Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Jai Ambey Ma !!
Thiru Alavai is one of the 275 thevara Shivasthalm of Lord
Shiva / Shakthi Peedam located at the heart of the Madurai City, Tamil Nadu. This is one of the oldest temples of Lord
Shiva known as Kadambavana Kshetram/Kailasa Kshetram occupies massive 17 acres
of land built by the King Kulazhekara Pandya famous for its magnificent
Dravidian architectural style and exquisite craftsmanship. Later, Nayaks undertook the renovation and
made additions to this temple. This temple is one of the Pancha Sabha of Lord
Shiva where the cosmic dances were performed on the Earth. Pancha Sabhas are Chidambara Kshetram – Sri
Natarajar - Swarna Sabha (Golden Hall), Madurai Somasundareswar Meenakshy
Kshetram – Rajatha Sabha (Silver
Hall), Nellaiappar Kshetram – Tamra Sabha (Copper Hall), Thiruvalangadu Kshetram
– Sri Vadaranyeswarar - Ratna
Sabha(Diamond Hall), Sri Kutralathunathar Kshetram – Chitra
Sabha.
The stunning murals and
exquisite sculptures of eight forms of Adi Sakthi as Kaumari, Raudri, Vaishnavi, Mahalakshmi,
Yagnaroopini, Shyamala, Maheswari and Manonmani carved on the pillars Ashta
Shakthi Mandapam also includes attractive paintings of Goddess Meenakshi, Lord Ganesha
and Lord Subramanya. The celestial
wedding Hall is a revelation of exemplary art work of
olden days. This temple has 4 majestic Rajagopurams
(Temple Tower) with 10 additional gouprams on the shrines within the precincts
of this temple.
Presiding deity – Thiru Chokalinga
Peruman/Chokkanathar/Sundareswarar Peruman/Meenakshi
Sundarar/Somasundarar/Kalyana Sundarar/Shembaga Sundarar/ Attavai
Sevakan/Adhiraveesi/Azhakiya Chokkar/ Kadambavana
Chokkar/Kadambavaneswarar/Karpoora Chokkar/Peralavayar/Madureswarar with his
consort Goddess Thiru Meenakshi/Angayar
Kanni/Maragathavalli/Pacchaidevi/Thadagai
Piratti/Abhiramavalli/Kayarkankumari/Karpooravalli/Sundaravalli/Pandipiratti/Madurapuri
Thalaivi/Manickavalli.
Mangasalasasanam – Thiru Gnana Sambandhar,
Thirunavukkarasar
Vimanam – Indra Vimanam – Lord Indra worshipped Lord Shiva
in many sacred places to get rid of Brahmahathya sin. He arrived on this sacred land full of
Kadamba trees and found a self-manifested Linga. He sanctified the Linga and built a temple on
its place.
Worshipped by – Sri Chokkanathar and Thiru Alavayan was
worshipped by Lord Kubera and Lord Yama respectively. This is one of the prominent temples of Lord
Shiva worshipped by Lord Indra, Lord Varuna, deities and Sages.
Significance – This one of the 51 Sakthi Peetam of Goddess
Sakthi. In this temple Goddess Rajamathangi idol is
made of Emerald. Murthy Nayanar, one of the prominent Shivaite
Saints worshipped Lord Sundareswara in this temple. Thiru Gnan Sambandhar reinstated the glories
of Shaivisam on this sacred land.
Theertham – Adi Theertham/ Shivaganga Theertham/ Uthama
Theertham/Parama Theertham/Gnana Theertham/Mukthi Theertham, Ezhukadal,
Kondazhi, Vaigainadhi, Kruthamalai, Theppakkulam, Nirmalya
Theertham.
Adi theertham /Shiva Gangai Theertham were initiated by the
plunge of Lord Shiva’s Trident on Earth at the request of deities and Lord
Nandikeshwara. Lord Indra was worshipped
Lord Shiva with the Golden Lotus obtained from this Pond. Holy dip in this pond on auspicious days of
Amavasya, Pournami, eclipse and worship of Lord Chokkanatha Peruman with Goddess
Meenakshi would provide abundance of pieties and
Salvation.
Sannidhis –
Lord Dakshinamurthy, Lord Lingodbhavar, Goddess Durga, Thiru Sanga
Pulavar,
Mangayarkarasi Mandapam houses the statues of King Arikesari, Maravarman and his wife
Mangayarkarasiyar, Kulachirai Nayanar and Thiru Gnana Sambandhar
Muthuramayyar Mandapam houses the idol of Muthuramayyar,
Kasi Vishwanathar, Kasi Visalakshi,
Sarabeswarar
Thirumalai Naicker Mandapam/Vasantha Mandapam consists of murals of Kings of Naicker Dynasty, Meenkashi
Thirukalyanam, Lord Shiva’s Cosmic Dance poses, exquisitely carved on the
pillars.
Thousand pillared Mandapam is one of the remarkable and
huge hall in which positioned the dance hall of Lord, housed idols of Shivaite Saints and
deities.
Main Mandapa of Lord houses Indra Vimanam, idols of Lord
Veerabhadra, Goddess Kali, Aghora Veerabhadra, Lord Surya, Lord Mukkuruni
Vinayaka, Goddess Gayatri, Sadasivamurthy, Nayanmars, and brilliant sculptures
of Lions and elephants. Nandi Mandapam
housed Lord Nadikeshwara carved out of a
single rock.
Festivals – Chithirai Brahmostavam, Oonjal Utsavam,
Navaratri, Mahashivaratri, Float Festival, Panguni Uthiram, Adi Pooram, Vinayaka Chathurthi,
Vasanthostavam, Avani Moolam Festival, Ayppasi Utsavam, Arudra Darisanam, Masi
Makam, Sambandhar Utsavam,
The
legend has that
there was a time the Mount Himalaya and its surroundings were under the abstract
control of the demons. They harassed the
life of deities
and sages, they all appealed to Lord Vishnu.
As instructed by Lord Vishnu, all the
spiritual energies of the deities turned into a flame and as desired by the
deities and Sages Goddess Sri Sati was rose from the flame and she was brought
up by Daksha Prajapathi. Later,
she married was to Lord Shiva against the will of her father.
A Grand
Yagna was conducted by Dakshaprajapathi ended in disaster, his own daughter Goddess
Sri Sati had to sacrifice her life in the sacrificial fire. This catastrophic
incident brought trepidation amongst the deities. Inconsolable Lord Shiva
carried the
lifeless body of Goddess Sri Sati and wandered on the Earth for several years.
The functions of Trinities to protect the Universe were
shattered. All the deities were frightened about the terrible consequences and
appealed to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu’ dice chopped off the lifeless body of
Goddess Sri Sati into several parts to diffuse
the grief of Lord Shiva and each part fell into the different parts
of the Earth. The places where the body parts of Goddess Sri Sati fallen on the
Earth were turned into ‘Shakthi Sthal/Shakthi Peedam’.
This temple remains open from 5.00AM to 12.30 PM in the
morning and 4.00PM to 10.00PM in the
evenings.
Please follow the link below to read more about this temple:
http://indiatempletour.blogspot.com/2012/06/275-thevara-shivasthalam-thiru-alavai.html
Jai Ambey Ma !!
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
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