Mahalingaswamy Temple Thiruvidaimarudur

Getting there

• By air

  The nearest commercial airport to Kumbakonam is Tiruchirappalli International, 91 km away. Kumbakonam is 8 km from the temple.

• By train

  Daily express trains run from Kumbakonam to Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli. Kumbakonam is 8 km from the temple.

• By road

  Regular buses run from Kumbakonam to Chennai, Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli. The temple is 8 km from Kumbakonam, on the Kumbakonam to Mayiladuthurai highway.

Rules to know

• Devotees seeking relief are said to leave by a different door from the one they entered through.

Why devotees come here

Mahalingaswamy Temple in Thiruvidaimarudur village, Thanjavur district, is dedicated to Shiva. It is one of the seven major Shiva temples in Saivism, and it is known as Pancha Linga stala for its five lingams.

Mahalingaswamy Temple is dedicated to Shiva and counted among the seven major Shiva temples in Saivism. The 7th-century Tevaram hymns praise the presiding deity, and the temple is classed as a Paadal Petra Sthalam. Legend says Shiva appeared as a flame to please the sage Agastya and other sages doing penance. A Chola prince chased by the spirit of a dead Brahmin is said to have prayed here for relief.

The oldest masonry parts were built under the Cholas in the 9th century, and later expansions run up to the Thanjavur Nayaks in the 16th century. The temple has a five-tiered Rajagopuram and three walled precincts, each with its own gateway tower. The Pranava precinct has many Nayak-period sculptures, including a chariot with twelve pillars for the twelve lagnas.

Shiva is said to have worshipped his own image at this temple. The original lingam is believed to be self-manifested, in the form of a maruth tree. Five temple tanks lie inside the temple.

Festivals

• Tamil month of ThaiThaipoosam

  The temple's most prominent festival, celebrated for ten days.

• Tamil month of VaikasiVaikasi festivals

  Tirukalyanam, the sacred marriage festival, is held, along with Ambal Tapasu and Ambal Thannai thaane.

Tips for your visit

• Look for the 27 nakshatras around the main shrine.
• Thiruvidaimarudur is counted among the Cauvery river towns that are equivalents of Kasi.

Questions people ask