Sayavaneswarar Temple Of Mayiladuthurai



In this article, we will read about Sayavaneswarar temple, one of the paadal petra sthalam of Lord Shiva. This temple is situated at Kaveripoompattinam in Mayiladuthrai, Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva as Sayaneshwarar, also called as Chaayavaneswarar and His consort is Devi Ambika.

This temple is believed to be the birthplace as well as salvation place of Iyarpagai Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars (devotees of Lord Shiva). His wife was also a great devotee of the Lord. Once, to test their level of devotion, Lord Shiva came to their house, disguised as a devotee. When Iyarpagai asked the devotee how he could serve him, the devotee requested that Iyarpagai's wife should accompany him on a journey. Both the husband and the wife agreed to this. The devotee then requested that Iyarpagai should also come with them to ensure a safe journey across the border where the devotee was expecting some resistance from people. Iyarpagai accordingly left with them, carrying a sword to protect them and safely escorted them beyond the border. Once they crossed the border of the village, the devotee disappeared and in front of Iyarpagai, there stood Lord Shiva with Devi Parvathy. Extremely pleased with the devotion of the couple, the Lord and Devi blessed them with a long and blissful life. 

Another legend states that Aditi, mother of all Devas, wished to worship Lord Shiva and came down to earth to visit this temple. When Indra came to know about this, He came to earth in search of His mother. He bade Airavat, His majestic elephant to uplift the entire temple and bring it to His kingdom so that His mother could visit the temple whenever she wished to. When the elephant tried to uplift the temple, the deity of Devi Ambika called out to Lord Shiva in a voice sounding like that of a nightingale, thereby earning for Herself the name of Kuyilinum Iniya Mozhiyal (the one with the voice of a nightingale). Lord Shiva appeared there and instructed Indra to leave the temple on earth. 

Lord Muruga has special prominence in this temple. He is considered as the protector of devotees here. It is believed that the deity of lord Muruga was found in a sea. The deity is adorned with an anklet called Veerakandaara Mani which is as powerful as His Vel. Devotees pray to Lord Muruga here to get protection from their enemies. 

A special feature of this temple is that, it has been created in Mada style. A Mada temple is one in which elephants cannot enter. In the place of Kodimaram, Lord Vinayaka is present. The Nandi is at an elevated level. There are shrines for Surya, Iyarpagai Nayanar and his wife, Lord Muruga, Kala Bhairava, Devi Ambika, Gaja Lakshmi and the Navagrahas.

Om Namaha Shivaaya!


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