Melai Thirumanajchery, Nagapattinam.

Melai Thirumanajcheri / Edirkolpadi temple:



The temple is about 6kms from Kuthalam. The place Kuthalam is on the way to Mailaduthurai from Kumbakonam.



This is one of 275 Siva Devara Sthalam. Sundarar sang Hymns on Iravadeeswarar of this temple.







The temple Raja Gopuram is of five tiers.



Main Deity here, in this temple is Swayambu Lingam known as Iravadeeswarar and his concert Known as Sugandha Kunthalambikai.








As we enter in side we see Dwajsthambam and Lord Ganeshais seen at the bottom.









Sthala vruksham of the temple is Utthala Maram. Purana says this vruksham is seen only in this place.









As we enter in there is a small sanctum for Lord Ganesha, and we see Balipeetam behind.













Next we seeNandi Devarin small sanctum.




Within the temple we see Subramanyar, Gaja Lakshmi, Kala Bairavar and Saneeswarar sanctums. As we go around we see Bala Ganapathy, Natrajar, Dakshina Moorthy, Ligothbavar, Brahma, Raghu, Durgai, and Ganga Visarjanar as Kostha moortams.









This is Gopuram view of main sanctum from one side.










Meenakshi Sundareswar, marriage ceremony sculptures seen to one side of the Gopuram.









To one side Guru Dakshina Moorthy, sculpture is seen on top of the gopuram.









Dakshina Moorthy sanctumseen as we go around the main sanctum.









There is a small sanctum for Saraswathy Devi.




We see Ambal Sugandha Kunthalambikai in separate sanctum. She is seen in sitting posture, known as Sukhaasana posture. Ambal deity is small in size in this temple.




Sthala purana says Iravadham worshiped Lord Siva here hence he is known as Iravadewarar. Durvasa muni, once gifted a lotus garland to Indra, which was given to him byLord Siva. Indra took the garland and placed it on his elephant Iravadham,which did not know the value of the garland, and threw it down and stamped. Muni was unable to control his anger and he cursed Indra and Iravath. Indra realised his mistake and asked him to excuse and to let him know the way to get rid of his curse.




Iravath came down to earth and worshiped Lord Siva in many temples. When it came to this place and worshiped, Iravath got rid of its curse and was blessed. Indra also worshiped Lord Siva of this place and he was blessed.




Sthala purana also says Baratha Muni who belong to Thirumananjchery, was the one who performedLord Siva and Parvathy marriage at Vaelvikudi. After the ceremony was finished he invited new couple Lord Siva and Parvathy to visit his place. Lord Siva agreed to do so. When Lord Siva and Prvathy came to this place Thirumanajcheri, Baratha muni went forward to welcome newly married couple Lord Siva and Parvathy.




So the place is known as Edirkolpadi which means going forward to welcome. Now the place is known as Melakoil.




By worshiping Lord Siva here marriages are settled. One who has lost their wealth and jobs also worship Lord Siva,and they are blessed by him like Indra who worshiped and got back his wealth and post.

Thiru Chaikadu. Thiruvenkadu.

1. Melayoor / Thiruchaikadu:
   
   
   
   The place is also known as Chayavanam. The place is about 3 kms to Thiruvenkadu, and 15 kms SE, of Seergazhi Town.
   
   
   
   This temple is one of 275 Siva Devara Sthalam.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Arul Migu Chayavaneswarar facing east and his consort Sri Kuilinum nunmozhi Ammai, facing South. Cauvery and Iravadam are teertham of the temple.
   
   
   
   Chai means korai in Tamil. The place was full of these type of grass, and hence the name Chayavanam / Chaikadu. This is one among, six places considered equal to Kasi.
   
   
   
   As we go around the temple we see a mandapam, resembling a chariot, with chakkra and horses, to the side of temple, attached to main temple. The Vimanam of the mandapam is Indra Vimanam.
   
   
   
   Inside the sanctum in the maha mandapam we see Lord Murugan with Vel. Archakar of the temple said, the idol of Lord Murugan was found in the sea.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Purana: Indra’s mother worshipped Lord Siva of this place daily. Indra tried to take the Swayambu Lingam to his place Indralokam, by doing so his eye sight started diminishing. Eyarpagai Nayanar was blessed by (Prathyaksham) Lord Siva here.
   
   
   
   
   Indra as Iravadam worshipped Lord Siva, here. Upamanyu muni worshipped Lord Siva. The Iravada teertham is seen in front of the temple. The temple was under renovation.
   
   
   
   Sambandhar and appar sang hymns on Lord Siva of this place.
   
   

[Sambandhar][Eyarpagai Nayanar][Charriot][indra Vimanam]

Thalai Jnayeru Temple. Thiru Mailaduthurai.

1. Thiru karuppariyaloore / Thalai Jnayeru:
   
   
   
   This is one of 275 Siva Devara Sthalam. Thiru Karuppariyaloore is about 14 kms
   North of Thiru Mailaduthurai, on the banks of River Pazavaru.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Kuttram porutha Esar and his consort known as Kolvalai Nayaki. River Pazavaru is known as Vinayaka Teertham. Sthala Vruksham is Mullai Plant. We see Adi lingam under the plant.
   
   
   
   There is a sanctum for Chattai nadhar and Uma Maheswarar in this temple. As we go around at the back of main sanctum we see the sanctum of Chattai Nadhar and Uma Maheswarar in the first floor. Sooryan worshipped Lord Siva in this place, hence the name Thalai Jnayeru.
   
   
   
   
   Purana says Vasishta Maharishi installed a Siva Lingam and attained Gyanam. Lord Siva excused Indra for his mistake, hence the name Kuttram porutha Nadhar, for him in this temple.
   
   
   
   Sambandhar and Sundarar sang hymns on Lord Siva of this place. The temple is opened from 6-8 in the evening.
   
   

[Sooryan][Chttai Nadhar][Hymns][Uma Maheswarar] [Sambandhar][Sundarar]

Thiru Kurakkaval and Thiru valputhur temple. Thiru Mailaduthurai.

1. Thirukurakkaval:
   
   
   
   This is one of 275 Siva Devara Sthalam.
   
   
   
   The place is about three kms from Thiruparialoore / Thalai Jayeru on the bank of River Pazhva / Ganapathy River.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Arul Migu Kondala Nadeswarar and his consort Sri Kundala Nayaki Amman.
   
   
   
   Purna says Hanuman worshipped Lord Siva in this place, hence the name Kurakkaval. There is a separate sanctum for Anjaneyar in this temple.
   
   
   
   Navukarasar sang hymns on Lord Siva of this place.
   
   
   
   Villagers say even now, in a year monkeys come there and stay for few days in the temple. At that time, the main sanctum is kept open for monkeys to worship Lord Siva.For past few years the monkeys hesitate to enter into the temple. The kids are throwing stones and troubling the monkeys.
   
   
   
   
2. Thiruvazh koli puthur / Valoli putroore:
   
   
   
   This is one of 275 Siva Devara Sthalam.
   
   
   
   Thiruvalaputhur is about 10 kms north of Mailaduthurai, on the banks of River Kollidam. The temple has a Raja Gopuram of five storeys with three prakarams.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main Deity is Swayambu Lingam known as Arul Migu Manikkavannar and his consort known as Vandar Poongkuzhali Ammai.
   
   
   
   Teertham is known as Brahma teertham and sthala Vruksham is known as Vagai.
   
   
   
   
   Purana says Arjuna worshipped Lord Siva here. Lord was pleased with his prayers, who helped him to hide his sword, in a putru (ant hill), during their one year period of Agnayatha vasam, hence the name Valoli putroor for this place. Vasuki worshipped Lord Siva of this place and it was blessed by Lord Siva gained a place as an ornament of decoration for him.
   
   
   
   
   There are five lingam seen here, which was worshipped Pancha Pandavas, and Valampuri Vinayakar worshipped by Drowpathy, in this place. Brahma, Indra, Doorvsa muni worshipped Lord Siva and were blessed by Him in this place.
   
   
   
   Sambandhar and Sundarar sang hymns on Lord Siva of this temple.
   
   

[Vasuki][Valampuri Vinayakar] [Pandavas][LordSiva][Sambandhar][Sundarar]