God
The main deity of this temple is Mangalanatha Swamy, who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva and He is a swayambhu.
Goddess
Goddess Mangaleswari is consort of Mangalanatha Swamy.
Interesting Facts
- The Emerald Nataraja Idol in the temple is the rare one not to be seen in any other temple.
- This is the only temple where Thazhamboo (a fragrant flower) is permitted for the deity dressing while it is banned in other Shiva temples.
Best Season To Visit
The best season to visit this temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to March.
Weather
Highest - April to June (38°C during day and 26°C during night)Average - May (37 °C during the day and 21 °C during night)Lowest - October to February (30 °C during day and 18 °C during night)Monsoon season - August to September
Dress Code
- For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
- For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
- These rules are applicable for foreigners also. Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.
- Pilgrims/visitors will not be allowed inside the temple if dress code is not followed.
Do's & Dont's
- Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
- Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.
- Smo​king is strictly prohibited inside the temple premises.
transport connections
| Name | Distance | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
 Keelakkarai Bus Stand |
17 KM | 1800-419-4287 |
 Sattirakkudi Railway Station |
13.7 KM | 139 |
 Madurai International Airport |
117 KM | 0452-2690717 |
Architecture
The temple was built in Dravidian style of architecture with a 7-tiered Raja gopuram. Mangalanathaswamy Temple is an old temple with 16 gopurams (towers) and is spread over 20 acres of land with a large pond called Agni Theertham. Entering the temple complex through the Rajagopuram and then the second and third gates, there are many pillars carved with figures of deities, famous devotees and demons. After crossing the third gate, a great Nandi welcomes devotees and, unusually, this vehicle of Lord Shiva is housed in a separate mandapam with a gopuram. The temple is considered sacred along the lines of Ramanathapuram, Sethu Madhava theertham and Lakshmana theertham. The Nataraja icon is an antique carved out of the stone Maragatham (Emerald).
Religious Significance
The antiquity of Sri Mangalanathar-Mangaleswari Temple dates far back. Mandodhari (wife of Ravana) was very adamant that she would marry only a Shiva devotee and did not mind waiting for the choice. She prayed to Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva, asked the Sages in the Ashrams to take care of one of the Veda Script (Agamas) as he was going to grace Mandodhar and told them that he would take back from them, then on his turning back. The lord appeared before Mandodhari as a child. Ravana who came there touched the child knowing It was Lord Shiva. Lord tested Ravana by changing himself as fire. All the places in the world were caught in the fire. The Sages, unable to protect the book given by the lord fell in the fire tank nearby (Agni theertham) and died. But Sage Manickavasagar courageously withstood the fire and saved the scripture. The lord graced Mandodhari’s wish and helped her wedding with Ravana. The lord graced Manickavasagar granting his linga form. The Sage is still in the temple in the linga form. The lord is a swayambu linga appearing from the Ilandha tree. This is the only temple having a Nataraja idol made of Emerald.
History
The temple was built in 1542 A.D. by Pandya King Achuthappa. A Hindu ruler of Thanjavur, Muthuveerappar and other kings of Ramanathapuram and Sedhupathy Kings had contributed to the temple. The last renovation was carried out by the queen of Ramanathapuram.
Temple Timings
| Day | Timings | |
|---|---|---|
| All Days | 05:00 AM - 12:00 PM | 04:00 PM - 09:00 PM |
Tours
Airports
| Airport Name | Distance |
|---|---|
| Shamshabad | 40 KM |
| Lorem Ipsum | 12 KM |
Railway Stations
| Railway Station Name | Distance |
|---|---|
| Secunderabad | 10 KM |
| Nampally | 12 KM |
| Begumpet | 6 KM |
| Lingampally | 20 KM |
Bus Stations
| Bus Station Name | Distance |
|---|---|
| MGBS | 35 KM |
| CBS | 28 KM |
| kukatpally | 20 KM |
| Lingampally | 30 KM |
| Uppal | 35 KM |
Private Transports
| Transport Name | Distance | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
| Private Transport | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
| Private Transport1 | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
| Private Transport1 | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
| Private Transport1 | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
| Private Transport1 | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
Local Transports
| Transport Name | Distance | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
| Local Transport | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
| Local Transport1 | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
| Local Transport1 | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
| Local Transport1 | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
| Local Transport1 | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
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