Masilamaneeswarar Temple, Thiruvaduthurai – The Temple

Masilamaneeswarar Temple, Thiruvaduthurai – The Temple

This temple is facing towards east with five tiered rajagopuram. The temple covers an area of about 10 acres and has three prakarams. There is a three-tiered gopuram on the northern entrance. The temple is completely enclosed within the compound walls. Shrines of Thunai Vantha Vinayagar and Murugan can be seen at the entrance of the rajagopuram on either side. It is believed that both Vinayagar and Murugan escorted Goddess Parvathy to this temple when she was in the form of a cow.

There is a long corridor immediately after the rajagopuram. There is mandapa enshrining Nandi at the end of the corridor. Balipeedam, Dwaja Sthambam and a stucco Nandi can be found at the end of the corridor, facing towards the sanctum. This stucco Nandi, famously called Dharma Nandi is one of the biggest Nandis in Tamil Nadu and is enshrined in the Nandi mandapam. The Nandi is about 14 feet tall. Maha abhisheka is performed to this Nandi during the pradoshams.

There is also a small Nandi before the big Nandi. Sculpture of King Narasingan and his minister can be seen on either side of the Nandi mandapam. The Balipeedam behind this Nandi is the one where Sambandar got his bag of gold coins and found Thirumandiram of Thirumoolar. This Balipeedam is supported by Bhoodaganas on all four sides. There is a three tiered rajagopuram at the entrance of the inner prakaram immediately after the Nandi mandapam.

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, maha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The sanctum is guarded by dvarapalas on either side. Presiding deity is called as Masilamaneeswarar / Gomuktheeswarar / Muktheeswarar / Mahalingeswarar / Kokazhi Nathar / Anaithezhuntha Nayagar / Puthira Thiyagar / Sembon Thiyagar / Bodhi Vana Nathar / Shivaloga Nayagar / Maha Thandaveswarar / Mukthi Thiyagar / Artha Thiyagar / Thiruvavaduthurai Udaiyar / Paramaswamy Thiruvavaduthurai Azhwar / Bothi Ambalavanar / Bhoogayileswarar and is facing east.

He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Shiva Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). Vinayaga, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhava, Brahma and Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar shrine can be seen in his usual location. The vimana over the sanctum is of dwaidala style of architecture. There is a shrine for Lord Thyagaraja with his consort Kamalambikai situated on the right side of the sanctum.

One of the Utsava Moorthy taken during the chariot festival is Chem Pon Thiyagar (Chem Pon means pure gold). He is also called as Sembian (a title of Cholas), Puthirathu Thyagaraja (Puthiran means son) and Sornathu Thyagaraja (Sornam means gold). Mother is called as Oppillamulaiyammai / Athulya Kujambal / Abhaya Gujambal. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. She is in standing posture and four armed. She holds padma & aksha mala in her upper hands and shows abhaya & varada hastha in her lower hands. Adipoora Amman shrine and Palliyarai flanks the mother shrine.

The procession idol of Anaithezhuntha Nayakar is enshrined in a south facing shrine in the prakaram. Lord Shiva appears to be embracing Goddess Parvathy in this idol. However, the closer look on the idol  reveal that the hands of the Lord Shiva did not touch the body of the goddess Parvati. Procession idols of Adhikara Nandhi, Bikshadana, Sokkanathar, Nalvar and Mariyamman can be seen in the maha mandapam. There is a beautiful sculpture depicting the legend of goddess Parvati in the form of cow pouring milk (abhishekam) on the Lingam on the prakara wall.

She is worshipped as Gorupambika. Saneeswarar shrine can be seen next to her. There is no shrine for the Navagrahas in the temple premises. There are three idols of Surya placed together in the prakara. This is a rare darshan for the devotees. Shrines of Thiru Maligai Thevar and Namasivaya Moorthy Swamigal can be seen in the temple premises. It is a general rule in this temple that after conducting the pooja to Thiru Maligai Thevar, the pooja has to be done for Namasivayamurthi Swamigal.

Shrines and Idols of Adhi Gomuktheeswarar, Kanni Vinayaga, Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena, 63 Nayanmars, Nalvar, Saraswathy, Agastya, Gnanambigai, Kalatheeswarar, Konganeswarar, Meenakshi, Chokkalingam, Mahalakshmi, Viswanathar, Nataraja, Chera Lingam, Chozha Lingam, Bhairava, Pancha Lingas, Harathatha Sivachariyar, Meikandar, Umapathi Sivam, Maraignanasambandar, Arul Nandhi Sivam and Chandran can be seen in the temple premises.

Jeeva Samadhi of Saint Thirumoolar can be seen in the outer prakaram. Theertham associated with this temple are Gomukthi Theertham, Kaivalya Theertham and Padma Theertham. Mukthi Theertham is situated in front of the temple. Sthala Vriksham is Peepal tree. As the tree spread over a large area, it is also called as Padar Arasu (Padarthal means spreading in Tamil). The Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam is situated adjacent to the temple.