Prananadeswarar Temple

Set of Lingas in the precinct

The temple is glorified by Tevaram hymns[1] The temple is believed to have been built by a minister of Kulothunga chola1 with the tax money amassed. This invited the wrath of the king and he ordered punishment to the minister. The minister's wife worshipped Mangalambigai (Parvathi) of this temple to save her Mangalyam (holy tie worn by married woman). The minister was punished and his corpse was brought to Tirumangalakudi. The moment it reached the place, he got his life back due to the effect of the presiding deity. From then on, the place is believed to provide aegis to Mangalyam.

As per another legend, when Navagrahas were cursed to have leprosy by Brahma for relieving a saint from leprosy as they do not have authority to change destiny, Brahma asked them to go to thirumangalakkudi and pray Kol Vinai Theertha Vinayagar (Ganesh who absolved sins of planets) to be absolved from their sins.

Image of the precinct

Around six inscriptions are found in the temple from the Cholas, Pallavas and Vijayanagara kings. There are inscriptions from the period of Kulothunga Chola, indicating this temple as Kulothunga Cholesawaram.[2] The temple is located in the village of Thirumangalakudi, 2 kilometres from the Aduthurai and 16 km from Kumbakonam. The temple house a five-tiered gateway tower known as gopurams. There are three precincts in the temple. The presiding deity is Prananadeswarar (Shiva) and the Goddess, Mangalambigai (Parvathi). The main deity is believed to be Swayambu Lingam(self formed). The temple faces east and is entered via a five-tiered pyramidal rajagopuram (gateway tower). The presiding deity in the form of lingam is housed in the sanctum in square shape. The attached hall, the ardhamandapa measures the same width as the sanctum, while its length is twice the sanctum. The ardhamandapa projects towards the east. The Mukhamandapa has a square structure. There are five devakoshtas that cover the exterior walls of the sanctum. The images of Dakshinamurthy and Brahma are the only ones remaining out of the five. There are two large Dvarapala, guardian deities on either side of the entrance of the ardhamandapa. The water bodies associated with the temple are Mangala Theertham, the temple tank located outside the temple. There are images of river Kaveri and Meikandadevar located around the shrines of the sanctum.[3]

The temple is revered in the verses of Tevaram, the 7th century Saivite canonical work by the three saint poets, namely, Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar. As the temple is revered in Tevaram, it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 275 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon.[4] The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the northern banks of River Kaveri.[5] The unique feature of this temple is that all the presiding deities are named Mangalam, indicating prosperity. Parvathi as Mangalambigai, Vinayagar as Mangala Vinayagar, Vimanam (Tower) as Mangala Vimanam, Theertham (Temple Tank) as Mangala Theertham all indicate prosperity. The temple is one of a few temples in South India where Kaali Attam, a dance depiction of Hindu deity Kali is performed. During the KaaLiyaa Attam performance, an evil form depiction succumbs against the dancer performer depicting Kali.[6] The temple and the nearby Suryanar Kovil are closely associated in worship practices. Devotees have to visit Suryanar Kovil after visiting the Thirumangalakudi temple.[7]

Images of shrines of the temple

The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Shaiva community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 6:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m., and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Mangalapureeswarar and Mangalanayagi. The worship is held amidst music with nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument), religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred texts) read by priests and prostration by worshipers in front of the temple mast. There are weekly rituals like somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi. Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of somavaram (September – October), Thiruvadhirai during the month of Margazhi (December – January) and Annabhishekam during the Tamil month of Masi are the major festivals celebrated in the temple. The Panguni Uthram Brahmotsavam festival when the holy marriage of Mangalapureeswarar and Manglanayagi is celebrated, is the major festival in the temple.[8]