Pages

Saturday, June 6, 2020

Prananadeswarar Temple, Tirumangalakudi – The Temple

Prananadeswarar Temple, Tirumangalakudi – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east with 5 tiered Rajagopuram and has two prakarams. Balipeedam, Nandhi and Dwajastambam can be found in the Mukamandapam facing the sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Prananadeswarar / Pranavaratheswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy. Traditionally, the Linga-Bana is shorter than the height of the Avudaiyar, the seat or peeta. The Linga part is taller than the Avudaiyar part in this temple.


Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Rishabaroodar, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandrasekarar, Mayil Vahanan, Naalvar, Pradosha Nayagar are the Utsava idols present in this Temple. Mothers Mahalakshmi and Saraswathi (without Veena in hands) are on both sides of the sanctum as Dwarapalakis. Still noteworthy is that they are sitting in Padmasana style.


Mother is called as Mangala Nayaki. She is housed in a south facing shrine. The Temple is known as Pancha Mangala Kshetra. The name of the place is Mangalakudi. The Goddess is Mangalambikai. The Vimana over the sanctum is Mangala Vimanam. The Theertham is Mangala Theertham. The Vinayaka is Mangala Vinayaka. Everything in the temple is Mangala (Prosperity).


There are two Natarajas in the Prakara with Mother Sivakami. There is a Bhoodha Gana playing a musical instrument under the feet of the Nataraja near the main Nataraja. There is a Maragatha Lingam (Lingam in green stone, Emerald) near the Nataraja shrine. Abhishekam is performed to this Lingam during midday using Valampuri Shanku (conch with a right bend).


There are two Durgas present in this Temple. While Shiva Durga is present behind the Somaskanda shrine, Vishnu Durga is present on the Koshta wall of the main shrine. In both the Durga shrines, Mahishasura is not present, another rarity. There is also idol of River Cauvery near the Durga in the Shiva shrine. There is a unique procession mount in this temple called Purusha Mirugam (a mix of human, animal and bird).


There is no shrine for Navagrahas in this Temple. It is believed that the Navagrahas in the nearby Suriyanar Koil are the ones belonging to this temple. This is the place where Navagrahas themselves worshipped and got rid of their sins. So, devotees set to Suriyanar Koil, should visit this temple first to complete their worship.


There are shrines and idols of  Mangala Vinayagar, Shanmuga, Gajalakshmi, Bairavar, Chandrasekarar, Agasthiya Lingam, Nalvar, Haradatta and Meikandar and 11 Shivalingams placed in a row in the prakaram. Theerthams associated with this Temple are Mangala Theertham, Cauvery River, Surya Theertham and Chandra Theertham.


Surya and Chandra Theerthams are situated in the prakaram. It is said that these two planets considered as two eyes of Lord Shiva are in the Theertha (Spring) form to cool their Lord.  Abishek Water for the Lord is drawn from these springs. Unlike the other temples, there are three Sthala Vrikshams namely Kongu, Ilavu and Vellerukku in this Temple.