Abhi Muktheeswarar, Manakkal Ayyampet, Tiruvarur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Abhimukteeswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Niraikonda Nayaki
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:	TirupperuveLur
Vriksham:	Vanni	Teertham:	Saravana Poigai
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	8 to 11 & 6 to 8	Parikaram:	Speech problems
Temple group:	Paadal Petra Sthalam (Kaveri Then Karai)	–
Sung by:	Sambandar, Appar	Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Manakkal Ayyampet	District:	Tiruvarur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Tiruvarur (10 km)	Kumbakonam (31 km)
	Mayiladuthurai (38 km)	Nagapattinam (39 km)

Location

Manakkal Ayyampet is located 10km from Tiruvarur and 30km from Kumbakonam.

Sthala puranam and temple information

After the churning of the ocean, Vishnu transformed into Mohini in order to ensure that the amritam was distributed only to the Devas. After this task was over, He worshipped Lord Siva at this temple in order to regain his original form.

The Lalita Trisati is a dialogue between sage Agastyar and Hayagreeva, referred to in the Brahmanda Puranam. After Hayagreeva gave Agastyar the Lalita Sahasranamam, the sage asked about the secret of Sri Chakra worship. Hayagreeva was initially reluctant, but the Goddess appeared and told him that Agastya and his wife Lopamudra were Her devotees, and deserve the core of the Lalita Trisati, which is the worship of the Sri Chakra. The Lalita Trisati is said to have originated here. Also, this is one of three places where Amman is seen sitting (amarndha kolam) – the other two places being Kanchipuram and Tiru meyac hur (the origin of Lalita Sahasranamam).

Murugan stayed here and worshipped Lord Siva, in order to obtain his Vel. For this reason, this place is called Peruvelur. He also created the Saravana Poigai Teertham here. Once, the river Ganga prayed to Lord Siva that she was inundated with the sins of humans being washed away in the river, and needed to purify herself. The Lord told her to worship at Peruvelur, and take a bath at the Teertham created by Murugan.

In the outer prakaram, there are six Lingams, named Dharmapureeswarar, Ramalingeswarar, Tarakeswarar, Jambukeswarar, Airavateswarar and Saraswateeswarar. Once, the parents of a child who was dumb brought the boy to this temple and worshipped Saraswateeswarar, as a result of which the boy got the power of speech. This place is therefore regarded as a prarthana sthalam for speech impediments and impairments. It is also a Sukra dosham parikara sthalam and a rina vimochana prathana sthalam.

The musical trinity – Muthuswami Dikshitar, Thyagarajar and Syama Sastri – have worshipped at this temple.

This is a maadakoil said to have been built by Kochchenga Cholan. The main temple is at a significantly raised level, and the entire temple has some very interesting iconography and architecture. The murti of Vinayakar is made of white stone. The Nataraja Sabhai (shrine) is in a mandapam of vavvaal-nethi design (like the forehead of a bat). The temple also features three Bhairavars (Kala Bhairavar, Sri Bhairavar and Vaduka Bhairavar), two Durga and two Chandikeswarar. This temple has a separate shrine for Vishnu, due to the puranam (as above), and also shrines for Nammazhvar, Tirumangaiazhvar and Ramanujar.

We have heard of the concept of Somaskandar, ie, Siva with Uma and Skanda, where Skanda (Murugan) is seated between Siva and Parvati. This temple is itself built in the Somaskandar structure, such that the shines of Siva, Murugan and Parvati are in that order, from left to right.

Arunagirinathar has sung about Murugan in his Tiruppugazh, at this temple.

Other information for your visit

There is a significant Vaishnavite connection to this temple as well as to the place – Manakkal Ayyampet. Also located nearby is the beautiful Vaikunta Narayana Perumal temple.

On a 4km stretch of road between Kumbakonam and Tiruvarur where this temple is located, there are several large and small temples. Of these, 7 important temples (primarily Paadal Petra Sthalams, Divya Desams or Vaippu Sthalams) are:

Bhaktavatsala Perumal, Tirukannamangai, Tiruvarur

Dharmapureeswarar, Vadakandam, Tiruvarur

Brahmapureeswarar, Karaveeram, Tiruvarur

Agasteeswarar, Manakkal Ayyampet, Tiruvarur

Seshapureeswarar, Raa Patteeswaram, Tiruvarur

Vaikunta Narayana Perumal, Deepapuram, Tiruvarur

Abhimukteeswarar, Manakkal Ayyampet, Tiruvarur