Mayiladuturai Temple

Mayiladuturai Temple Mayiladuturai is a famous temple, which is well designed with a beautiful tank, several Gopurams and Mandapams, located in the town of Mayiladuturai (Mayuram). This is a temple of great religious significance, and is a hub in the temple belt of Tamil Nadu. Several Shivasthalams are located in the vicinity of Mayiladuturai.
Mayiladuturai is in the midst of several shrines with puranic significance. The Sapta Matas are said to have worshipped Lord Shiva at 7 of the temples in the vicinity including Vallalaar Kovil. Dakshinamurti's shrine in the nearby Vallalaar (Gurumoorti - Vadhaanyeswara) Koyil is of great significance. On the banks of the Kaveri, near the bathing ghats is the Kasi Viswanathar temple with Vimanams along the lines of those at Benares.


The temple was reconstructed with stone, during the period of Sembiyan Mahadevi (10th century); however renovations from the 19th century have destroyed the older structures and the inscriptions. Thankfully fine stone sculptures of Vinayaka, Nataraja, "Shiva-Uma-Alinganamurti", "Dakshimamurti", "Lingodbhavar", Brahma, Ganga Visarjanamurti, Durga and Bhikshatanar from the period of "Sembiyan Mahadevi" have been well preserved in their niches.


From available inscriptions it is inferred that the Avayambal shrine came into existence during the period of Rajaraja Chola III (13th century). Till then, there must only have been a "Bhogashakti" bronze image in the sanctum of "Mayuranathar", as was the practice till separate Ambal shrines were introduced during the reign of Kulottunga Chola I (1075-1120).

Legend has it that Dakshayani (Parvati) took the form of a peahen after her father's "Daksha Yagna" and worshipped Lord Shiva here. Shiva is said to have taken a peacock form, performed the "Gowri Tandavam" and united with her here. "Mayuranathar" is believed to have quelled the Kaveri floods to make way for "Sambandar" and 4 of the Vallalar shrines in the vicinity are said to be manifestations of Mayuranathar.