Sri Tirumeninathar Temple

Overview

Located 60 Kms from Madurai, this is the 12th Lord Shiva temple in the Pandya region praised in Thevaram hymns. Today’s Thirukkutralanathr temple was constructed by raja rajan.The first round wall was built by him.Is an example of chola reign. Historians claim that there was a perumal sannithi on the left side of the Mollavar.During the pandiya reign the karuvarai Artha mandapam, maha mandapam, separate temple for kulalvai mozhi amman and pillayan kattalai mandapam. At the time of nayakkar rule parasakthi temple was constructed , the compound wall , sangu street and inner street and new sannithis were built.Shiva devotee agathiyar may here remove the perumal sannithi and that place is used as vengam room at present.Thirikooda mandapam, Pasupirai, Thattodi,vaitheeyappa vilasam, The front mandapam of kulalvai mozhi amman, sangai veethi and kalpavuthal at vasantha veethi. Were build by the things of vadakarai Aathikkam sokkampatti. In 1925, The Aaralvai mozhi temple was renovated by the people of the town.

About The Temple

The temple is surrounded by four car streets facing east. After worshipping Lord Vinayaka at the entrance, we then have Mother’s shrine opposite the entrance. On the right is the shrine of Lord with Kavvaikadal opposite. The Asthana Mandap is nearby. The flag post-Kodimaram, Nandhi and the Bali peeta are at the Kambathadi mandap. Lords Vinayaka and Muruga grace the devotees from both sides of the entrance. The Rajagopuram of Lord Shiva Shrine is of a seven tier structure. After worshipping Lord Adhikara Nandhi Deva, the devotee reaches a peeta with six legs, Aarukaal Peeta. The epigraphic details of the temple are in this place. Sabha Mandap, Artha mandap and Andharala Madap are also nearby. Presiding deity Lord Thirumeni Nathar graces then from the sanctum sanctorum. We can then worship Lord Nataraja in idol form next. First prakara comes next. Sun is on the eastern side, Saptha Madhas and 63 Nayanmars are on the south. On the southwest side of the prakara is Lord Vinayaka. On the west are Lords Somaskanda, Viswanatha with Mother Visalakshi, Chuzhigai Govindar and Lord Muruga on the northwest. Lord Chandikeswara shrine is on the north side. Lord Nataraja is on the northeast. Lord Kalabhairava and Sun are on the east. In the goshta wall of Lord’s sanctum are Lord Dakshinamurthi on the south, Lingodhbava in the west and Mother Durga in the north. The Artha Mandap and the Palli Arai-privacy room are near the Mother’s sanctum. This is one of the temples under Sethu Samasthanam.

About The Deity

Lord Shiva in the temple is swayambumurthi. Worshipping Lord Shiva in Thiruchuzhi with just one piece of Vilwa leaf is considered equal to worshipping Lord with 1000 vilwa leaves in all sacred places of the country. Thought and talk of Thiruchuzhial Lord ensures the devotee total salvation. His/her sins committed knowingly or unknowingly will be wiped off as cotton dust in the whirlwind. Charities offered here bring manifold benefits to the devotees than done at other places.

Legend and Stories

Lord Shiva condensed the Pralaya floods as a water bubble and covered it by earth in this place, hence the name Thiruchuzhial, according to the local history-sthalapurana of the place. Lord Shiva came to Thiruchuzhial as He considered this place more glorious than Mount Kailas itself. Saivite Saints Sundarar and Thirunavukkarasar had come to this place to worship Lord and stayed in the mutt here. According to history, Lord Shiva appeared in the dream of Sundarar with a gold bouquet and tuft in the head as a young lad. As Lord grants His darshan with Mother in His wedding posture, devotees conduct marriages in the temple. The place is also praised as Vayalur, Mukthipuram, Avarthapuram, Shulapuram, Arasavanam, Chuzhigai and Chuzhikapuri. Mother Thunaimalai Nayaki appears as Mother Meenakshi in Madurai. Sins committed elsewhere can be washed off in this sacred place. But sins committed in this very place cannot be repented elsewhere but here only.

Festival

Purattasi Navarathri in September-October; Aavani Moolam in August-September; Chithirai Vishu the Tamil New Year day falling almost on April 14; Mondays of Karthikai in November-December; Aadi Thapasu in July-August; Thaipoosam in January-February and Panguni Brahmmotsavam with Wedding festival and car festival in March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Thanks giving

People approach this temple for fulfilment of their wishes, devotees perform abishek and archanas to Lord and Mother.

Significance

Those facing delays in marriage, pray to Lord and Mother in their wedding posture.

Accessibility

The nearest airport is at Madurai. The nearest railway station is at Virudhunagar. Thiruchuzhial is on the Virudhunagar-Manamadurai rail line. The temple is 1 km south of the railway station. Bus facilities are also available from Madurai, Virudhunagar, Aruppukottai. The temple is near the bus stand.

Temple Address

Sri Thirumeni Nathar Temple,
Thiruchuzhi Post,
Virudhunagar district.