Marga Sahayeswarar Temple,
Moovalur – History
This
Temple might have been built in early 10th
century CE by Cholas. The
temple was extensively renovated by Cholas, Pandyas and Vijayanagara
Kings. Moovalur
was mentioned as Jayamkonda Chozha Valanaatu Thiruvazhundur Naatu Thiru
Moovalur in inscriptions. The deity is mentioned as Thiru Moovalur Udaiya
Nayanar, Vazhi Thunai Nayanar and Margasahayar in inscriptions.
There are about 15 inscriptions in this
temple. All these inscriptions are dated to several kings who were
ruling over this region namely Vikrama Chola, Kulothunga Chola III, Rajendra
Chola III, Sri Vallaba Pandya, Vijayanagara Kings Veera Viruppanna & Achyutaraya
and Thanjavur Nayaks Achuthanayaka & Sevappa Nayaka.
An inscription of Vikrama Chola refers to a temple of
Madurantaka Vinnagar Alwar probably a Vishnu temple present in this place. An
inscription of Vijayanagara ruler Vira Viruppanna Udaiyar records that the
temple of Kazha Koothar was destroyed by fire and the lands belonging to the Lord
was transferred to the
main temple.
The inscription of Rajendra Chola III refers to an image
of Koothaadum Devar (Nataraja) in the
temple. An inscription dated to Kulothunga Chola III records the
gift of gold ornaments and articles of worship to this
temple by an individual Selvapillai Andar. An inscription dated to
Vijayanagara ruler Achutha Deva records the renewal of cake offerings in this
temple for welfare of Vijayanagara ruler Achutha Deva by an
individual Meiboganayakar, son of Ramappa Nayakar.
An inscription dated to Sevappa Nayaka, one of the
Tanjore Nayaks, records the gift thirteen velis ·of lands for maintaining a
feeding house attached to the
temple of Marga Sahayar. An individual named Pillai Perumal
Chedirayar gifted land for repairs to the
temple. The gopuram carries an inscription in praise of this
chieftain, Chedirayar also called Pillai Perumal and Sadayan.
The gopuram of this
temple might have been built by this chief. Moovalur is hailed as
one of the sacred Saivite centres of the South. Moovalur
is considered as the birth place (Avathara Sthalam) of Namashivaya Moorthigal,
Muthal Kuravar of Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam.
Moovalur is also famous
for social reformer Moovalur Ramamirtham. She was a Tamil social reformer,
author, and political activist of the Dravidian Movement, who worked for the
abolition of the Devadasi system in the Madras Presidency. She was born in the
village of Moovalur,
in Mayiladuthurai Taluk.