Masilamani Eswarar temple, Tiruvavaduthurai
Location
Tiruvavaduthurai
Deity
Masilamani Eswarar, Prakasamani Nathar, Gomuktheesar
Female Deity
Athulakusa Nayaki, Oppilaa Mulaiyammai
Pathikam
Tirunavukarasar - 5, Sambandar - 1, Sundarar - 2
Gallery - Tiruvavaduthurai Temple
How to Reach
This Shiva temple is situated about 18 km from Mayiladuthurai on the Mayiladuthurai–Kumbakonam Road. The temple enjoys good road connectivity and can be conveniently reached from both Mayiladuthurai and Kumbakonam.
Temple Address
Thiruvavaduthurai
Thiruvavaduthurai Post
Nagapattinam District
PIN – 609803
Temple Hours
Morning : 7:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Evening : 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Nearby Paadal Petra Shiva Temples
Sthala Purana - The Game of Dice
Once, while Shiva and Maha Vishnu were engaged in a game of Sokkaṭṭān (a traditional dice game), Parvati served as the impartial referee. During the game, a dispute arose regarding the outcome of a throw, and Shiva asked Parvati to deliver her judgment. She ruled in favor of Maha Vishnu. Displeased with her decision, Shiva cursed Parvati to be born on earth in the form of a cow. Assuming this form, the Goddess journeyed to many places, worshipping Shiva and performing severe penance to regain His grace. Tiruvavaduthurai is one of the places where Goddess Parvati, in the form of a cow, worshipped Shiva with unwavering devotion. Pleased with her sincere penance, Shiva appeared before her, lovingly embraced her, and accepted her once again as His divine consort. Since Shiva granted mukti (liberation) to the cow (Go in Sanskrit), He came to be revered here as Gomuktheeswarar.
Tirugyanasambandar - The Bag of Gold Coins
Tirugyanasambandar stayed at Tiruvavduthurai for some time along with his father, Shivapada Hrudayar. During their stay, Shivapada Hrudayar wished to perform a yajna at Sirkazhi and requested Sambandar to seek the wealth and materials required for the sacred ritual. In response, Tirugyanasambandar sang the celebrated Thevaram hymn beginning with "Idarinum Thalarinum Enathurunoy Thodarinum Un Kazhal Thozhudhezhuven." Pleased with the saint's unwavering devotion, God Shiva commanded His Bhutaganas to place a bag containing one thousand inexhaustible gold coins on the broad pedestal of the Bali Peetam in this temple. With this divine gift, Shivapada Hrudayar returned to Sirkazhi and successfully completed the yajna. The Bali Peetam, where the bag of gold coins was placed, can still be seen in the outer prakaram near Nandi, and sculptures of the Bhutaganas who brought the divine gift surround it. Devotees believe that worshipping the deity at this sacred spot bestows prosperity, abundance, and enduring wealth upon their families.
The Miracle of Thirumaaligai Thevar
Thirumaaligai Thevar, one of the saints who composed hymns in the Thiruvisaippa, the ninth Thirumurai, was a disciple of Bogar and rendered devoted service at Tiruvavaduthurai. On one occasion, false accusations were made against him, prompting King Narasingan to send his soldiers to arrest him. By the grace of the divine, Thirumaaligai Thevar performed a remarkable miracle by bringing the Nandis sculpted on the temple compound wall to life. The living Nandis chased away the king's army, protecting the saint from harm. Even today, the compound walls of this temple are unique in that they are without Nandi sculptures, a lasting reminder of this extraordinary divine miracle.
King Musukunda Chakravarti - The Blessing of Progeny
This temple is renowned for bestowing the blessing of progeny upon King Musukunda Chakravarti and for revealing itself to him as Thiruvarur, with the presiding deity manifesting as Thyagesa. Deeply distressed by the absence of children, King Musukunda had long worshipped the idol of Thyagesa that he had received from Indra. One night, God Shiva appeared in the king's dream and assured him that by worshipping Him at Tiruvavaduthurai, he would be blessed with a child. Following the Lord's divine command, the king worshipped at this site and was granted the boon of progeny. Owing to this divine episode, devotees firmly believe that sincere prayers offered to God Shiva at Tiruvavaduthurai are blessed with the boon of children.
The Sacred Place of Thirumoolar
A Shaiva yogi named Sundaranathar descended from Kailasa to the earthly realm and journeyed across the land, worshipping God Shiva at numerous locations. When he arrived at Tiruvavaduthurai, he found a cowherd named Moolan lying dead, while the cows under his care stood around him grieving in distress. Moved by compassion for the helpless animals, the yogi entered Moolan's lifeless body through his yogic powers and restored it to life so that the cows would not suffer. Thereafter, he came to be known as Thirumoolar. Remaining at Tiruvavaduthurai, Thirumoolar composed one verse each year, eventually completing three thousand verses, which were later compiled as the revered Thirumandiram, one of the twelve Thirumurais of Shaiva literature. A dedicated sannidhi for Thirumoolar can be seen in the outer prakaram of this temple.
Temple Structure
Rajagopuram
This temple is crowned by a magnificent five-tiered east-facing Rajagopuram. Directly opposite the entrance stands the sacred Gomukthi Theertham, the temple's holy tank. Flanking the Rajagopuram gateway are the sannidhis of Vinayaka and Muruga, who are traditionally believed to have accompanied Goddess Parvati during her penance on earth in the form of a cow.
Corridor and Nandi Mandapam
Beyond the Rajagopuram entrance is a long corridor leading to a spacious mandapam, where a majestic Nandi faces the sanctum. Behind Nandi stands the sacred Bali Peetam, the very spot where God Shiva, through His Bhutaganas, bestowed upon Tirugnanasambandar the miraculous bag of inexhaustible gold coins. Sculptures of the Bhutaganas can be seen standing on all four sides of the Bali Peetam, commemorating this celebrated divine episode. Drawn by a divine and unique fragrance emanating from the pedestal, Tirugnanasambandar removed the stones covering it. Beneath the pedestal, he discovered the sacred Thirumandiram composed by Thirumoolar, thereby bringing this revered Shaiva scripture to light for the benefit of the world.
In front of the large Nandi stands a smaller Nandi, to whom Maha Abhishekam is performed during Pradosham. This temple is revered as the Nandi Sthalam among the subsidiary temples associated with Thiruvidaimarudur, and worshipping Nandi here is believed to bestow special blessings. Devotees therefore consider it highly auspicious to offer prayers to Nandi at this sacred shrine, particularly on Pradosham days.
Swami Sannidhi
To the right of the main sanctum is the sannidhi of Thyagesar. In the prakaram, the temple's Utsava Murthy, Anaithu-ezhundha Nayakar, is enshrined in a south-facing sannidhi. Although the deity is depicted in the divine posture of embracing Goddess Parvati, the idol is uniquely sculpted so that His hands do not actually touch the Goddess. It is firmly believed that couples living apart due to misunderstandings or differences will be reunited and blessed with harmony after offering sincere prayers to Anaithu-ezhundha Nayakar at Tiruvavaduthurai.
Special Features of the Temple
The Distinctions
According to the Sthala Purana, God Shiva imparted the Ashta Maha Siddhis (the eight supreme yogic powers) to the Navakodi Siddhas, including Bogar, at this location. It was also here that Dharma Devatha worshipped the presiding deity Masilamani Eeswarar and was blessed with the unique privilege of becoming His Vahana (divine mount). Adding to the temple's spiritual eminence, the samadhis of the revered saints Thirumoolar and Thirumaaligai Thevar are located within the temple premises. Owing to these extraordinary spiritual associations and its deep connection with Siddha traditions and Shaivite saints, Tiruvavaduthurai occupies a place of exceptional significance among devotees.
Sacred Connections
- One of the subsidiary temples of Thiruvidaimarudur
- Considered the Nandi Sthalam of the region
- Associated with the composition of Thirumandiram
- Place where Thirumoolar attained spiritual realization
Gallery - Tiruvavaduthurai Temple
