Tamilnadu is located on the southern part of India. It is bounded by the Bay of Bengal on the east, and by Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh states on the other three sides.
Praana Natheswarar Temple, Tirumangalakkudi
| Location of the temple | Tirumangalakkudi |
| Lord Shiva known as | Praana Natheswarar |
| Female deity known as | Mangalanayagi, Mangalaambikai |
| Pathigam | Thirunavukarasar, Sambandar |
| How to reach | Located 3 Kms from Aduthurai railway station on the Mayiladuthurai - Kumbakonam section of Southern Railway. This temple can also be reached from Kumbakonam by bus and is about 15 Kms from Kumbakonam. |
Sun God Sooriyan, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Kali, God Brahma, Saint Agasthiyar are believed to have worshipped God Shiva at this Sthalam. According to the legend, a minister by name Alaivaanar working under the Chola King First Kulothungan, spent all the money collected by way of taxes and other revenues for renovating the God Shiva's temple at Tirumangalakudi. The king came to know of this and sent word for the minister to meet him personally. The minister, fearing that the king will punish him for renovating the temple with the funds due to the government, committed suicide. His wife, an ardent devotee of God shiva like her husband, broght her husband's dead body to Tirumangalakkudi for cremation. On approaching Tirumangallkudi, she prayed to God Shiva and his female consort Mangalayagi. By God's grace, the minister got his life back at this Shivasthalam and main deity is kown as Praana Natheswarar.
According to the legend, a saint by name Kalapa Munivar, by using his divine powers, came to know that he is to be affected by leprosy disease soon. He prayed to all the 9 Navagrahas to avoid getting this disease. The Navagr ahas appeared in front of the saint and told him that they cannot change the fate and he is destined to suffer from leprosy. The saint got angry and cursed that Navbagrahas will also get the same diesease i.e., leprosy. Navagrahas, affected by the disease, came to this temple and worshipped Praana Nathesewarar so that they can be relieved from the curse and the diesease. God Shiva, pleased with their worship, appeared before them and told them to do penance at a nearby place and accordingly Navagrahas got cured from the disease and thus freed themselves from the curse.
It is of special mention here that the Vilva Tree inside the garden in this temple has 11 petals in its leaves.