Thiruvidaimarudur Mahalinga Swamy

About Temple:

Ten kilometer north of Kumbakonam, tiruvidaimarudur temple with an imposing gopuram and huge linga enshrined in the sanctum. It is a Mahalinga sthala (Big Linga shrine) and also one of the Jothilinga sthala. There are 159 inscriptions. One of the inscriptions states that there was a theatre for enacting Dramas (Natakasala) and the artist received 1 veli (approximately 3 acre) as a gift for developing the art. Aryakoothu and Chakkaikoothu were enacted during festivals. Mud pots were used to bring water from Cauvery for Thirumanjanam (abhiseka). The temple was a centre for fostering fine arts.

View Of Thiruvidaimarudur Mahalinga Swamy Gopuram :





Temple History:

Temple is one of the Panchakrosha Sthalas. The Ammbal Shrine is one of the Sakthi Bheetas. Chakkara Maha Meru is installed here. Uma, Vinayaka Muruga, Thirumal, Lakshimi, Saraswati, (Deities), Vashista, Agasthya, Pattinathar, Badragiriyar, Romarishi, Kapila, Markandiya rishi, (Saints). Sivavakiya (Siddhar) Varagunadeva, Sukeerthi, Veerasena, Chitrakeerthi, Uvanasuvan, Maandada, Vasuman., Anjatthuvasan (Kings), Nandagan (Brahmin), Vedas, Airawatha (Elephant vehicle of Indra) and others are bestowed with grace by the Lord. The below saints were visited and praised the lord:

Appar
Sundarar
Manikkavasakar
Sambandar

Also Pattinathar and Karuvoor Thevar Sung Psalms about the Deity.

Usually, a temple will have a Linga in the sanctum and Parivara Devatas in the temple around. It is a peculiar feature in this temple that the Parivara Devatas are at the following places.

Ceiling Panel InThiruvidaimarudur Mahalinga Swamy Temple:



Deitys:

Murti(Deity) Place
Vinayaka Thiruvalanchuzhi
Muruga Swamimalai
Nataraja Chidambaram
Surya(Navagraha) Aduthurai
Dakshinamurti Alangudi
Bairavar Sirkazhi
Nandi Thiruvavaduthurai
Somaskantha Thiruvarur
Chandeeswara Thiruvoypadi

There are 3 temples having Maruda tree (anjanam) as their Sthala vrutshas. They are:

Temple Place:

Malligarjuna (Thalai-top) Sri Sailam (Andhra) Madhyarjuna (Idai-middle) Idaimarudur Kumbakonam (Thanjavur Dt) Sputarjuna (kadai-end) Thiruppudaimarudur Ambasamudram (Thirunelvelli Dt)
This place is named as Idaimarudur as it is in between Srisailam and Ambasamudram. It is also called Shanbagaranya, Saktipura, Tapovana, Muktipura etc. The presiding Deity is Mahalinga (Great Linga) because Siva worshipped Himself. Her consort is Perunalamamulaiammai. She is Bruhatsundara Gujamabika. In her Shrine is a cell facing north. This is the temple of Mookaambika (in North Indian style). The Goddess is in the pose of doing penance. She is mentioned as Pidari Parameeswari in inscripitions. There are many Lingas in the Shrine. Agasthiya Linga, Kasyapa Linga, Chola Linga , Chera Linga, Sahasara Linga, Panchabhuta Linga, a cluster of 27 Lingas behind Chokkanatha are some.

Relief From Brahmahathi Dosam:

Brahmahathi (Hathi- sin caused by a murder – Brahminicide) is found in the south wall (south torana vayil) with head disheveled and face immersed betwixt the knees. Varaguna Pandiya’s horse accidentally crushed a Brahmin and killed him. The sin followed wherever he went. The king came to this temple. The Brahmahathi could not enter and waited outside. The king went out by another entrance. The Brahmahathi is waiting outside still. The king was relieved of his melody. People inflicted with mental disorders go round the circumambulatory path and get redress.


There are two Puranam

Sthala purana written by Sivakkolundu Deshika of Kottaiyar Marudavana Puranam. There is an Ula written by Mahavidvan Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai. The Thevaram, Thiruvasagam, Thiruvidaimarudur Mummanikkovai, Thiruppazh, Thiruvidaimaurudur Pathirruppathanthathi, Thiruvidaimaurudur Kalambakam, Thiruvidaimarudur Nondi Natakam contain sufficient information about the temple. Kandapuranam, Lingapurana, Brahmavaivartham and Sivarahasya mention the glory of the Lord.

Kumbabishekam Photo of Thiruvidaimarudur Mahalinga Swamy:



This temple is maintained by Thiruvavadudurai Adheenam. His Holiness Seervalarseer Sivaprakasha Deshika Swamigal (23rd Gurumagasannidhanam), adorns the throne of the Adheena and doing all kinds of spiritual (Sivatthondu and Tamilthondu) and social service.

About Temple Car:

It is one of the biggest Thers (Temple Car) of Tamilnadu. It measures 89 feet from top (tip of the Kalasams) to bottom (ground level).The octagonal lower part of the, measuring 14½ feet (length) and 14½ feet was carved beautifully. The axles (cuboids) on the outer surface of the wheels measure 29 feet (length), 1¾ feet (width) and 1¾ feet (height). The rampant wooden horses which fastened in front of the Ther measure 25½ (length) and 8 feet (circumference of the body). The Kodimaram (flag post) on the Ther measures 24 feet (height). The inner large rope (Ul vadam) tied around the Ther measures 800 feet. The outer cable (large rope- Vadam) used to pull the Ther by 5000 people (man power) measures 1000 feet. The pedestal on the Ther measures 14½ x 14½. The wooden sculptures such as Panchamurtis, Kayilayakkatchi, Narasimhamurti, Bairava, Chandra, the worship of Mahalingeswara (seated beneath the Maruda tree) by Vinayaka and Ambikai, His Holiness Gurumaha sannidhanam and other sculptures are worth mentioning here. The Ther was donated to the temple by Amarsingh’s son Pratap singh(Simha) in 1800 AD. He had presented a silver Ratha (chariot) also. There is a small wooden Ther for procession during the Tamil month Adi.

Thanjavur District Temples Maps:


Temple Architecture:

It is one of the biggest Thers (Temple Car) of Tamilnadu. It measures 89 feet from top (tip of the Kalasams) to bottom (ground level).The octagonal lower part of the, measuring 14½ feet (length) and 14½ feet was carved beautifully. The axles (cuboids) on the outer surface of the wheels measure 29 feet (length), 1¾ feet (width) and 1¾ feet (height). The rampant wooden horses which fastened in front of the Ther measure 25½ (length) and 8 feet (circumference of the body). The Kodimaram (flag post) on the Ther measures 24 feet (height). The inner large rope (Ul vadam) tied around the Ther measures 800 feet. The outer cable (large rope- Vadam) used to pull the Ther by 5000 people (man power) measures 1000 feet. The pedestal on the Ther measures 14½ x 14½. The wooden sculptures such as Panchamurtis, Kayilayakkatchi, Narasimhamurti, Bairava, Chandra, the worship of Mahalingeswara (seated beneath the Maruda tree) by Vinayaka and Ambikai, His Holiness Gurumaha sannidhanam and other sculptures are worth mentioning here. The Ther was donated to the temple by Amarsingh’s son Pratap singh(Simha) in 1800 AD. He had presented a silver Ratha (chariot) also. There is a small wooden Ther for procession during the Tamil month Adi.

Thiruvidaimarudur Map:



Ammuni Ammal (lover of Pratap singh), donated a Pavai Vilakku (a lamp in the shape of Ammuni Ammal) and lit one lakh (1,00,000) lamps. The lamp measures 120 cm (height), 411 ¾ cher (Weight) in brass, designed and made by Kannara Aryaputra Patther.

How To Reach:

Thiruvidaimarudur is located around 8 k.m north of Kumbakonam city on the road to Mayiladuthurai. All the buses pass via this route with a stop closer to the temple at Thiruvidaimarudur. The distance from Mayiladuthurai (Mayuram) is around 32 km. Autos / Taxies from Kumbakonam are available.

There is a small Railway station at Thiruvidaimarudur. Only the passenger trains stop there. The nearest convenient railway station is located at Kumbakonam with connectivity to Chennai (via Trichy), Thirunelveli (via Dindugal, Madurai), Coimbatore (Satapthi), Mysore(Via Erode - Salem - Bangalore).