172. MANNARKUDI

ANNAMALAIYAR TEMPLE

Distance:

Shiva: Annamalaiyar

Amman: Unnamulaiyamman

Speciality:

This is a Guru Dhosha Parihara Sthalam.

Built during the Chola period.

During the Chola period vedic chantings were always uttered in this temple. These have been mentioned in the inscriptons.

The later Cholas reconstructed the temple. 

During the days of the Cholas Dhakshinamurthy of this temple was considered special. Even now people consider this place as a Guru Dhosha Nivarthi Sthalam. People who worship Dhakshinamurthy here are blessed with good education, family, health and wealth.

The temple faces east.

Even now the temple is amidst mango trees.

The temple pond is opposite to the temple and called as Chakra Theertham.

History:

A chieftain called Vallala Maharajan came from Kasi on a pilgrimage. On the way he worshipped Shiva temples. He was proceeding to Rameswaram. He had the habit of Worshipping a Shiva temple everyday before breakfast. If he could not find a temple on the way he installed his own linga performed pooja and then had his food. He installed this linga worshipped and prayed to the Lord that his pilgrimage should continue successfully without any hurdles on the way. Lord Shiva blessed him by spilling a drop of Amirtha which came from the crescent moon his head. The place itself was purified. The King went to Rameswaram and while he was returning he came back to this temple. He found that the decorations which he had done to the lord before he left did not fade but it was as fresh as before. He was amazed to find the  Linga he installed amidst the forest with such a glow. He constructed a temple for the Linga and this is the Annamalaiyar temple. Later The King  built an Ayyanar temple in the east, Vishnu temple in the west, Badhrakali temple in the north and Saptha Madhar temple in the south. These 4 temples were guardian deities to the Annamalaiyar temple.