Lord Sakalabhuvaneswarar graces in the form of Swaymbu Linga. Those chanting the Lalitha Sahasranama (1000 names of Mother Lalithambika) and Lalitha Navaratnamala are gifted with total grace of the Mother. This is the place where Garuda (the eagle vehicle of Lord Vishnu), Aruna the charioteer of Sun, the monkey brothers Vali and Sukriva, Yama the God of Death, Saturn planet were born.
Devotees perform Ayush Homa and Mrutynjay Homa and offer rice made with Pirandai placed on lotus leaf to Lord as an offering (nivedhana) Shiva for longevity and to conquer Yama. This is the place where Sun worshipped for relief from a curse that made him dark in colour and got back His golden appearance. Mother Kali also worshipped here.
Many of us know that Aruna is the charioteer of Sun. His story lies in Tirumeeyachur. Sage Kashyapa had two wives, Vinatha and Karthru. Both prayed to Lord Shiva for a child. Shiva gave two eggs to them. Of Vinatha’s egg, Garuda was born. As nothing came out of the egg of Karthru, in haste, she broke the egg and found a deformed child. She begged to Lord Shiva for her hasty act. Lord was all merciful and told her that the child would be charioteer of Sun’s ratha drawn by 7 while horses and the dawn of the day would be called Arunodaya after his name Aruna.
Aruna was a staunch Shiva devotee and performed penance to have His darshan. Sun mocked at him saying that how a person with deformities can perform penance. Yet Aruna did not lose heart and continued the penance. While gracing Aruna, Lord Shiva cursed Sun for ridiculing Aruna. Sun lost his radiance and made amends by worshipping Shiva and Mother placing them on an elephant. Representing this story, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is in the Gajabrushta (back side of an elephant) form. Shiva graces in the name of Meganatha here. There are three Kalasas (pots) on the Vimana. As Sun regained his radiance, the place is known as Meeyachur.
Srichakra Nayaki: Mother Sri Lalithambika, also praised as Soundaryanayaki graces from the Srichakra throne. Folding the right leg and placing it on the hanging left, Sri Lalithambika appears majestically with all powers. Ambika with right leg placed on the left, is a rare form. Two Shivalingas: There are two Shivalingas in the temple, one below the main tower-Rajagopuram-sung by Saint Ganasambandar and the other in Ilangoil sung by Saint Tirunavukkarasar. Sri Ambika has more prominence in this temple.
Pirandai rice nivedhana: Some types conches are born in the sea once in 100 years having the power to ensure longevity. Lord Yama gathered 1008 such conches and performed abishek to Lord Shiva. Yama is the authority for Sadaya star. He prepared rice nivedhana (offering food to God) with a creeper called Pirandai to Lord Meganatha.
The devotees can enjoy the darshan of Brahmma, Lingodhbhava (Shiva) and Vishnu standing in between the two towers. Lord Chandikeswara appears with four faces. Kshetrapuraneswarar idol is beautifully sculpted. Mother looks angry if viewed from the right and graceful if viewed from the left. |