Madhuvaneswarar, Nannilam, Tiruvarur

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Madhuvaneswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Madhu Vana Nayaki, Periya Nayaki, Deva Kaanthara Nayaki
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:	Tirunannilatthu Perunkovil
Vriksham:	Vilvam	Teertham:	Brahma Teertham, Sula Teertham, Deva Teertham
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	7 to 12 & 4 to 8	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Paadal Petra Sthalam (Kaveri Then Karai)	–
Sung by:	, Sundarar	Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Nannilam	District:	Tiruvarur
Maps from (click):	Current location	Tiruvarur (15 km)	Mayiladuthurai (30 km)
	Kumbakonam (32 km)	Nagapattinam (36 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

During a battle of strength between Adiseshan and Vayu, a part of Mount Meru was broken. Vayu carried that part to the south, and one piece of it fell here and was in the form of a mound. Siva appeared as a swayambhu murti on that mound.

In the Satya Yugam, a celestial named Brihadrajan worshipped here, and Siva appeared to him in the effulgent form called Tejolingam or Prakasa Nathar. In the Dwapara Yugam, the devas were being subjected to harassment by the demon Vritrasura. In order to protect the devas, Siva changed their forms to bees, and gave them protection here. Over time, this became a massive bee colony. Even today, one can see several beehives and bees in the temple premises – specifically in the Somaskandar and Murugan shrines – but they do not harm devotees.

The digpalakas (guardian deities) of the four cardinal directions installed Lingams at this temple – Indra in the east, Yama in the south, Varuna in the west and Kubera in the north. Lingams worshipped by Brahma and Agastyar – namely Mahadevar and Agasteeswarar – are also enshrined in the prakaram. Indra is said to have worshipped here to be relieved of brahmahathi dosham he had incurred by killing Vritrasura.

Nannilam is a relatively recent name for the place. One meaning of the word refers to the good agricultural land in the area, while another meaning refers to the high spirituality of the place, as a result of its association with Thandavaraya Swamigal (see below).

In ancient times, this place was a forest of Madhu trees, and so was called Madhuvanam, and the Lord here is therefore named Madhuvaneswarar. Additionally, this place also had names such as Brihadpuram (due to Brihadrajan’s puranam as above), Devaranyam (because the Devas stayed here when they were being persecuted by the asura Jalandharan, who was vanquished by Siva at nearby Virkudi) and Sundaravani. This temple is also called Nannilathu Perunkovil (the great temple of Nannilam), in the hymn that Sundarar sung here, and Siva is also called Brihadeeswarar.

Due to the sthala puranam and the association with honey, abhishekam done for the Siva Lingam here with honey is considered highly auspicious and beneficial to devotees.

This is one of the 78 maadakoil temples built by Kochchenga Cholan. The main temple is at a significant elevation – virtually at a first floor level – which is quite unusual even for maadakoil temples. The structural temple is regarded as being from the 8^th or 9^th century. The Siva Lingam is installed on a square avudai, which is also rare for temples in this region.

The temple’s Navagraham arrangement is also unusual – all the planets face Suryan here. There are also separate shrines for Sani and for Chitragupta.

The temple complex also houses the jeeva samadhis of two saints – Thandavaraya Swamigal (author of Kaivalaya Navaneetam, a treatise on Advaita philosophy; who also taught at this place) and Narayana Swamigal.

The Soola Teertham is said to have been created by Siva’s trident, and having a bath here in the month of Masi is considered the equivalent of having a bath at the Mahamaham tank in Kumbakonam. The garbhagriham also houses a bronze of Bhoga Sakti. Interestingly, according to literature on this temple, this place had five different sthala vrikshams – Vilvam, Kongu, Vengai, Madhavi (Madhu) and Sanbagam; however, currently only the Vilvam exists.