Sri Lalithambigai Temple Thirumeeyachur

Thirumeeyachur is located at a distance of about 20 kms from Mayiladuthurai on the Mayiladuthurai to Thiruvarur route. From Mayiladuthurai first travel to Peralam (17 kms) and then to Thirumiyachur (3 kms). Nearest railway station is Peralam which is 2 kms away from this temple.

It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams – Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Devaram poems by Tamil  Saivite Nayanar Thirugnanasambandar.

As per legends Arunan was the charioteer of Suriyan. He was handicapped. He had a desire to worship Lord Shiva at Kailayam (Mount Kailash). When he expressed this to Suriyan, the later not only declined to give permission but also made fun of the deformity of the former. Arunan who was immersed in his devotion to Lord Shiva took on the form of beautiful women “Mohini”. He set off to Kailayam. Indra who saw Mohini was carried away by her beauty. The result was the creation of “Vaali”. Returning from Kailash, Arunan told Suriyan that he had a dharshan of Lord Shiva at kailayam. When sooriyan heard the form of “Mohini” from Arunan, he asked him to show the form. Arunan turned into Mohini and Sooriyan was lured to her beauty. The result was the creation of “Sugriva”. Lord Shiva became angry at Suriyan making fun of his devotee Arunan. He cursed Suriyan. Suriyan became dark. He was ordered to worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi for 7 months placing them on an elephant in the sky. Then only his curse would go null and void. Suriyan started performing the pooja placing Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi on elephant . Shortly before the closing of the seventh month, Suriyan went to Lord Shiva and asked why he was not granted absolution from the curse. Parvathi became furious and asked him “Couldn’t you even wait till the end of the period?” She rose to curse him. Lord Shiva became perturbed as the whole world would become dark if another curse was made on Suriyan. He pacified Parvathi and granted Sooriyan absolution at the right time. The face of Suriyan brightened and the world came out of darkness. Lord Shiva who graced Suriyan sits on Gajaprushta Vimana at the Sanctum Sanctorum and graces all with the name Sri Meganadhar at this shrine, Thiru Meeyachur.

There are many specialties to this shrine. It is the birth place of Sri Saneeswaran, Arunan, Garudan, Vaali and Sugriva and Yama .

Yama has worshipped this Lord . He did abhishegam with1008 conches and offered Pirandai (a sacred creeper he brought to earth) rice as neiveidyam to the Lord on Sadayam nakchatram being the star of Yama the diety of death . Hence devotees offer the Lord Pirandai rice in lotus leaves , for their longevity. We were lucky enough to taste it on the day we went .This temple we went during our grand daughter’s aksharaabyasam in Koothanoor Saraswathy temple.

Lord Shiva pacifying Goddess Parvathi is in idol form in the koshtam (pragharam) inside the temple . This idol is amazing sculpture seen from one side the Goddess appears angry and from other side seems smiling .This sculpture is called as Sthethra Puraneswarar .

The consort of Lord Meganathar is Goddess Lalithambigai. There is a seperate shrine for her in the front .
The deity is seated resting her folded right leg on the sea in a Abhaya ,Varada Mudra posture t. Her left leg is in Sukhasana posture. She is said to be in Manonmani Swaroopa and hence is also known as Santanayaki. The Goddess is installed over Sri Chakra and is seated with her right leg folded.

From the mouth of Shakti appeared the  vachini devatas and they gave to the world Lalithasahasranamam .

Lord Hayagrivar (incarnation of Lord Vishnu) conveyed to sage Agasthiyar Lalithasahasranamam . As told by him Agasthiyar and His wife Lopamudra came to this temple and chanted Lalithasahasranamam and worshipped the Goddess .

This temple has Goddess Durga in the koshtam . The uniqueness of Goddess Durga in this temple is , She has a parrot in her hands and its said the prayers we do to Goddess Durga is conveyed to Goddess Lalithambiga by this parrot .

During Navarathiri all 9 days are celebrated in a grandeur manner and on Vijiyadasami day ghee pond ritual is done to Goddess Lalithambigai. 15 feet length 4th feet width plantain leaves are spread with chakrapongal ( sweet pudding made out of rice and jaggery) and a pond is made in the center of the chakrapongal and ghee is poured fully , after the alangaram of the Goddess Lalithambigai the screen is opened and the reflection of the Goddess is seen in the ghee pond . Its believed those who witness this ritual of the Goddess will be relieved from rebirth.