Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Ratnagireeswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Vanduvar Kuzhali
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:	Tirumarugal
Vriksham:	Vaazhai	Teertham:	Manikka Teertham
Agamam:		Age (years):
Timing:	6 to 12 & 5 to 9	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Paadal Petra Sthalam (Kaveri Then Karai)	–
Sung by:	Sambandar, Appar	Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Marugal	District:	Nagapattinam
Maps from (click):	Current location	Nagapattinam (20 km)	Tiruvarur (22 km)
	Mayiladuthurai (35 km)	Kumbakonam (50 km)

Location

Tirumarugal is located 21km from Tiruvarur on the Sannanallur-Nagore route.

Sthala puranam and temple information

A local trader promised the eldest of his seven daughters in marriage to his nephew. But he came across a rich man, and got her married off. The same thing happened to the next five daughters. Finally, the youngest daughter realized her father’s intention, and so ran away with her the boy. On their way to get married, a snake bit the boy and he died. Sambandar, who was nearby, heard the cries of the hapless girl, and by the power of his devotion and after singing a pathigam, was able to revive the dead boy. He got them married here, with Lord Siva as the witness in the form of the vanni tree. Later, the girl’s parents who had gone to Madurai, refuted the wedding since there were no witnesses, to which the Lord appeared and declared himself as the witness – this is also one of the 64 Tiruvilaiyadal stories.

Connected with the above story is the Vinayakar who was also nearby, and helped in the reviving of the boy. Vinayakar is therefore called vitam-teertha Vinayakar (vitam/visham = poison). This Vinayakar shrine has two other Vinayakar murtis inside, who are said to have been worshipped by Seeralan, son of Siruthondar Nayanar.

Goddess Lakshmi is said to have undertaken Varalakshmi nonbu here and worshipped Lord Siva, to be united with Lord Vishnu. The temple tank is called Lakshmi Teertham.

Kushaketu was a local king. One days, during his hunt, he came across something unusual on the land, and started digging with his spade. In the process, he found a Lingam – a Swambhu murti – which he consecrated and installed here. The mark of the spade when it struck the Lingam is there as a scar on the Lingam.

Marugal refers to a type of plantain, which is the sthala vriksham. The place gets is name from this.

The presiding deity – Ratnagiriswarar – gets his name because at one time, the town was suffering a famine. The Lord showered precious stones to help people fund their needs.

This temple is one of the 78 maada koils built by Kochchenga Cholan.

Other information for your visit

The following Paadal Petra Sthalam and Divya Desam temples (including this temple) are located close by and it is efficient to cover them in a single visit.

Tirupugalur: Agneeswarar (and Vartamaneswarar)
Tirukannapuram: Sowriraja Perumal; Ramanathaswami;
Tiruchengattankudi: Uthira Pasupateeswarar;
Marugal: Ratnagireeswarar; and
Seeyathamangai: Ayavantheeswarar.

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