Mehanadhar Temple (Lalithambigai Temple),
Tirumeeyachur – The Temple
Presiding
deity is called as Thirumeni Nathar / Meganathar / Muyarchi Natheswarar /
Migura Aruneswarar. Lord Shiva is a Swayambumurthy in the temple. Sun worships
the Lord with his rays falling on the Lord from 21st to 27th of Chittirai. Lord
Meganatha in this temple is under the Gajabrushta Vimana designed as the back
part of an elephant. There are three Kalasas on the Vimana. Presiding
deity is facing east.
Mother
is called as Maha Lalitha Thiripurasundari / Soundara Nayaki / Shanta Nayaki / Lalithambika.
Mother Shrine has got a 5-tiered Rajagopuram. The imposing five feet idol of
Sri Lalithambika is installed over Sri Chakra in the sanctum sanctorum
majestically as an empress. The deity is seated resting her folded right leg on
the seat. Her left leg is in Sukhasana posture. She is said to be in Manonmani Swaroopam
and hence is also known as Shanta Nayaki.
Asthabhujanga
Durga shrine in the outer praharam is of special significance. As Mother
Meenakshi in Madurai and Sri Andal in Srivilliputtur, Mother Durga in this
Meeyachur temple is holding a parrot. Durga with a parrot is rare in
temples. Durga in Trishula Nathar temple in Chennai Tirishulam and in
Chinnamanur Manickavasagar Temple in Theni district have this feature. Mother
Durga with 8 hands in Tirumeeyachur temple is praised as Sukha Brahmma Durga
Devi.
Probably,
this name ought to have been derived after the name of Sukha Brahmma Rishi with
a parrot nose, son of Sage of Veda Vyasa. She looks all smiling though
standing on demon Mahishasura – a Shanta Swaroopini. It is believed that
this parrot is taking the message of the devotees to Mother Lalithambika
through Durga Matha. Even today, devotees can see a parrot flying from Durga
shrine to Lalithambika shrine during evenings.
Sthala
Vriksham is Vilvam and Mandharam. Theertham is Surya Pushkarini and Kali Theertham.
There are two Shiva shrines in the temple. Lord is in Linga form. Saint Thirugnana
Sambandar had sung the glory of Lord in the shrine under the Rajagopuram and
Saint Thirunavukkarasar had praised the Lord in the Ilamkovil in the north
prakara of the temple. This is a temple of Mother importance.
The
devotee can have the darshan of the shrines of Lords Brahmma, Vishnu and
Lingodhbava (Shiva) standing in between the two Vimanas. Lord Chandikeswara
graces with four faces. There is a sculpture of Kshetra Puraneshwara in
the outer circumambulatory path, where-in Lord Shiva is seen cajoling and
pacifying the goddess. Rajendra Chola and Sembian Mahadevi are said to have
renovated this ancient temple.
