| Description:
Tirumazhapadi is a revered Shivastalam in the vicinity of Tiruvaiyaru and its Saptastana Temples, and is closely
linked to Tiruvaiyaru through one of the annual festivals celebrated here. The Kollidam
river flows northward here in the vicinity of the temple. Tirumazhapadi
is considered to be the 54th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the
Chola kingdom located north of the river Kaveri. Legends:
Several colorful legends abound in this shrine, known primarily for Shiva's Taandavam with
the Mazhuvaayudam (hence Mazhapadi) for Markandeyar. (Parasu Nartanapuram in Sanskrit).
Purushamriga Munivar is said to have established a shrine for Shiva, and Bhrama in his
inability to remove it referred to it as Vajrastamba Moorthy.
The Temple: Somaskandar is in the form of a monolithic stone image
here & there are 2 shrines to Dakshinamurthy. Sundarar is said to have been reminded
of this shrine in a dream. King Sibi is said to have been rid of his afflictions here,
there are no Navagrahams, only 3 pits in front of the sanctum.
The temple is a vast one with a seven tiered Raja gopuram. There are two shrines to
Ambal here. The 100 pillared hall, the Somaskanda mandapam and the murals in the Natarajar
shrine are of interest. The Cholas have contributed immensely to this shrine, as testified
in the many inscriptions seen here. There are inscriptions from the time of the Pandyas,
Hoysalas and the Vijayanagar emperors.
.Inscriptions at Tiruveengoimalai testify to the Vijayanagar empire's contribution to
this shrine.
Festivals: Bhramotsavam in the month of Masi. Nandi's marriage with
Suyahambikai is celebrated in the month of Pankuni when Aiyarappar of Tiruvaiyaru crosses the Kollidam and arrives at
Tirumazhapadi and conducts the wedding, in a grand ceremony.
Templenet acknowledges the contribution of the image above by C. Vedanarayanan, London. |
