KULADEIVAM
SRI VALAMBIGA sameda SRI AMRAVANESWARAR
THIRUMANDURAI
MAIN ENTRANCEThe Arulmigu Amravaneswarar (Ambiravananathar) Temple at Thirumandurai is 58th in the series of 275 Thevara Sthalams in the Chola Kngdom, north of the river Cauveri.
Located on the Tiruchi-Lalgudi road, 13 miles northeast of the Tricuhi railway station.
The presiding deity is Lord Shiva as Ambiravananathar, also known as Amravaneswarar, or Maanturaiappar. Ambal (His consort) is Azhagammai (Azhagiyanayagii or Azhagal Vuyarnda Ammai) or Balambal (Balambigai).
The presence of Lord Brahma here is connected with the temple Theertham, which is called Gayatri Nadhi Theertham. This place is where Brahmadeva is said to have brought the Gayatri Nadhi, which manifested at the completion of his worship here. It is also the place where Brahma was purified in the pastime of having claimed to see the top of the column of fire in which Shiva had manifested Himself.
In long past, Vishnu, the Sun God Surya and Chandra worshiped at this Shivasthalam, as did the Maruts, Sambandar, Arunagirinathar and the Sage Kanvar.
Mrikandu Munivar (the father of Markandeya) and a deer worshiped Shiva here under a mango tree, and this pastime is illustrated in a stucco sculpture in the temple.
Indra also worshipped Shiva here, to absolve himself of the sin of having deceived Akalya, the wife of Gowtama Rishi.
.
The main deity of the temple is an unusual Linga, being a vertical wedge-like cut into the stone. The top of the Linga is red in color. Vinayaka and Baladandayuthapani (Murugan) are found standing on either side of sanctum.
The 'moolavar'(presiding deity) is east facing, while Ambal faces the south.
Lord Brahma and Durga reside on the north koshtam (sanctum wall), while Vishnu resides on the west koshtam, with Dakshinamurthy on the south. It is quite unusual to find Brahma paired with Durga, rather than with his consort Saraswati.
There is separate shrine for Ambal (Valambiga). The Tamil letter that forms the "OM" is created when one circumambulates the temple in a particular order: first taking darshan of Vinayak, then the presiding Linga, then back out to Nandi, which forms the first half of the "OM", and proceeding to visit Ambal, which completes the full "OM" in Tamil script.
There are also separate shrines for Ganapathy, Subramanyar with Valli & Devyanai, Gajalakshmi, Sandikeswarar and the Navagrahas.
The Thala Viruksham (temple tree) is the Mamaram.
KAAVAL DEIVAM (THE PROTECTOR)
KARUPPUANNA SWAMY.
In the entire Universe, none can come across the "KARUPPUANNA SWAMY" in a Lord Shiva temple. This is the unique feature. It is an age-old story that the Lord Shiva has directed His Close-Aide SRI VEERABADRA SWAMY to stand outside this temple and protect all who throng this temple.
An iron spear (VEL), which is believed to got erected some thousand years back, under a banyan tree is the Protector and HE is called Karuppuanna Swamy.
The Kanchi MahaPeriava, who is none but the Incarnation of Lord Shiva Himself has worshiped the Vel and He directed the temple authorities not to do any renovation work because of such a sacred and powerful sand that holds the Vel.
Whoever, whether the devotees or the temple management, does the Abishekam or Puja for the Moolavar and Amabl has to complete the said ritual by performing the same Abishekam or Puja for this Spear. Then only the Prasads are distributed,
Even on Pradosham Day and Maha Shiv Ratri Day, the Abishekam & Puja are being performed for this VEL after completion at the main temple.
