Vaikal Nathar Temple, Vaikal – Religious Significance

Vaikal Nathar Temple, Vaikal – Religious Significance

Mukkan Kshetram:

There are three Shiva temples in Vaikal Village namely;

·        Vaikal Maada Kovil (Vaikal Nathar Temple)

·        Kasi Viswanathar Temple

·        Brahmapureeswarar Temple

It is said that these three temples represent the three eyes of Lord Shiva. Hence, these three temples are collectively called as Mukkan Kshetram or Moondru Kan Kshetram. Moondru means Three, Kan means eye and Kshetram means holy place in Tamil. All these three temples are situated within a radius of one Kilometer. It is said that Kasi Viswanathar Temple represents the right eye of Lord Shiva, Brahmapureeswarar Temple represents the left eye of Lord Shiva and Vaikalnathar Temple represents the eye on Lord Shiva’s forehead.

Mada Kovils:

Kochengat Chola was an early Chola king and one of the 63 Nayanmars (Saivite saints) of Saivism. He is believed to have attained spiritual rebirth of a spider that fought with an elephant in its previous birth over the worship of the Lord Shiva. He had red eyes during birth as he remained in his mother’s womb a little longer. His mother, looking into the baby red eyes said Kochengkannano (in Tamil Ko=king, Cheng=red, Kan=eyes), which literally means king with red eyes and hence he was named Kochengat Cholan. After becoming a king, he followed Saivism and built 70 Maadakovils, temples with elevated structure where elephants cannot reach the sanctum, in the Chola empire. It is believed that this is one of the temple built by him.

Paadal Petra Sthalams:

The temple is considered as one of the 276 Devaram Paadal Petra Sthalams. This Temple is considered as 150^th Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 33^rd Sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Thirugnana Sambandar had sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.