Thiru Alavai is one
of the 275 thevara Shivasthalm of Lord Shiva 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
carved on the pillars exquisitely.
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,
There are several
interesting myths attached to this temple. The Madurai city was ruled by the
King Malayadhwaja Pandya. He was a righteous ruler, he had no offspring for
long time, the very thought of leaving behind the Kingdom without any heirs
created worries in him. He conducted a Yagna, while performing rite a little
girl child with three breasts emerged out of the sacrificial fire. King
Malayadhwaja was distressed at the sight of girl child with strange physical
features, instantly a divine voice echoed that she would be back to normalcy
when she meets her consort. King Malayadhwaja Pandya brought up this stunning
girl, years passed by she grown into a beautiful, brave young maiden an heir to
the throne of King Malayadhwaja Pandya. She led many battles and won over his
enemies. She met Lord Shiva at Mount Kailash and fallen in love with him.
Surprisingly, the third breast disappeared instantly. Shortly, Lord Shiva
married to Goddess Parvati and assumed as Lord Somasundareswara and Goddess
Meenakshi, this divine couple ruled the Pandya Kingdom for several years and
resided in Madurai Temple.
Lord Shiva’s
marriage with Goddess Parvati conducted in a splendid manner. All the deities,
sages and rishis were invited to take part in the celestial wedding of the
divine couple. There present Sage Patanjali and his disciple Vyagrapadha
expressed their irrepressible desire to envision Lord’s cosmic dance. The most
compassionate Lord does not want to dishearten the desire of his devotees,
instantly constructed a marvelous dancing hall (Rajatha Sabha) at the will of
Lord and splendid cosmic dance was performed.
Another legend has
that King Rajasekhara Pandiya, son of King Vikrama Pandya was the ruler of this
great city Madurai. He was a zealous devotee of Lord Shiva and a righteous
ruler. He was profusely inspired by the various dance forms of the Lord. He
decided to learn all the 64 art forms from the King Karinkala Chola. Soon he
realized the pain involved in learning those art forms and their performances.
He arrived at the temple and worriedly looked at the dancing form of Lord with
one leg on the ground, with tears rolling down he passionately requested Lord
to change the leg position., instantly Lord has changed the position of leg from right to left after listening to his devotees’ cries .
This temple remains
open from 5.00AM to 12.30 PM in the morning and 4.00PM to 10.00PM in the
evenings.
This temple remains
open from 5.00 AM to 12.30 PM in the morning and 4.00PM to 10.30PM in the
evenings.
