Umamaheswarar Temple

Overview

The Tirunallam Umamaheswarar Temple is located at Nagapattinam and is dedicated to God Shiva. This temple has been revered in the Tevaram poems by famous Tamil Saivite Nayanar saints Tirunavukkarasar and Thirugnana Sambandar. This temple is one of the 275 Paadal petra Sthalams.

About the Temple

This temple is quite big. There are a lot of large mandapams in the temple. Just in front of the temple one can see a big tank though it has very little water. This temple was built by Kandaradhittha Chola and his wife Sembian Maa Devi. Kandaradhithan who is the grandfather of famous Raja Raja Chola is renowned for his devotion and services to God Shiva. He had built huge temples in his empire for God Shiva.

In this particular temple, Goddess Durga’s idol faces the West direction. According to Hindy mythology, God of death Yama came to this place after the bone chilling experience in the Tirukadayur. He came here to worship Goddess Durga so that he could recover from the shock he had afflicted. This temple also boasts of six Vinayakas idols that are placed in a single shrine and it looks like as if there is an assembly of Vinayakas. Interestingly, the scriptures also say that Nandhi, the bull vehicle of the God Shiva had also worshipped at this temple. According to the popular belief, if people pray in this temple during the Pradosha time, it will be of multiple benefits to the people.

The renowned 16 Siddhas had also prayed in this temple. A total of three Chandikeswars can be seen in this temple. God Nataraja’s idol has a humanistic look. Locally this temple is also known as the Nataraja temple. God Shani faces the West direction. According to legend, when Nala and Damayanthi initiated their journey to Tirunallar, they worshipped God Shani at this very temple. In most of the Shani temples, black color clothing is offered and God Shani wears black but here it is not the case as God Shani can be seen in white clothing. If people light lamps in this temple with oil produced from white dhil then it will be auspicious for them.

About the Deity

The chief deity in this temple is God Shiva and he is known as Umamaheswara. His consort Goddess Parvati is called here as Dehasundari Amman.

Legend and Stories

According to a popular legend, a king called Pururavas had an attack of leprosy. For proper treatment and relief, he visited a lot of God Shiva temples and one day finally he reached this temple on the southern bank of Cauvery and was cured. He constructed the Vimana here with gold and also arranged the Brahmmotsavas during the Vaikasi Visakam.

Festivals

The main festivals that are celebrated in this temple include two brahmmotsavas and Margazhi Tiruvadhirai.

Prasad & offering

Large number of devotees come here and perform abhishekam for the God and the Goddess. Offering of clothing and contribution for the renovation of the temple is very common amongst the devotees.

Significance

Devotees here have a very strong belief that any diseased can be cured if the patient takes a bath in the tank or theertha and pray with utter devotion to God Vaidyanatha. Patients of leprosy pray here to get rid of their dangerous disease. Other than that people facing problems in construction work or wedding proposals or business also pray here especially on Mondays.

Nearby Place To Visit

People who visit the temple also grace places which are nearby like Kayaroganeswarar, Thanthondreeswarar, Neelakandeswarar, Pallavaneswarar, Aranyeswarar and Naganthar.

Accessibility

Road

This temple is around 22 km far from Kumbakonam. The nearest bus stop is at S. Pudur.

Railways

The closest railway station from the temple is at Aduthurai.

Airport

The nearest airport from this temple is at Trichy.

Temple Address

Sri Uma Maheswarar Temple,
Konerirajapuram Post,
Mayiladuthurai Taluk,
Nagapattinam District,
Pincode– 612 201.