Mayuranathaswamy Temple, also known as Mayuranathar Temple or Tirumayiladuthurai, is a Hindu temple in the town of Mayiladuthurai (formerly known as Mayavaram or Mayuram) in Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Mayuranathaswamy, a form of Shiva, and has given its name to the town itself. The main icon is a lingam and the presiding deity is called Mayuranathar because the Hindu goddess Parvathi worshipped Shiva here in the form of a mayura.

The temple is considered one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva temples that are revered in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanars including Appar, and Tirugnanasambandar. It is the thirty-ninth shrine located on the southern bank of the River Kaveri.

In the 14th century, Tamil poet Arunagirinathar composed song number 788 in the Tiruppukal collection, dedicated to the deity Murugan, associated with this temple. The shrine is managed by Thiruvavaduthurai adheenam.

Etymology As per the Indian literature Puranas and Thiruvilaiyadal, the goddess Parvathi, the consort of Shiva offended him,Ayyar, p 271 as a result, Shiva to curse Parvathi to be born as a peahen (mayura). When Parvati repented for her actions, Shiva reduced the duration of the curse. She then wandered the earth in the form of a peahen, worshipping Shiva in the form of lingam at various sacred sites, including the Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore and the Mayuranathaswami Temple.

It is believed that at this temple, Parvati was finally relieved of the curse and regained her original form as Abhayambika (also known as Abhaiyambal), reuniting with Shiva. Due to this association, the presiding deity came to be known as Mayuranathar.

One of the sculptures in the temple is said to depict Shiva embracing Parvati, symbolizing their reunion.

Location The Mayuranathaswami temple is located in the heart of Mayiladuthurai town in Mayiladuthurai district, about a kilometer south of the Kaveri River. It is about southeast of Chennai, the state capital. The temple complex is well connected with a road network, (NH-32 and the state highways). The nearest railway station is Mayiladuthurai railway junction from the temple, and the nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli (IATA: TRZ) from the temple.

Significance This Mayuranathaswami shrine is one among the six temples that are considered equivalents to the temple in Kashi, the preaset-day Varanasi. The other five shrines are Thiruvayyaru, Thiruvidaimaruthur, Thiruvenkadu, Chayavanam and Srivanchiyam. Like in Kashi, where the city is centered around Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the temples in these towns along the banks of river Cauvery, namely, Aiyarappar temple in Thiruvaiyaru, Mahalingeswarar temple in Thiruvidaimarudur, Mayuranathaswamy temple in Mayiladuthurai, Chayavaneswarar temple in Sayavanam, Swetharanyeswarar temple in Thiruvenkadu, Srivanchinadhaswamy Koil in Srivanchiyam are the centerpieces of the towns. The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the banks of River Kaveri.

According to local tradition, Indra, Brahmā, Agastya, Umādevī, and the Saptamātṛkās are said to have worshipped Siva at this temple.

Legend

According to Hindu mythology, goddess Parvati's father, Daksha, conducted a yajna named Daksha Yajna and intentionally did not invite god Shiva and his consort Parvati. Shiva told Parvati not to go to a ceremony performed by Daksha. However, Parvati attended the function but was humiliated by Daksha. Shiva took the form of Veerabhadra and destroyed the yajna. A peahen used in rituals sought shelter at Parvati's feet. As Parvati ignored Shiva's advice, Shiva cursed Parvati to be born as a peahen. Then, Parvati came to the places Mayilapore and Mayiladuthurai as a peacock and performed severe penance to regain her original form. Pleased with her penance, Shiva appeared before her here in Mayiladuthurai as a peahen himself and danced as a peahen the dance later called as Mayura Thandavam, also known as Gauri Thandavam.R. Vijayalakshmy. p 366-368 After Shiva's penance, Parvati regained her original form as Ambika (also known as Abhayambal or Abhayambika). As Parvati came here as a peahen (Mayura in Sanskrit), Shiva is praised as Mayuranathar. Lord Shiva is believed to have punished the devas who participated in the yajna conducted by Daksha. It is said that they later came to Mayiladuthurai and worshipped Mayuranathar to seek relief from their sins.

Purification of the holy rivers at Mayiladuthurai

As per the legend, while Parvathi was undertaking penance here, Kanvar Rishi was undertaking penance in Kasi. The holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswathi were burdened by the people who took holy dips in them to wash off their sins. Kanvar Rishi noticed the three rivers were quite dirty from gathering the sins of the people. He advised all three rivers to go to the place where Parvathi was undertaking penance at Mayiladuthurai and to do pooja during the Aippasi (Thula) month to cleanse their sins. The holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswathi came and took dips in Cauvery located in Mayiladuthurai. Lord Shiva in a form of Mayuranathar, pleased with their penance, granted them relief from their sins.

Mudavan Muzhukku

A physically challenged couple, devotees of Mayuranathar also known as Shiva, from the place Virudachalam named Natha Sarma and Anavidyambikai has participated in the theerthavari utsavam in Thiruvaiyaru. After that, they came to attend the theerthavari festival at this place, Mayuranathar temple. However, they could not reach in time for the Tula Snanam (holy dip in English), as the festival had already concluded. The couple, saddened, prayed to Lord Mayuranathar and slept on the banks of the Cauvery river. It is believed that Mayuranathar, pleased with their devotion, appeared in their dream and instructed them to bathe before sunrise of the next morning, as the new month had not yet begun. The couple performed the Tula Snanam the next morning and attained god's grace. Based on this legend, the first day of the tamil month of Karthigai is observed as Mudavan Muzhukku (The name "Mudavan" is associated with a legend involving Lord Shiva, who is believed to have altered the usual time for a ritual bath for a physically challenged devotee. The term "Muzhukku" translates to "holy dip" in English.). Stone sculptures resembling the couple in the form of lingams Natha Lingam and Anavidyambigai Lingam are located in the temple, with the Anavidyambikai adorned in a red saree and placed on the left side of the sanctum. Devotees traditionally believe that worshipping these lingams is essential for the fulfillment of prayers to Lord Mayuranathar.

Sambandar’s crossing of the Cauvery

Sambandar, also referred to as Thirugnana Sambandar, after visiting the lord Siva temple at Tiruvilanagar Uchiravaneswarar, located at Tiruvila Nagar, Mayiladuthurai district, on the northern banks of Cauvery river intended to worship Mayuranathar. However, the flood in the Cauvery river preventing him to cross the river. Samandar composed hymns in praise of the lord Siva to seek safe passage the flooded river. As per the hindu puranas, lord Shiva is believed to have halted the floodwaters, enabling Sambandar to cross the river.

Other legends Siva as Lord Nataraja has separate shrine here and appears in his Gauri Thandava posture. Lord Murugan, during the Kanda Shasti Kavasam festival, gets his Vel (divine spear) weapon from his mother Ambika, as per puranas, however, in Mayuranather temple he receives from his father Mayuranather, also known as Siva.

There are 16 lingams at this temple. On full moon days, if we take walk around this temple for 16 times, it is equal to the Girivalam of Thiruvanamalai.

According to another legend, the holy dip in this temple’s holy tank on the day of the new moon in the Tamil month of Aippasi (November–December) purifies a person from sins, temple tank holy water is equivalent to the river Ganges.

It is believed that Brahma, Lakshmi, sage Agastya, Manmatha, birds and animals worshipped Mayuranathar.

History The temple is believed to have been constructed in the 7th century CE, as Tamil Shaiva poet-saints Appar and Sambandar composed hymns in this temple to the main deity in the same century, which are included in the Tevaram.

Sambandar, also known as Thirugnana Sambandar, composed hymns in praise of the main deity of the temple, which are included in the Thirumurai. His compositions appear in 38th hymn (verses 404 to 414) of the first volume, and verses 748 to 758 of the third volume. Appar, also known as Tirunavukkaracar, also composed hymns found in the Thirumurai, specifically in verses 387 to 397 of the fifth volume.

Chola dynasty

Uttama Chola (971-975 CE) Later in the Medieval Chola period, the original brick temple was renovated with stone by Sembiyan Mahadevi in the 10th century CE during the reign of Uttama Chola. The stone sculpture from the period of Sembiyan Mahadevi such as Ganapati, Nataraja, Siva-Alinginamurti and Dakshinamurti in the south: Lingodbhavar in the west; and Brahma, Ganga-Visarjanamurti, Durga and Bhikshatanar in the north, are attributed to this era and remain in place.Temples under Chola Queens pp. 37-38, Quote:The silver lining, however, is that the original sculptures of Sembiyan days were not discarded in favour of the bizarre modern substitutes found in some places, but were reinstated in the renovated structure in their respective devakoshthas. Such figures are of Ganapati, Nataraja, SivaUma-Alinginamurti and Dakshinamurti in the south; Lingodbhavar in the west; and Brahma, Ganga-Visarjanamurti, Durga and Bhikshatanar in the north. They constitute a fine set of stone sculptures, typical of the age.

Kulottunga I Chola (1070-1120 CE) The oldest damaged and incomplete inscriptions made on the stone date to the 14th year of Kulothunga Chola I, found on the floor in front the central shrine of Mayuranathar Temple. The inscriptions mention a gift of land to the temple with donation of  300 kalam of paddy annually with exemption from taxes.Ayyar, p 280

Kulottunga III Chola (1178-1218 CE)

The temple has witnessed more inscriptions from the period of Kulottunga III Chola, found on the south wall of the mahamandapa in front of the Panchanadesvara shrine. The first inscription in his 19th regnal year mentions a gift of land at Kulottungasolanallur, made tax-free to the temple. Nine other inscriptions note the gifts of land and money by the king to the temple.

Rajaraja III Chola (1216-1256 CE) A dedicated shrine for Avayambal Amman was constructed within the temple premises during the 14th regnal year (1229 CE) of Rajaraja III, featuring bronze idols.

An inscription, in the 14th regnal year (1229 CE) of Rajaraja III, a 500 kuli of land for rice offerings for the temple during the early morning ritual services. This inscription found on the northern side of shrine.

The second inscription, in the 31st regnal year (1245-46 CE) found on the southern wall of first prakara, registers a deposit of 2000 kasu (money)to the temple Tirumayiladuturai-Udaiyar located in Tiruvelundur Nadu.

Pandyas dynasty

After the decline of the Chola dynasty, the second empire of the Pandyas came to power in the Chola region of present Tamil Nadu. Maravarman Sundara Pandya I (1216-1244 CE) captured some parts of Chola territory and defeated Rajarajachola III (1216-1256 CE).

In the year 1920 CE, the warrior king of the Pandya dynasty, Sundara Pandya (1250-1284 CE), brought the entire Chola territory

under his control after defeating the Chola king Rajendrachola III (1246-1279 CE). Following this victory, the old undivided districts of Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Kongu, and parts of Kerala came under his kingdom.

Maravarman Sundara Pandya I (1216-1244 CE)