Mahalingeswarar Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur

Tiruvidaimarudur
Tiruvidaimarudur Location in Tamil Nadu
Coordinates:	10°59′40″N 79°27′01″E / 10.99444°N 79.45028°E / 10.99444; 79.45028Coordinates: 10°59′40″N 79°27′01″E / 10.99444°N 79.45028°E / 10.99444; 79.45028
Name
Other names:	Mahalinga Swamy
Location
Country:	India
State:	Tamil Nadu
District:	Tanjore
Location:	Tiruvidaimarudur
Temple Details
Primary Deity:	Mahalingaswamy(Shiva)
Consort:	Pirguchuntaragujambigai(Parvathi)
Architecture and culture
Architectural styles:	Dravidian architecture

Mahalingeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the town of Thiruvidaimarudur in Tamil Nadu, India. Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a lingam in this temple. The temple is considered to be one of the six most sacred places dedicated to Lord Shiva.

It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where four of the most revered Nayanars (Saivite Saints), Appar, Sundarar, Manickavasagar and Tirugnana Sambandar^[1] have glorified the temple with their songs.

History

The temple at Thiruvidaimarudur is over 2,000 years old and is associated with the Pandya king Varaguna Pandian. The temple contains inscriptions of the Hoysala kings and some Vijayanagara grants, and many records of the later Nayaks and Marathas^[2].

Temple

The temple has a 5-tier Rajagopuram and an enthralling campus. There are 5 temple tanks inside the temple, namely Karunyamirdha Theetham, Soma Theertham, Kanaga Theertham, Kalyana Theertham and Iravatha Theertham.

Legend

The legend of a Chola prince who killed a Brahmin and was in turn, pursued by his spirit(Brahmahatthi), is associated with the temple. The Chola prince, it is believed, entered the Mahalingeswarar Temple and prayed to his favourite God Shiva for relief from the clutches of the spirit of the dead Brahmin or "Brahmahatthi". The Chola prince made his way out through another entrance thereby saving himself. It continues till day where people take the second entrance after worship.

Specials

According to legend, the Saptha Vigraha moorthis(Seven prime consorts in all Siva Temples) and the specialty temples are as under the list:

Deity	Temple	Location
Nataraja	Chidambaram Nataraja Temple	Chidambaram
Chandikeswarar	Tirucheingalur Temple	Tirucheingalur
Vinayagar	Vellai Vinayagar Temple	Tiruvalajuli
Muruga	Swamimalai Murugan Temple	Swamimalai
Durga	Thenupuriswarar Temple	Patteswaram
Bhairava	Sattainathar Temple	Sirkali
Navagraha	Sooriyanar Temple	Suryanar Kovil

Gallery

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  Temple entrance

• 

  Temple tank

Notes

1. ^ "campantar tEvAram -2". projectmadurai.org. http://www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/pdf/pm0162.pdf. Retrieved 16 July 2011. 
2. ^ Imperial gazetteer of India: Provincial series, Volume 18, p.137

References

• "Mahalingeswarar temple, Thiruvidaimarudur". Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu. http://www.shivatemples.com/sofc/sc030.html.