 Description:
This Shivastalam is located at a distance of 7km from
Mayiladuturai enroute to Vaideeswaran Koyil. Several colorful legends abound in this once vast
temple, now surrounded by what remains of a moat. This temple has been
glorified by the hymns of all three of the Tevara trinity and is
regarded as 19th in the series of the Tevara Stalams to the north of
the river Kaveri.Legends: The
sanskrit name here is Varthi Nirvapanapuram, which translates into Tiri-ninravur, jibing
with the legend associated with Veera Cholan. It is believed that the Chola king's
retinue's  lamps used to get put out upon crossing this temple. Jamadagni and Parasuramar
and Agasthyar are said to have worshipped here. Vishnu and Mahalakshmi are also said to have worshipped
here, hence the name Mahalakshmeeswarar. Another legend is one that is
associated with a Chola king who accidentally hit the top of the
Shivalingam as he was attempting to excavate the land to build the
temple.
The Temple: A 3 tiered, 45 feet high Rajagopuram adorns the entrance
to this temple with 2 prakarams occupying an area of about an acre. The moat lends the
name Parikeswarar. (Parikeswara  theertham). The theertham has been described as one with
fragrant blue flowers by Sambandar. There are shrines to the
Shivalingam worshipped by Parasurama as well as shrines to Ganesha,
Subramanya, Mahalakshmi, the Navagrahas, Bhairava, Chandra.This temple is under the able administration of the
Dharumapuram Adhinam.
Parasuraamar is believed to have endowed 36 measures (Veli) of land to this temple with
the idea that the income generated from each measure would be used for a days worship
here. In the present day, the Dharumapuram Adhinam has set up a similar trust to provide
for daily worship services. |
