Sivaloganathar Temple,
Mamakudi, Nagapattinam
Sivaloganathar Temple is a
Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Mamakudi Village near Akkur in Nagapattinam
District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Sivaloganathar and Mother
is called as Shivagama Sundari. The place is also called as Magudi. The Temple
is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about
this Temple. The Temple is believed to be built by the Cholas. The Temple is
situated to the north of the Thirukkadaiyur Amirtha Kadeswarar Temple.
Legends
Legend has it that when the
Ocean of Milk was churned several sacred objects appeared at various points.
Goddess Lakshmi also emerged, and the place was called Maakudi. Also referred
to as Lakshmipuram and Thirumalgudi. It is believed that Lord Shiva of this
Temple was also worshipped by Lord Indra.
The Temple
The Temple covers an area of
about 2 acres. The Temple is facing east. There is an entrance in the southern
side in the past, but it is closed due to the encroachment. There is no
Rajagopuram and Dwajastambam. Balipeedam can be found immediately after the
entrance. Pradosha Nandi can be found in a separate Mandapam, facing the
sanctum. The Sanctum sanctorum is having Maha Mandapam, Artha Mandapam and
Sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Sivaloganathar.
He is housed in the sanctum in
the form of Linga. He is facing east. Only Dakshinamoorthy idol in the Koshta
from the Chola era survived. Other idols are newly added. Mother is called as
Shivagama Sundari. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. She is
having four hands. Two hands hold Akshara Mala and Lotus flower and other two
hands show Varada and Abhaya Hastha.
Nataraja Mandapam is located
in Maha Mandapam. There is a beautiful utsava idol of Nataraja along with his
consort Shivagami is present in the Temple. Ganga and Nagas are depicted
beautifully in his matted hairs. Also, Peedam of the idol has depictions of
people playing drums. There is also Pancha Loka Idol of Chandikeswarar is
present in the Temple. All these Pancha Loka idols are found 200 years before
during excavation in the Temple pond. All these idols are kept in Vinayaga
Temple due to security reasons.
There are Idols for Vinayaga,
Maha Lingam, Balasubramanya, Bhairava, Suryan, Saneeswarar present in the Maha
Mandapam. The Temple has an idol of Thirugnana Sambandar. There are shrines for
Naalvar, 63 Nayanmars, Vinayaga, Gajalakshmi, Chandikeswarar and Maha Lakshmi
in the Temple premises. The Temple conducts one Kaala Pooja.
Festivals
Monthly Pradoshams are
observed here. Shivarathri and Annabishekam are also celebrated here.
Literary Mention
The Temple is considered as
Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar had a mention about this
Temple. The deity of the temple was eulogised by Tirunavukkarasar in Adaivu
Thiruthandakam. The Valampuramaalai, which sings the praise of Sri
Valampuranathar, presiding deity of the Melaperumpallam temple, also mentions
Maakudi. The Temple is mentioned in 6th Thirumurai in 71st Patikam in 3rd Song.
நற்கொடிமேல் விடையுயர்த்த நம்பன் செம்பங்
குடிநல்லக் குடிநளிநாட் டியத்தான் குடி
கற்குடிதென் களக்குடிசெங் காட்டங் குடி
கருந்திட்டைக் குடிகடையக் குடிகா ணுங்கால்
விற்குடிவேள் விக்குடிநல் வேட்டக் குடி
வேதிகுடி மாணிகுடி விடைவாய்க் குடி
புற்குடி மாகுடி தேவன்குடி நீலக்குடி
புதுக்குடியும் போற்றவிடர் போகு மன்றே
Prayers
Devotees pray here to become
rich as the place is considered as birthplace of Goddess Lakshmi.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about
3 Kms from Kidangal, 4 Kms from Akkur, 5 Kms from Thalaichangadu, 6 Kms from Thirukkadaiyur,
9 Kms from Poompuhar, 11 Kms from Sembanarkoil, 20 Kms from Sirkazhi, 21 Kms
from Mayiladuthurai, 23 Kms from Mayiladuthurai Railway Station, 48 Kms from Nagapattinam
and 149 Kms from Trichy Airport. The Temple is situated on Sirkazhi to
Nagapattinam Route. The Temple can be reached from Akkur Koottu Road via
Kidangal.