Mahalingeswarar temple, Tiruvidaimarudur
Location: Tiruvidaimarudur
Deity known as: Mahalingeswarar, Marudhappar
Female Deity: Bruhath-Sundara-kusaambaal, Nanmulai Nayaki, Perunalamulai Nayaki
Pathikam: Tirunavukarasar - 5, Sambandhar - 6, Sundarar - 1
Gallery - Tiruvidaimarudur
How to Reach
This renowned Shiva temple is situated about 9 km from Kumbakonam on the route to Mayiladuthurai. Regular bus services operate from Kumbakonam to this temple.
Tiruvidaimarudur also has its own railway station, located on the Kumbakonam–Mayiladuthurai section of the Southern Railway.
Temple Address
Tiruvidaimarudur
Kumbakonam Taluk
Thanjai district
PIN - 612104
Temple Hours
Morning: 6:00 - 12:00 PM
Evening: 4:00 - 8:00 PM
Near by temples
| 1 | Tiru-Kudamooku (Kumbakonam) - 10 kms | |
| 2 | Tiru-Nageswaram - 6 kms | |
| 3 | Then-Kurangadu-Thurai - 4 kms | |
| 4 | Tiru-Neelakudi - 7 kms | |
| 5 | Tiru-Vaikal Mada-Kovil - 12 kms | |
| 6 | Tiru-Nallam - 17 kms | |
| 7 | Tiru-Kozhambam - 10 kms | |
| 8 | Tiru-Vavaduthurai - 11 kms |
Temple Significance
The 1,200-year-old Shiva temple at Tiruvidaimarudur—where the syllable "v" is added as a connective between Tiru–Idai–Marudur—stands as a magnificent and expansive sacred complex. This temple in the "middle Marudur" region is renowned for its three long, broad, and concentric prakarams, each enhancing its architectural grandeur.
There are three temples associated with the Marudha tree as their Sthala Vriksham. Among them, Srisailam, situated to the north of Tiruvidaimarudur, is known as Vada-Marudur (North Marudur). Tiru-Pudai-Marudur, also called Pudar-Chunam in the Tirunelveli district, is revered as Then-Marudur (South Marudur). Located between these northern and southern Marudur temples—along the Kumbakonam—Mayiladuthurai railway route—stands Tiru-Idai-Marudur, the central Marudur.
Celebrated as Madhyarjunam, Tiruvidaimarudur is famed for its sacred triad: Murthy, Sthalam, and Theertham. Words fall short in conveying the spiritual prominence of this temple.
Pancha Linga Kshetram
At the four corners of the broad streets surrounding the temple—streets wide enough for temple chariots to move with ease—stand four small Shiva temples: Viswanathar, Athmanathar, Rishipureeswarar, and Sokkanathar. At the center lies the temple of Mahalingaswamy, making the region revered as a Pancha Linga Kshetram.
Among these, the Sokkanathar temple on the western side possesses a unique distinction. During times of drought, when the land and its people yearn for rain, devotees sing the Thevaram hymn in the "Megha Raga Kurinji" metre and worship this deity. Even today, this practice is believed to bring the much-needed rains.
The Three Prakarams
- 1. Ashwamedha Prakaram :
- This is the outermost prakaram. The Purana states that circumambulating this prakaram is equivalent to performing an Ashwamedha Yaga, one of the most sacred and powerful Vedic rituals.
- 2. Kodumudi Prakaram (Mudi Prakaram) :
- This is the middle prakaram. Walking around this enclosure is believed to be equivalent to circumambulating Mount Kailash, the abode of Shiva.
- 3. Pranava Prakaram :
- This is the innermost prakaram. Circumambulating this sacred space is said to bestow the supreme blessing of Mukti or Moksha, the ultimate spiritual liberation.
Swayambu Lingam
The presiding deity here is Swayambu Lingam (self-manifested Lingam). Mahalingeswarar is believed to have worshipped Himself in this sacred place and imparted the principles of worship and Agama rituals to the Sapta Rishis and other sages.
It is also said that the deity appeared in the form of Ardhanareeswara to Sage Markandeya, fulfilling his devotion and prayer.
Mookambikai Sannidhi
The Mookambikai Sannidhi in this temple is highly renowned. Situated to the south of the goddess's shrine, this sannidhi draws numerous devotees. Nearby is the Maha Meru Sannidhi, where special abhishekam is performed to the Meru every full-moon day. It is noteworthy that Goddess Mookambikai has only two major presence in India — one here at Tiruvidaimarudur and the other at Kollur in Karnataka.
27 Nakshatra Lingams
Similar to Tiruvotriyur, the Mahalingaswamy Temple at Tiruvidaimarudur also houses 27 Nakshatra Lingams. According to legend, Chandra (the Moon God) arrived here with his 27 consorts and created a water body known as Somatheertham. He installed 27 Lingams, each representing one of the star constellations (nakshatras), and worshipped them daily, thereby freeing himself from a curse inflicted by Guru Bhagavan.
These Nakshatra Lingams are located on the right side of the path leading to the main sanctum. Offering prayers at one's respective nakshatra lingam by lighting 27 ghee lamps is believed to remove marriage obstacles, grant progeny, cure illnesses, and restore lost positions or status.
Since Chandra attained relief here, this temple is also honored as a Chandra Sthalam. In the Navagraha Sannidhi of this temple, Chandra alone is seen at a height above the rest of the planetory deities, which is a unique feature.
History of Varaguna Pandiyan
The sacred town of Tiruvidaimarudur is closely linked with the life of Varaguna Pandiyan, a king of the Pandya kingdom. Once, the king went hunting in a nearby forest. As dusk gave way to night, he was returning on horseback when the horse accidentally trampled a Brahmin who was sleeping on the path, causing his death. Though this incident occurred without the king's knowledge, the sin of killing a Brahmin (Brahmahatti Dosha) afflicted him. The angry spirit of the Brahmin is said to have clung to the king as well.
Varaguna Pandiyan, a staunch devotee of Shiva, prayed earnestly to Somasundarar of Madurai to liberate him from this terrible sin. Somasundarar appeared in his dream and instructed him to go to Tiruvidaimarudur and worship Him there.
The king was worried about travelling to Tiruvidaimarudur, which was in the rival Chola kingdom. At that very moment, news arrived that the Chola king had marched his army against the Pandya kingdom. Varaguna Pandiyan went to war, defeated the Chola king, and chased him deep into the Chola territory.
Taking this opportunity, he entered Tiruvidaimarudur through the main eastern entrance and worshipped the deity. The Brahmahatti Dosha and the Brahmin's spirit, which had been following him, did not dare enter the temple and remained outside, waiting to seize him again on his return.
However, the deity Mahalingaswamy of Tiruvidaimarudur, through a divine voice (asareeri), instructed Varaguna Pandiyan to exit through the western entrance, thereby protecting him. Freed from the Brahmahatti Dosha, the king returned peacefully to the Pandya kingdom, leaving the brahmahathi and the spirit to wait eternally at the eastern entrance.
Special Worship Tradition
To commemorate this divine event, devotees visiting the temple even today follow the same practice: they enter the temple through the main eastern entrance and exit through the western or southern gateway.
Parivara Deity Temples
Because of the glory and importance of the temple at Tiruvidaimarudur, some nearby temples in the vicinity are referred as Parivara Devatha temples. They are:
- Tiru-Valanchuzhi – Vinayaka
- Swamimalai – Muruga (one of the six sacred abodes of Muruga)
- Tiruvarur – Somaskandar
- Chidambaram – Nataraja
- Alangudi – Dakshinamurthy
- Tiruvaduthurai – Nandikeswarar
- Tirucheynalur – Chandikeswarar
- Sirkazhi – Bhairavar
- Suryanar Koil – Navagrahas
Considered on par with Kashi
Six temples on the banks of river Cauvery considered on par with Varanasi :
Tiruvidaimaruthur on the banks of river Cauvery is one of the 6 temples on par with Varanasi.
Theertham Significance
32 Sacred Theerthams
It is astonishing to note that among many temples, only this temple has as many as 32 water bodies.
Karunyamrutha Theertham
The Karunyamrutha Theertham, spread across one acre, is highly renowned.
Poosa Theertham
Poosa Theertham, also known as Kalyana Theertham, is popualr. It is believed that those who bathe in this theertham on the day of Thaipoosam are freed from sins. There are also accounts of devotees who were blessed with the gift of a child by bathing in this theertham. King Yuvanasuvan of Ayodhya was blessed with a son named Mandhata. Likewise, the Pandya king Chithragirthi was also blessed with a male child.
Story of Devavirat
A thief named Devavirat once attempted to steal the sacred ornaments of the deity. As a consequence of this sinful act, he fell gravely ill and eventually died. In his next birth, he was reborn as a worm. One day, a virtuous devotee—having bathed in the Poosa Theertham—accidentally stepped on it. At that moment, the worm’s form dissolved, and Devavirat attained liberation. Such is the sacred lore associated with this temple.
Dosha Nivarthi Thalam
This temple is also known as a place that removes various doshas. Brahmahatti dosha, Nakshatra dosha, afflictions caused by Chandra dasha and Chandra bhukti, as well as those arising from Sani dasha, Ezharai Sani (7½ years of Saturn), and Ashtama Sani, are all believed to be alleviated here at Tiruvidaimarudur.
Notable worship
Great sages such as Agasthya, Adi Shankaracharya, Pattinathar, Sridhara Venkatesa Ayyaval, Bodhendra Saraswathi (the 59th Peetathipathi of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam), Badragiriar, and Arunagirinathar have visited this temple and worshipped the deity.
It is believed that when Adi Shankara offered his worship here, Mahalingeshwarar uttered Sathyam Advaitham three times.
Sridhara Ayyaval, a great Shiva bhakta, merged here with Mahalingaswamy as a divine jyoti (light).
The jeeva samadhi of Sri Bodhendra Saraswathi is also located at Govindapuram, near Tiruvidaimarudur.
Gallery - Tiruvidaimarudur
