Machapureeswarar Temple, Kovil Devarayan Pettai,
Thanjavur
Machapureeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva located at Kovil Devarayan Pettai Village in Thanjavur District of
Tamil Nadu. The place was called as Thiruchelur in ancient days. The Temple is
also called as Matsyapureeswarar Temple. Presiding Diety is called as Machapureeswarar
/ Matsyapureeswarar and Mother is called as Sugandha Kundhalambigai Ambal. This
Temple is considered as Thevara Vaipu Sthalam. The Temple is situated at the
border of Kovil Devarayan Pettai and Pandaravadai.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
History
This is a very old temple believed to have been
constructed at least 1200 years ago and it pre-dates even Thanjavur Big
Temple.
The
Temple
Presiding Diety is called as Machapureeswarar / Matsyapureeswarar
and Mother is called as Sugandha Kundhalambigai Ambal. The story of Vishnu
worshipping Shiva as a fish is nicely presented in the form of a stone carving
at the entrance. There is a Shrine for Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli
and Devasena in the Temple premises. Lord Murugan is having 3 faces in the front
and the other three faces on the back of the Idol.
The speciality of the idol is that he is holding Shanku
and Chakram in his hands. Normally these attributes are associated only
with Vishnu and here the nephew is holding them. Generally, on the back side of
Shiva shrine, Usually Lingothbavar will be located but here it is a 3 feet
Mahavishnu and the Murugan described above, faces this Vishnu Image. There are
55 inscriptions on the walls of this temple.
Religious
Significance
For brief details, please refer below link;
Prayers
As per local belief, devotees visit this temple when
there are strained relations within the family members like always
fighting/arguing, disputes over petty issues etc. When this happens,
especially between parents and children, they visit this temple and offer
special prayers. Among the various processes in the prayer, the most
important one is to offer plenty of incense (Sambarani in Tamil) so that the
entire shrine as well as the prakarams are covered with the fragrant smell of
Sambarani.
This is believed to melt the hearts of the Swamy and
Ambal and they ensure that the strains in the relationships are removed. Since
this Kshetram is associated with the retrieval of Vedas, students offer prayers
here to excel in their studies. Those who have not offered prayers in the
shrines of their family deities, generally offer prayers here before
re-commencing prayers in their family deity shrines.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 750 meters from Kovil
Devarayan Pettai Bus Stop, 1 Km from Pandaravadai Railway Station, 6 Kms from Ayyampet,
5 Kms from Ayyampet Railway Station, 5 Kms from Papanasam, 18 Kms from Thiruvaiyaru,
19 Kms from Kumbakonam, 22 Kms from Thanjavur, 70 Kms from Trichy and 75 Kms
from Trichy Airport. The temple is situated between Devarayan Pettai and Pandaravadai
near Papanasam.