Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Thirumullaivayil Sri Maasilaamaneeswarar

Thirumullaivayil is situated at the northwest suburbs of Chennai and is about 12 kms from the Padi Junction. One can reach Thirumullaivayil after crossing Ambathur and taking right driving about 5 kms.

Thirumullaivayil has an ancient Shiva Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva called Sri Maasilaamaneesarar. Among the 32 temples which are sung by Nayanmars in Thondai Mandalam, Thirumullaivayil stands 22nd of them. The Goddess here is Sri Kodiyidaiamman.
Legend has it that, there were two evil kings called Vaanan and Onan who belonged to the community called Kurumbars. These two Kurumbars were giving constant trouble to the then ruling king called Thondaimaan.

Thondaimaan, waged a war against Kurumbar to suppress them from creating trouble to his peaceful kingdom. These Kurumbars fought against Thondaimaan with the help of Sri Bhairavar. The King Thondaimaan, returned unsuccessfully after fighting with Kurumbars. On his way, when he was riding on an elephant, he found that the jasmine creepers encircled his elephant’s leg and obstructed his way. The king angrily whipped his sword on the creepers and blood started flowing from the place where he whipped.

The king got down from his elephant and found that there was a Shiva Lingam and he had whipped his sword on the Lingam itself and hence it was bleeding. Thondaimaan felt guilty of his deed and tried killing himself with his sword. Lord Shiva gave dharshan to Thondaimaan and said that though He was injured by the king’s sword, He would be giving dharshan without any scar on His idol and hence he would be called Maasilaamaneeswarar. (God, without any scar).

Lord Shiva, also directed His Nandhi to accompany the king to help him win the war. Hence Nandhi here is seen facing the opposite direction instead of facing Lord Shiva in the sanctum.

The king, Thondaimaan, who won the battle against kurumbars (Vaanan and Onan) destroyed their forts and brought two (Vellerukku) pillars from there and installed them to form a temple for Sri Maasaalaamaneeswarar. Even today, one can find two strong (Vellerukku) pillars in front of the sanctum of Lord Sri Maasilaamaneesarar.

Another feature of this temple is, both the Lord and the Goddess are be facing east as the Lord gave dharshan to Thondaimaan in a hurry, on his way from the battle field. Usually, one can see the Goddess on the left side of the Lord and here She is seen on the right side.

It is said that when full moon day and Friday fall on the same day, it is auspicious to worship Sri Thiruvudai Amman at Melur in the morning, Thiruvotriyur Sri Vadivudaiamman in the noon and Sri Kodiyidaiamman here in the evening, on the same day, which is equivalent to the pilgrimage to Kaasi and Raameswaram.

The Lord here is not performed any Abhishegam,as he has an injury on his body caused by the king blowing his sword. Only the Sandhana Kaappu (Sandal Paste) is applied on the Lord throughout the year and once a year during the Thamizh month of Chithirai on the Sadhayam star day, a new Sandhana Kaappu is applied again to the Lord.

Ancient saints like Sri Arunagirinaadhar, Sri Sundharar and Sri Vallalaar have visited this temple and have sung praise on the Lord here. Sri Arunagirinaadhar has sung a special Vada Thirumullaivayil Thiruppugazh here, which is inscribed on stone in the temple.

The temple is built on a very vast space and has very wide praakaarams. The entire structure is too ancient that one can easily feel the age and divinity of the temple.

A tall Dhwjasthambham (flag staff) in front of the sanctum, adds glory to the whole temple.
Nandhi is seen facing east instead of facing the Lord.

Around the praakaaram, there are shrines for Lord Ganesha and Sri Balasubramanyar.

There is a separate shrine for Kusalavapureeswarar on the outer praakaaram (might be worshipped by Lava and Kusa, the sons of Rama, as there are many temples around Chennai, worshipped by them).

There is also a separate shrine for Sri Bhairavar on the outer praakaaram.
The sanctum and the Vimaanam are of Gajabrishta shape, which looks like the back of sleeping elephant.


The Koshta Moorthies give Dharshan at their respective directions around the inner praakaaram.

There is also a statue for Sri Thondaimaan Chakravarthy at the praakaaram, who built this temple.

The Sthala Viruksham for this temple is Vellerukku which is seen at the outer praakaaram.


The Theertham for this temple is Kalyaana Theertham, which is huge and beautiful , present opposite the temple.

A beautiful 16 pillared stone mandapam is present in front of the temple, facing the entrance.

There is also couple of ancient inscriptions dating about 1915 and beyond, mentioning about the donations made to the temple welfare by one Pachaiyappa Mudaliar & a lady called Chellammal for the maintenance of the temple.
This wonderful temple is within the easy reach from Chennai city and is worth spending a day.

25 comments:

  1. sivaya namah!!
    recollected my days of visits during our triplicane stay, combining VAISHNAV Devi temple visit..... in my first vehicle....

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  2. HI Saravanan. Belated Pongal.
    Nice to see this post after long gap!!

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  3. As always, a very interesting and informative post - after a long gap!
    Wishing you and your readers a belated happy new year and pongal,
    Kamini.

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  4. Welcome Back !

    Swami

    Swamisblog.blogspot.com

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  5. Hi Sarvanan

    THis is Elango,Parthas Friend.I have been to Thirumulaivayil but missed this Beautiful and Very ancient Temple.Thondaiman was the one who establised the Pallva Dyanasty.The legend is that he washed ashore in the mamalapuram Beach as a child wraped in Thondai Kodi a Plant of those years.

    Sorry for Belated Pongal wishes

    Thanks again
    Elango

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  6. Dear Sir,
    Greeting!!! Hope doing well, it is good to see your darshan again, longlive your blog!!

    Sir my request is to give importances on SIVA temples coming in Periapuranam.

    Regards,
    Mallikarjunan

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  7. Dear Sir,
    Greeting!!! Hope doing well, it is good to see your darshan again, longlive your blog!!

    Sir my request is to give importances on SIVA temples coming in Periapuranam.

    Regards,
    Mallikarjunan

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  8. Dear sir,

    Well done.All the best.Ifeel, iam in the temple.

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  9. Hello Saravanan! I am a new member. A very nice presentation.

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  10. Story has been narrated beautifully. The pictures are also good. Thanks.

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  11. Hello Saravanan,

    I've visited this temple some '6' years ago. Your narration & details are excellent. I've rejoiced today again after reading the story & seeing the pictures. Thanks & Appreciations for you.
    Keep going. Have a wonderful time.

    Regards
    N Guruvelavan

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  12. Sri Saravanan, As one wh has been visiting this temple from 1948 when our family shifted to Ambatuur till 1990 when I emigrated to U.S, I have been a regular visitor to this temple. I rember the days, When Sri Parasuraman with a dedicated team undertook t clean up the temple.later on the Pradosham was very popular and well attended,in 80s One Sri Sharma presented a Rasa lingam made of Mercury Amalgam to this temple which was installed just outside Siva's Garbagraham. Reading your blog brought back nostalgic memories . Keep up the good work. May Sri Rama bless you V.Narayanaswamy

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  13. Dear Mr.Saravanan Very Good and Well Done wish you long live, better the temple may arranged area wise so every one can visit more temple at a time shall I recommend your blog through my mylaporetalk.blogspot.com ,rest after your reply

    K.Sadasivam
    Mylapore
    Chennai
    India

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  14. Namaha om. I was just 10 days old when Sri Sri Ramaswamy Sharmaji installed Mercury Shivalingam. HE was my father's revered Guruji. My father Sri Ramachandra Sharma had the blessing of being a part of making this lingam and took part in the installation ceremony during 80's. Sharmaji was a Brahmagnani and got the blessed vision of Lord Vishnu. We feel great that we got the blessings of our revered Guruji.

    REGARDS
    Neela Ragav
    Dhule
    Maharashtra.

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  15. Dear Mr. Saravanan,

    Ungal Blog oru sirandha Vazhikatti. Vaazhga Pallandu. Eliya, Sirapana Nadai, arumaiyana Padangal.

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  16. yeam mullaivayil nayagiye potri,
    masila maniye potri potri.

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  17. yeam mullaivayil nayagiye potri,
    masila maniye potri potri.

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  18. i want kurumbar articles guide me.....

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  19. i want kurumbar's articles guide me.....

    ReplyDelete
  20. i want kurumbar articles guide me.....

    ReplyDelete