Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

Indira the king of Devas was suffering from some ailment caused by a curse. Reputed physicians of the celestial world-Ashwini devas could not cure him. They came to Earth in search of a powerful herbal to cure Indira. Maharshi Narada advised them to pray to Lord Shiva in this place with Ambica to spot the herbals. They followed the advice. Lord Shiva with all kindness showed the place where the herbals were available. They found the herbals, Bala and Athibala, took it to their world, treated Indira and cured him. Though Lord Shiva showed the Ashwini physicians the place of the herbals, they could not find them as the place was enveloped by darkness. Taking pity on them Ambica spread light in the place enabling them to find the herbals. Hence, Ambica in Marundeeswarar temple is praised as Irul Neekkia Ambica – Ambica who drove away darkness.

Lord himself performed Bhiksha to feed his Devotee - The temple has a recorded history from the 10th century A.D., but scholar attributes the presence of the temple at least from the 8th century A.D., pertaining to the period of Sundarar, the famous Saiva Nayanar. Sundarar has glorified the temple in his verses in 11th Thirumurai of Thevaram. Saint Sundarar after visiting Tirukazhu Kundram came to Tirukachur on his way to Kancheepuram. Due to long journey, Sundarar and his team were very tired and hungry. They stayed here at the temple complex. Lord Shiva, not wanting to see his devotee suffering from hunger, appeared as an elderly Brahmin man and assured them of food and asked them to wait for a while. Sundarar, with due respect to the old man waited. Then Shiva went to the houses of the village for Bhiksha (alms) and gathered food, came back and fed his devotees with Sundarar. Sooner they finished the food, the old man disappeared. Sundarar sang a Pathigam beginning with the line “Mudhu vai Ori Kadhara”. In Thamizh ‘Irandhu’ means ‘asking for alms’ and hence lord is named Irandeeswarar having his shrine outside the temple at a distance & host Shiva is named Virundhu Itta Easwarar having his shrine in the prakara. Virundhu means ‘feast’ in Thamizh. There is a separate shrine for ‘Virundhitteeswarar’ at the northern prakaram of this temple. Sri Sundarar has composed 10 songs on the lord here.

Mother Anjanakshi - Mother Anjanakshi in this temple blesses the devotees from a separate shrine. Anjanam means eyes. As the mother is protecting devotees as her own eyes, she is so named. Admiring her beauty, she is also praised as Sundaravalli. The Sri Chakra is installed in the mandapam before this shrine. Women light ghee lamps here for family welfare and prosperity.

Shiva staging his Ajaba Dance for Vishnu - Lord Shiva also staged his Ajaba dance here as Thyagaraja for Lord Vishnu. As a procession deity of the temple, all festivals are dedicated to him.