The Legend - Thiruvijayamangai is the site where Arjuna performed penance to obtain the powerful Pasupadastra weapon from Shiva. As recounted in the epic Mahabharata, Arjuna sought this divine weapon to ensure victory for the Pandavas in their impending war against their rivals, the Kauravas. Acting on the advice of Krishna, Arjuna journeyed to Thiruvijayamangai and engaged in deep meditation and austerities to prove his worthiness to Shiva. However, his penance was soon disrupted by the arrival of Mukasura, a demon dispatched by the envious Duryodhana in the form of a wild boar. God Shiva, accompanied by his consort Parvati, manifested as a hunter and swiftly slew the boar, with the four Vedas themselves transforming into loyal hunting dogs at his side. Simultaneously, Arjuna loosed an arrow at the same boar, leading to a heated dispute between Arjuna and the disguised hunter over who could rightfully claim the kill. As tempers flared, Arjuna's bow shattered in the ensuing scuffle, prompting the enraged warrior to strike the hunter with the broken weapon - a blow so powerful that its reverberations were felt across all three worlds. In that pivotal moment, God Shiva revealed his true divine form to Arjuna, bestowing upon him the coveted Pasupadastra before vanishing from sight. Thus, the temple earned the name Thiruvijayamangai, immortalizing the site where Arjuna (Vijaya) received the blessings and favor of Lord Shiva. To this day, devotees and pilgrims visiting the temple can bear witness to the enduring mark left by Arjuna's bow upon the sacred Shiva lingam, a tangible reminder of this legendary encounter.
The Layout - The Vijayanatheswarar Temple, exhibits a unique architectural design that deviates from the typical tower-adorned temples commonly found in the region. Instead, the temple features a walled entrance gate, above which a striking sculpture depicting the divine couple Shiva and Parvati seated upon a bull can be observed. Upon passing through this ornate threshold, visitors encounter a small shrine housing Lord Vinayaka, followed by an altar and a Nandi mandapam situated behind the deity. The main sanctum holds the 'Swayambhu Linga' of Vijayanatheswarar on a square 'aavudayar' or pedestal, facing eastward, while the sannidhi of Ambal Mangainayaki is oriented southward. Notably, the four-armed form of Mangala Nayaki assumes a benevolent stance, with her front hands displaying the Abhaya Mudra, a gesture of fearlessness and protection, while one hand grasps an Akshara Mala, a sacred rosary, and the other delicately holds a 'Nilotbhava' the blue-water lilly, symbolizing divine beauty and purity. Encircling the main temple structure, one finds separate sannidhis dedicated to Narthana Vinayaka, Anugraha Dakshinamoorthy, Surya, and Chandran, and for the primary four nayanmars.
The temple is renowned for its two Pathigams, or hymns of praise, composed by the revered Tamil saint-poets Thirunavukkarasar and TiruGyanasambandhar. The name Govantaputtur itself holds a fascinating origin story. According to local tradition, a devoted cow ('Go' in Tamil) once worshipped the Linga by reverently pouring milk from its own udders onto the Linga. Thus, the place came to be known as Govantaputtur, forever immortalizing the cow's profound display of piety. In his Pathigam, TiruNavukkarasar explicitly mentions both the town's name, Govindaputtur, and the temple's name, Vijayamangai, in the third song of his composition.
Temple entrance
Ouuter corridor - East
Nandhi mandapam, Altar
Primary four Nayanmar
Entrance to the sannidhi of Nangainayaki
Entrance to the main sanctum
Vijayanatheswarar