Sri Amravaneeshwarar Temple, Thirumaanturai, Lalgudi - 275 Shiva Temples

58. Sri Amravaneeshwarar Temple, Thirumaanturai, Lalgudi (Chola Nadu - North of Kaveri):

Names of God : Sri Aamravaneswarar, Sri Suthrathaneswarar, Sri Aathirathneswarar
Name of Goddess : Sri Azhagammai, Sri Balambigai
Holy water (Theertham) : Gayathri Nadhi.
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) : Mango Tree.
Thevaram : Sambandar
District : Tiruchirapalli.
Location : Lalgudi.
Timings : 06:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and from 04:30 p.m. to 07:35 p.m.

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This is the 58th sthalam on the northern side of river Cauvery. Thiruganasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. This shrine is referred to as VadaKaraiMaanturai in contrast to the Maanturai near Tirumangalakkudi, south of the Kaveri, which is a stalam referred to in the Tevaram. Aipasi Annabishekam in October-November, Tirukarthikai Deepan in November-December and Sri Adi Sankaracharya Jayanti in Vaikasi-May-June are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Important Features:

Navagrahas are facing the SUN and Sun is with his wives Samukya and Saya devi.
Adhi Sankarar is also in the koshta moortham.
Moolavar vimanam has beautiful suthai sculptures.
Shaaba vimosana sthalam for Bramha, Suryan, Chandran, Samudhrarajan, Maruthanthagan for Sukola munis’ son.
Mango trees were found around the temple in those days, hence this place was called as Maanthurai.
Lord Shiva turned to be a mother for the orphaned young deer, whose parents were killed by the hunter in this temple.

This is one of the Pancha (five) Shiva Temples in Tiruchi region. Bhagwan Sri Adi Sankara had worshiped Lord here, so also Sage Mrigandu. Shri Sankara is facing south in the goshta-wall around the sanctum. Saint Sambandar had sung a pathigam-10 verses in praise of the Lord of this temple while saint Arunagiriar had praised his favourite Lord Muruga in his Tirupugazh. Mother Durga on the goshta is all cool and smiling with demon Mahishasura absent under Her feet. Lord Muruga graces from a separate shrine with His consorts Valli and Deivanai. The name Mandurai has its origin as the region was dense with Mango trees and also as Lord blessed a Maan – deer in this place.

History / Legend:

Samukya Devi, daughter of divine sculptor Vishwakarma was married to Sun God. She had a happy marital life with Sun. As days rolled, she could not bear the heat of her husband. She asked her husband to reduce his temperature but he did not help her. Samukya Devi came to the conclusion that she could no more bear the heat and told her father her intention to come to him. As a father, he quoted scriptures and asked the daughter to be patient. As she could no longer live with Sun, as a devout wife to take care of husband’s needs, Samukyadevi created a maid, an accurate replica of her, and made her to live with Sun taking care of him. She was Chayadevi (shadow image). Samukyadevi did not return to Sun despite her father’s advice and was unwillingly staying with him. She took the form of a horse, came to this place, performed penance on Lord Shiva to bring down the heat of Sun so that she could return to him. Sun too found some difference in the attitude of Chayadevi and came to know from Vishwakarma that Samukhyadevi had left him. He immediately reduced his heat, came to this place, worshiped Lord Shiva and returned with Samukhyadevi. Representing this event, planet Sun appears in the Navagraha shrine with both Davis – Samukhya and Chaya. Sun is alone too nearby. Other planets are facing Sun. There is also a story attached to the temple that Lord Shiva graced two deers – a demon couple in earlier birth and also a Maharshi on a Chaturthi day (4th day of new moon or full moon day) coinciding with Tuesday – called Ahankara Chaturthi. Special pujas are performed to Lord on such Chaturthi days. It is said that the benefit of worshiping the Lord this day would relieve devotees from sins committed knowingly or unknowingly and bless them with prosperity.

A maharshi committed a wrong to Lord Shiva and was cursed to be born as a deer in this place that was dense with Mango trees. The Rishi-deer was born to other deers – demons in earlier birth. They left the baby-deer for preying. Lord Shiva with Mother Parvathi came there in the guise of a hunter, shot them and released them from their curses. They came to the baby deer waiting for its parents. Mother Parvathi fed the hungry baby deer, the Rishi in earlier birth. Lord Shiva consoled it and released from the curse. As requested by the Rishi, they stayed here.

People pray to Lord for their children facing Balagruha doshas (children affected with adverse aspects of planets during their infancy years) performing milk abhishek to Mother for remedy. For relief from planetary adverse effects, they pray in the Navagraha shrine.

Location: This temple is located 3 Kms from Lalgudi towards Trichy. Frequent bus services between Trichy and Lalgudi are available.