Moovar Temple, Palanganatham, Madurai
Moovar Temple
is a Hindu Temple located at Palanganatham in Madurai City in Madurai District
of Tamilnadu. The temple is dedicated to Hindu Trinity; Lord Brahmma, Lord
Vishnu and Lord Shiva, hence all the three (Moovar) Lords are gracing in the
temple together.
Legends
King
Rajasekara Pandya felt that the legs of Lord Nataraja would be paining much if
he continued his cosmic dance without a break. He begged the Lord to change legs,
otherwise he would kill himself. Responding to the prayer of the king, Lord changed
his legs in Madurai and continued his cosmic dance. A similar shrine called Velli
Ambalam – stage made of Silver is built in this temple also representing this event.
Special pujas are conducted here on Tiruvadhirai day.
History
Palanganatham has prehistoric reference in
Silapathikaram, Kovalan who was wrongly penalized to death for theft visited
this village before his death. There is a place called “Kovalan Pottal” near
TVS Nagar which is supposed to be the place where he was put to death.
The
Temple
The
temple is dedicated to Hindu Trinity; Lord Brahmma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva,
hence all the three (Moovar) Lords are gracing in the temple together. There
also shrines for their consorts – Saraswathi – Brahmma, Mahalakshmi – Vishnu
and Parvathi – Shiva. The sanctum sanctorum is designed in such a way
resembling the Meenakshi Sundareswarar wedding festival followed in Madurai.
Behind the Shivalinga in the sanctum, are Lord Vishnu, Mother Meenakshi and
Lord Shiva gracing in a sitting form.
Lord
Shiva is decorated on Pradosham days falling on a Saturday and on Shivarathri day
with Golden Nagabaranam – the divine snake ornament above the head of the Linga.
Both men and women are permitted to enter the sanctum and do pujas if they are
truly devout. Any one truly pious are allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum to
function as a priest. Lord Vinayaka is praised in the name of Selva Siddhi
Vinayaka – Vinayaka who grants prosperity to devotees.
Mother
Kanaka Durga shrine reminds us of her shrine in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
Those who worship her in Rahu Kala succeed in their endeavors. There are
shrines for Lords Balamurugan, Aiyappan, Dakshinamurthy, Nandheeswarar, Venkatachalapathy,
Chakkarathzhwar, Kala Bhairava, Nagalingam and Karuppanaswamy in the temple
premises. There is a similar shrine to Velli Ambalam (stage made of Silver) of
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple is built in this temple.
There
are shrines for Thevaram and Tiruvasagam saints – Thiru Gnana Sambandar, Thirunavukkarasar,
Sundarar and Manickavasagar along with Saint Vallalar who propagated the
philosophy of Samarasa Sudha Sanmarga. A puja is conducted on the last Sunday
of each English month for Saint Thirunavukkarasar who served the Lord with his
spade instrument cleaning the pathways to Shiva temples for the convenience of
the devotees. He followed the Dasya Marga – servicing to Lord and devotees.
Devotees
enthusiastically participate in this cleaning service. A prize also is given to
the devotees in recognition of their service to the temple during the Vaikasi
festival. There is no hundi in the temple. The temple administration bears the
expenses of lighting deepas (lamps) in the shrines. Abishekam is performed to
all deities every day changing the clothes. Considering the importance of
cleanliness of the temple, others are not permitted to do this.
The temple
is not closed on eclipse time and other days caused by any untoward incident around
the place. This is a temple of the people, by the people and for the people,
for almost all temple duties are shared by them. The pujas are conducted by
women on Tuesdays and Fridays while men perform this duty on other days. They
cook in the temple kitchen, sweep and clean the temple, make garlands, draw
Rangolis, strike the bells and all such other jobs.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple remains open from 5.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. and from 5.30 a.m. to 8.30
p.m.
Festivals
Vaikasi-May-June
is a festival month. Special pujas and abishekams are held on Margazhi Tiruvadhirai
day in December-January.
Prayers
Prayers
are submitted here for the welfare and prosperity of devotees. Devotees perform
abishekam to Lord and Mother and offer vastras.
Contact
Moovar Temple,
Sundarar
Street, Alagappan Nagar,
Madurai
– 625 003
Mobile: +91 94431 06262
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 500 meters from Alagappa Nagar Bus Stop, 5 Kms from
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, 4 Kms from Koodal Azhagar Temple, 4 Kms from Periyar
Bus Stand, 11 Kms from Mattuthavani Integrated Bus Terminus, 5 Kms from Madurai
Railway Junction, 4 Kms from Thiruparankundram and 10 Kms from Madurai
International Airport. Alagappan Nagar is situated after crossing Palanganatham
on the Madurai – Tiruparankundram Road. Sundarar Street where the temple stands,
is just near the railway gate. Buses are available from Periyar bus stand bound
to Tirumangalam and Tiruparankundram.
Location