linga is on a square seat-peeta. A small ball type form on the head of the Linga is said to be form of River Ganga. The Linga also has the palm prints of Sage Agasthya by whom it was consecrated.

Though turmeric and kumkum are used in the worship of Goddess, as people believe that Goddess Shakti is one with the Linga when Sage Agasthya installed the Linga. Hence, turmeric and kumkum are used in the worship of the Lord in this temple by those facing marriage and health problems. Hence, the Lord is named Mangalapureeswarar. Probably, the shrine for Mother-Goddess would have been built later. The Mother is called Satyayadakshi.

Lord Dakshinamurthy

Lord Dakshinamurthy, Jagadguru – teacher of the world – is seen in many temples with a Veena in His hands. In this temple, He is Music personified. If one taps on the idol, he/she will hear sounds of the seven musical notes – reverently called Sapthaswaras. Against the tradition of holding the Naga (snake) in the right hand and the torch (agni) in the left, it is the opposite in this temple. Students of music perform special pujas to the Lord.

As Lord Dakshinamurthy is the authority for wisdom, calmness and music and as the presiding deity Chopuranathar blesses all auspiciousness to the devotees, instead of dressed in yellow clothes, He is dressed in white. This is a special significance in the temple.

Legend and Stories

Sage Agasthya who came to south to balance the earth level during the wedding of Lord Shiva at Mount Kailash, installed many Lingas on his way. When he reached this place, he suffered sever stomachache and began making a linga with sand so that he could appeal to the Lord to rid the pain. But he could not make the Linga as he desired. Agasthya felt that the Lord was testing him. Finding some herbal plants nearby, he made a juice out of them, mixed it with some sand and succeeded in making the Linga. His stomachache too subsequently disappeared. The temple was thus built in the same place.

Festivals

Maha Shivrathri in February-March, Panguni Uthiram in March-April, Tirukarthikai in November-December and Annabishekam and are the major festivals celebrated in the temple.

Rare Facts

Lord Shiva graces in the temple as a swayambumurthy. The Linga is installed by Sage Agasthya whose palm prints are seen on the deity. The sound of seven musical notes could be heard if we tap on the Dakshinamurthy idol. As against the normal practice of dressing Lord Dakshinamurthy in yellow clothes, white is used in this temple.

Significance

Students of Music perform special pujas for gaining excellence in the art. Those facing problems in marriage arrangements, suffering from various illnesses offer turmeric and kumkum to the Lord as a prayer commitment.

Nearby Places to Visit

1. Patanjaleeswarar Temple
2. Thillai Kali Temple
3. Swarnapureeswarar Temple
4. Pralayakaleswarar Temple
5. Theerthapureeswarar Temple
6. Kolanji Appar Temple

Accessibility

Airport

The nearest airport is at Chennai.

Railways

The nearest railway station is at Cuddalore.

Road

Alappakkam village is 13 km from Cuddalore on the Chidambaram road. The temple is 2 km on the branch road from Alapakkam. Buses are available every one hour from Cuddalore.

Temple Address

Sri Mangalapureeswarar (Chopuranathar) Temple,
Tiruchopuram, Thyagavalli,
Cuddalore district – 608 801.