Marudanda Nadeswarar Temple, Angarai, Trichy
Marudanda Nadeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated
to Lord Shiva located at Angarai near Lalgudi Town in Trichy District of
Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as
Marudanda Nadeswarar and Mother is called as Sundara Kanchani.
Legends
Marudandhan was the son of the sage Suholar. The sage
drove away his consort (mother of Marudandhan) on charges of adultery, and
thereafter she led an immoral life. As Marudandhan grew, he became a friend of
the prince of the country. The prince was a lustful and salacious youth.
Marudandhan too got influenced by him and became lustful. Once, womanizing,
both went to an elderly woman and made merry together. Then she realized that
the adult who accompanied the prince was her son. Knowing this, Marudandhan,
began to lament loudly at the sin he had had committed. Pricked by this ill
feeling, he discarded the material life and went to the forest and began to
meditate.
Pleased by his sincere and strong penance, Lord Shiva
appeared before him. He pardoned the sin, as it was done unknowingly. However,
Lord Shiva said. “Any man should see a woman as a mother only”. To make the
world realize this I enacted this horrible drama. In the ‘Kali Yuga’ many such
incidents may happen. The guilty should realize the sin and repent. Still,
being wreck with this conscience thrashing him, Marudandhan asked, for
atonement. Lord Shiva asked him to construct a temple and pray towards him
every day will give him a peace at mind. Marudandhan built a temple out of his
own resources after this and worshipped every day. Ambal pacified him. She is
called Sundara kanchani here.
The
Temple
Presiding Deity is called as Marudanda Nadeswarar and Mother is called as Sundara
Kanchani. Though the temple is facing east, the south facing entrance only is
in use. While the shrine of Lord faces east, that of Mother is facing South in
a single hall – mandapam. The devotee can go around the shrines simultaneously.
This is a rare model. The temple has a one Prakara-corridor only having shrines
for Dakshinamurthy, Vinayaka, Gajalakshmi, Durga, Chandikeswara and Navagrahas
– the 9 planets. The consecration of the temple was performed last in the year
1968.
Temple
Opening Time
The temple remains open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and
4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
Tamil New Year day falling almost on April 14 each year,
Vaikasi Visakam in May-June, Aadi Kruthikai in June-July, Vinayak Chaturthi
mostly during August-September, Navarathri during September-October, Skanda
Sashti in October-November, Tirukarthikai in November-December, Panguni Uthiram
in March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple with special pujas.
Prayers
People pray for removal of obstacles in marriage
alliances, for child boon and excellence in education. Devotees perform abishek
and offer vastras (clothes) to Lord and Mother.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 1 Km from Santhai Pettai
Bus Stop, 2 Kms from Lalgudi, 2 Kms from Lalgudi Bus Station, 3 Kms from
Lalgudi Railway Station, 2 Kms from Mandurai, 14 Kms from Srirangam, 21 Kms
from Trichy and 26 Kms from Trichy Airport.