Lord Mulaivananathar - The One Who is A Guru To The Devi!


In this article, we will read about Mullaivananathar temple, one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams of Lord Shiva. This temple is located in Thirumulaivaasal in Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva in the form of Mullaivananathar, and Devi Parvathi in the form of Ani Konda Kodhai Ammai. The deity is in the form of a 3.5 feet long swayambhu Shiva-lingam. 

A king named Killi Valavan was suffering from severe skin disorders and was advised by the wise sages to bathe in a pond situated in some reputed Shiva-sthala. In search of such a pond, the king came across a sea in Thirumulaivaasal and decided to bathe there. There were lot of shrubs in that area which prevented the horse of the king from moving ahead. The king, wanting to make some track for walking, cut some of the shrubs with his sword. During one such cut, his sword returned with blood coated on it. Fearing that he must have killed someone by mistake, the king checked the ground and found that his sword had actually hit a shiva-lingam that was hidden among the shrubs. Feeling terrible about his mistake, the king tried to end his life. Lord Shiva, along with Devi Parvathi appeared before him and saved his life. Since then, this place came to be called as Tirumulaivaasal. It is said that the scar is still visible on the lingam.

Legend also says that Susavi, the eldest son of Vamadeva, placed his father's ashes on the holy water of the sea near this temple. On immersion, the ashes turned into diamonds. It is believed that Vamadeva attained liberation from mortal rebirth here. 

In most temples, there is a ritual called Palliyarai where the Goddess of the temple comes to the residing place of Her husband in the temple at the end of the day. In Mullaivananathar temple, this ritual is not followed. It is believed that it is in this temple that the Devi got Her initiation Mantra (Guru Mantra) from Lord Shiva. Hence He is regarded as Her Guru here. Since the Devi is believed to have received Her initiation through the Shiva Panchakshari Mantra, it is said that anyone who recites this Mantra in the temple, specially during days like Amavasya and Grahan, will not be subject to rebirth.

There are two Shiva-temples by this same name, one mentioned here and the other in Chennai. The temple at Mayiladuthrai is referred to as Then - Tirumulaivaasal (Then - meaning South) and the one in Chennai is referred to as Vada - Tirumulaivaasal (Vada meaning North).

Om Namaha Shivaya! 

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