Mayuranathar Temple, Pethavanallur, Rajapalayam, Virudhunagar
Mayuranathar
Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located at Pethavanallur Village near
Rajapalayam Town in Virudhunagar District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is
known as Mayuranathar and Mother is called as Anjal Nayaki. Theertham of this
Temple is Kayalkudi River and Sthala Vriksham is Vilwa. The Temple is almost
500 years old.
Legends
A woman
in advanced pregnancy, Sivanesi by name, was proceeding to her mother’s house
when she developed the labour pain and prayed to the Lord before the temple.
The Lord rushed to her rescue in the form of her own mother and blessed her
with safe delivery. He also gave her the water from the Kayalkudi River as
medicine. Water of this river is the holy spring of the temple. The mother of
the woman came to know that Lord Shiva himself nursed her daughter and rushed
to the temple, where Lord appeared before her with Mother Umadevi.
The
Temple
The
structure of the temple is such that the devotee feels a welcome and blessings
of Vinayaka, Muruga, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Mothers Durga, Lakshmi and
Saraswathi, The Native Vinayaka (Sthala Vinayaka) graces from the Kannimoola
direction. After worshipping Shri Nandi Deva (bull vehicle of Lord Shiva), when
we proceed to worship Shri Mayuranathar, He graces darshan in his royal dress
showing his supremacy over the universe.
Though
the devotee may have in mind his demands from the Lord, after the darshan of
the Lord, he/she only comes out with a contended mind forgetting his material
needs and only understands that the purpose of life has been attained. The
devotees’ satisfaction goes further up, when they have the darshan of Mother
Anjal Nayaki who is beauty personified.
In
between the Lord and mother is the shrine of Somaskanda. Proceed further to
worship the Navagrahas. After Kodimaram (flag post), there is a special prayer
centre. Expectant mothers pray to Lord Mayuranathar seeking his blessings and assistance
in the delivery of the child as he did for a woman named Sivanesi.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Festivals
Karthikai
star days, Poornimas (Full moon days), Sankatahara Chathurthi, Pradosha days
(13th day either from new moon or full moon days), Brahmotsavam, Maha
Shivarathri in February-March, Navarathri during September-October, Soma Vara
Pujas (on Mondays), Dhanur puja and Arudra Darshan in December-January, 1008 Thiruvillakku
puja with lamps, monthly Shivarathris and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are
the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Prayers
Couples
separated from each other and expectant mothers pray to Lord Mayuranathar for
reliefs. It is the staunch belief of pregnant women that the Lord would come to
help them a safe delivery. Couples separated from each other worship the Lord
for 48 days consecutively during the Palliarai puja and offer milk with
cardamom as nivedhana to Lord and Mother for re-union.
Contact
Shri
Mayuranathar Temple,
Pethavanallur,
Rajapalayam,
Virudhunagar
District
Mobile: +91 – 4563 222
203
Connectivity
The
temple is 2 km from Rajapalayam on the Madurai – Rajapalayam main road. Nearest
Railway Station is located at Rajapalayam and Nearest Airport is located at Madurai.
