Masilamaniswara Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Trichy Airport is the nearest international airport to Mayiladuthurai district.

• By train

  Mayiladuthurai town is connected by rail, with a Chennai train listed as No. 16175.

• By road

  State and private buses run from Mayiladuthurai on the listed routes. Taxis, auto rickshaws, minibuses and town buses serve local travel in the town.

Why devotees come here

Masilamaniswara Temple stands in the village of Thiruvaduthurai, in Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu. It is dedicated to Shiva, is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, and is revered in the Tevaram hymns.

The temple is revered in the Tevaram, a 7th century collection of hymns by the saint poets Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar. Legend associates it with the saint Tirumular of the 6th century. Another legend says Parvathi was cursed to become a cow and worshipped Shiva here to regain her original form.

Tevaram hymns indicate that the temple was already a brick structure by the 7th century. It is believed to have been built by the Cholas in the 9th century, and it is counted among the earliest temples built under Parantaka I.

The complex has five-tiered gateway towers, called gopurams. The Shiva lingam in the main sanctum faces east. The shrine of the consort Oppilamulaiyar faces west, and the third enclosure holds a separate shrine for the saint Tirumular.

Festivals

• Tamil month of somavaram (September to October)Brahmotsavam

  The temple's Brahmotsavam festival is held in this month.

• Margazhi (December to January)Thiruvadhirai

  Celebrated during the Tamil month of Margazhi.

Tips for your visit

• Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, a Saiva monastery, is located right next to the temple complex.
• Mayiladuthurai, about 17 km away, is the district headquarters and the town for the rail and bus links above.

Questions people ask