Saturday, January 9, 2016

Mahalingeswarar Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur, Thanjavur

Mahalingeswarar Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur, Thanjavur
Mahalingeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thiruvidaimarudur Town in Thiruvidaimarudur Taluk in Thanjavur District in Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Mahalingeswarar / Maruthavaneswarar / Maruthavaanar and Mother is called as Perunalamamulaiammai / Bruhatsundara Gujamabika / Nanmulainayaki. This temple is considered as one of the six temples along the banks of the Kaveri which are considered equivalent to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.


Mahalingaswamy is the centre of all Shiva temples in the region and the Saptha Vigraha Moorthis (seven prime consorts in all Siva Temples) are located at seven cardinal points around the temple, located in various parts of the state. There are 3 temples having Marudha tree (Arjunam) as their Sthala Vriksham. This place is named as Idaimaruthur as it is in between Srisailam and Ambasamudram. The Temple is considered as one of the Pancha Krosha Sthalams around Kumbakonam. The Temple is considered as one of the Sakthi Peethas, Thiruvasaga Sthalams, Thirupugazh Sthalams and Pancha Linga Sthalams. It is also considered as Saptha Sthana Temples of Thiruneelakudi.


The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Thevaram written by Tamil poet saints known as the Nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.  The temple is revered by all the three Nayanmars (saint poets) namely, Appar, Sambanthar and Sundarar.This Temple is the 147th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 30th Sthalam on south side of river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu. The temple is maintained and administered by Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a South Indian monastic institution.


Legends
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History
The temple is believed to be around 2,000 years old and is associated with the Pandya king Varaguna Pandian. The oldest parts of the present masonry structure were built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions, including the towering gopuram gatehouses, are attributed to later periods, up to the Thanjavur Nayaks during the 16th century. Govinda Dikshitar, the minister of Nayak is believed to have built the Pushyamantapas (halls) in this temple. 


Achyutappa also added gift of a village to the temple, the income of which was to be utilized for the temple car festival for the goddess in Adipooram day. The temple must be in existence even before 9th Century AD as the Thevarams sung by Appar, Sundarar and Sambandar pre-date the 9th century AD. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by Thiruvaduthurai Aadheenam, a South Indian monastic institution.


The Temple
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Inscriptions
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Temple Opening Time
The temple remains open from 5.30 am to 12.00 Noon and from 4.00pm to 9.00 pm.
Worship & Festivals
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Religious Significance
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Literary Mention
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Prayers
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Contact
Mahalingeswarar Temple,
Thiruvidaimarudur – 612 104,
Thanjavur District
Phone: +91 435 246 0660 / 246 1946
Mobile: +91 97905 25781
Connectivity
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