Ezhuloga Nayagi Temple,
Manalur, Thanjavur
Ezhuloga Nayagi Temple is a
Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Shakthi, located in Manalur Village near
Aduthurai Town in Thiruvidaimarudur Taluk in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding
Deity is called as Ezhuloga Nayagi / Vadakku Kotta Amman.
Legends
As per local folklore, Once, a
farmer dug his land in Thamaraikulam in Manalur village for water source. Once,
he reached 5 feet depth, blood started oozing out from the well. The farmer
carefully excavated the well and found an idol of Amman. The idol had cut marks
on the idol. He was so worried about the condition of the idol. Mother informed
the farmer that she was under intense penance in this place for several years.
Further, she ordered him to take
the idol with him and where the farmer felt that the weight of the idol was
unbearable to carry, consecrate the idol at the place and built a temple for
her. As she is facing north direction, she came to be called as Vadakku Kotta
Amman. As she is guarding the seven villages namely Manalur, Thirumandurai, Kumananthurai,
Kanjanur, Suriyanar Kovil, Kottur and Thugili, she came to be called as
Ezhuloga Nayagi.
The Temple
The Temple is situated amidst
paddy fields. This Temple is facing towards north. Presiding Deity is called as
Ezhuloga Nayagi / Vadakku Kotta Amman. She is housed in the sanctum. She is
eight armed. Her head is in slightly slanted position. Shrines of Lord Shiva
and Vinayaga can be found at the right side of the sanctum entrance. Shrines of
Lord Murugan and Bhairava can be found at the left side of the sanctum
entrance. There are shrines for Veeran and Hanuman can be seen in the temple
premises.
Festivals
Aadi Fridays, Chitra Pournami
and Aani Swathi Nakshatra days are celebrated here with much fanfare.
Prayers
People pray to Mother here for good
harvest in their fields. Local villagers will start any work related to
agricultural works after worshipping Ezhuloga Nayagi
Contact
Ezhuloga
Nayagi Temple,
Manalur,
Thiruvidaimarudur Taluk,
Thanjavur
District – 612 102
Mobile: +91 96262 78648
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about
2.5 Kms from Suriyanar Kovil, 4 Kms from Kanjanur, 5 Kms from Aduthurai, 5 Kms
from Aduthurai Bus Stand, 6 Kms from Aduthurai Railway Station, 17 Kms from Kumbakonam,
17 Kms from Kumbakonam Railway Station, 25 Kms from Mayiladuthurai, 56 Kms from
Thanjavur and 110 Kms from Trichy Airport. The Temple is situated on Aduthurai to
Thiruppanandal Route. Mini buses ply every 15 minutes from Aduthurai. Aduthurai
is situated on the Mayiladuthurai – Kumbakonam
highway, and buses are available from Mayiladuthurai and Kumbakonam. Various
private and government long haul buses stop here connecting this town with
major cities like Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai. The Temple is situated at about
5 Kms from Aduthurai.