Immayilum Nanmai Tharuvar Temple – The Temple
Presiding
Deity is called as Immayilum Nanmai Tharuvar. Shivalinga in the temple is
facing west. Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi are behind the Shiva Linga. Normally
devotees will have the darshan of Lord Shiva – Shivalinga – from the front
side, but here devotees will have darshan from the rear in this temple.
According to rules, Shiva Puja should be performed by sitting westward.
Lord Shiva along with Mother is performing the Linga Puja this way, hence the
devotees have the rear side darshan. Urchavar is Somaskanthar.
Mother
is called as Naduvoor Nayaki / Mathiyapuri Nayaki. Mother Mathiyapuri Nayaki graces
from a separate shrine. As the temple is at the centre (Madhya) of Madurai
city, she is so named. She is also praised as Mangalya Vara Prasadini as
those praying to her for timely marriage, are blessed with happy matches.
Mother Mathiyapuri Nayaki appears in a standing posture on a lotus designed
peeta. The peeta is adorned with a Sri Chakra carved in stone. Generally,
Sri Chakra is drawn on copper sheets and installed in temples. This is a
difference in this temple.
Lord
Lingodhbava is under a Bodhi tree (Arasa Maram in Tamil) behind Mother
Mathiyapuri Nayaki shrine. Virgins facing delays in marriage worship here
with milk abishek to Lord Lingodhbava, offering a skirt, Mangal sutra, turmeric
and kumkum seeking a good match for them. Sthala Vriksham is Dhasathala Vilwa
(leaves with ten petals). Theertham is Shiva Pushkarini. Veerabhadra in this
shrine is facing west. Lord Siddhi Vinayaka graces the devotees in the temple.
Special
pujas are dedicated to Lord Bhairava in the temple on new moon fortnight
Ashtami (eighth day after full moon), Karthika Shamba Sasti in
November-December and Margazhi Ashtami days. A strong Puliyodharai
(Tamarind rice) prepared with rice and chillies in 1:3 ratio respectively is
offered as Nivedhana to Lord Bhairava.
The
priest in the temple performs Shiva Puja standing before the Linga and Suyarupa
Shiva. Abishek is offered to Shivalinga only. Thaila (oil) abishek is
offered to Suyarupa Shiva on New moon, (Amavasya), full moon days (Poornima)
days and 30 days in the month of Margazhi, all totaling to 54 days in a
year. On Shivarathri night (in February-March) conch abishek (Sankabisheka)
is performed with Homas. During the morning puja (Vila Puja) Dosa (a popular
dish of Tamilnadu) is offered as Nivedhana to Lord Shiva.
Of the
five components comprising the Universe – Land, Space, Fire, Water and Wind –
this place belongs to Prithvi-land category. Hence, those constructing new
building, place a handful of sand in the Shiva shrine and then mix it with
other building materials. It is noteworthy that Lord Shiva had his
Coronation here and performed Linga Puja himself here. Those aspiring for
leadership and respectable positions perform Raja Upachara Archana – Respecting
the Royals to realize their wish.
Lord
Shiva is said to have played 64 Tiruvilayadal-play of miracles. In
Madurai, appearing as Vallaba Siddha, He made an Elephant of Stone eat
Sugarcane. He is sitting in Padmasana (one type of Yoga sitting) showing
the sky (Space) by the right hand and holding some puja materials (kungiliyam,
Sambirani etc.) in the right hand. People pray to Vallaba Siddha on Mondays.
Special pujas are performed to Lord Siddha on full moon days in Thai
(January-February) and Chitra (April-May) months and on new moon day in
Aadi-July-August.
Lord
Kasi Viswanatha in the front Mandap is fair in complexion. Mother
Visalakshi is nearby. It is worth recalling that Lord Sri Rama performed
Shiva Puja in Rameswaram with a sand Lingam for relief from the Dosha of
killing Ravana a Shiva devotee. Remembering this event, a Sand Linga was
installed in this temple too. Lord Rama appears with his Kodandam Bow
behind this Linga. Devotees can also have the darshan of Jura Deva with his
consort Jura Shakti who cures all types of fevers. Devotees offer Pepper
Rasam and rice as Nivedhana here.
Sri
Chandikeswara who is maintaining a register of the devotees visiting Shiva
temples and recommending to Lord to listen to their prayer, is not offered any
special pujas generally in temples. Devotees do it in this temple. They
worship Lord Shiva with a garland and offer it again to Chandikeswara seeking
His help to take their prayers to Lord Shiva. Hence, He is praised as
Recommendation Chandikeswara.
The
temple praised as Kailas on Earth is southwest of Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple in
the city. Based on the name of the city-Madurai-, Lord Shiva and Mother Mathiyapuri
Nayaki are also praised as Madura Nayaka and Madura Nayaki respectively. The
Vilwa tree in the temple has ten leaves in a stem – Dasadhala Vilwa. Those
facing adverse aspects of Jupiter planet worship Lord Dakshinamurthy in the
temple with special pujas.
Pookuzhi
walking (walking on a fire pit as a prayer commitment) is a ritual commonly
observed in Shakti (Goddess) temples. In Immayilum Nanmai Tharuvar Temple,
devotees perform this for Lord Muruga on the day after the Vaikasi Visakam
festival in May-June.
