The arts and music-loving devotees are also big fans of this Sri Mahakaleswarar Temple or Mahaleswarar Temple. They come here to offer poojas and ask Goddess Kuyil Mozhi Nayaki’s blessings to achieve greatness in the artistic endeavors they have chosen. Irumbai Temple, In addition, devotees offer prayers to Lord Mahakaleshwarar for long life and prosperity. The primary lingam, Sri Mahakaleshwarar, is broken into pieces and bound together with a copper string, which makes this temple unique.
This place honors Goddess Parvathi, also known as Kuyil Mozhi Nayaki, which means “goddess with a voice as sweet as that of a nightingale.” The story of Kaduveli Siddhar is beautifully depicted through intricate sculptures and reliefs on the inner corridor walls.
In his revered Thirupugazh, Saint Arunagirinadhar has also performed songs in praise of this temple’s Lord Murugan.
Sri Mahakaleswarar Temple, Irumbai History:
It is thought that Kulothungan III, the Chola king, constructed this temple in the seventh century.
According to the inscriptions on the temple’s stone walls, the village is called “Iruncheri.”
The village’s previous name, Iluppai, came from the area’s dense population of Iluppai trees, which is another explanation for the name Irumbai. Irumbai eventually replaced this name over time.
The story of Kaduveli Siddhar, a renowned yogi who lived in the region approximately 500 years ago, is connected to this temple.
Legend:
The story goes that on his pilgrimage, a saint by the name of Mahakala Rishi installed three lingams: one at Ujjain in North India (Vada Naadu), one at Ambar Makalam close to Mayiladuthurai in the south (Then Naadu), and the third here (Nadu Naadu). Therefore, Sri Mahakaleshwarar is the name of the Lord here.
The legend surrounding the sage Kaduveli Siddhar is another fascinating one related to this location. He is said to have engaged in intense penance, spending days at a time in a yogic position sitting beneath a peepal tree. Once, when he was performing his penance, his body heated up to such a degree that the rain gods suffered, there was no rain, and the populace had to endure hardship and drought. The situation deteriorated to the point where King Kulothungan, who ruled from Kottakkarai, eventually learned of it. The King declared that whoever broke Kaduveli Siddhar’s penance would be duly rewarded because no one dared to interrupt him while he chanted the Lord Shiva mantra.
A temple dancer named Valli, who was devoted to Lord Shiva, was tempted by the reward to do everything in her power to break the Siddhar’s penance. She noticed that the Siddhar would sometimes catch and consume the falling and withered peepal leaves, so she skillfully prepared some fried papads, which are thin, crispy wafers with salt added, and placed them around him. After a few days, the Siddhar realized that the salted papads were peepal leaves, and returned to normal.
He asked Valli why she had fed him these papads and what had happened when he opened his eyes and saw the papads and her standing close by. She told him about the unusually high temperature and lack of precipitation in this area. She went on to say that his intense penance was the reason for this. The rain god was relieved of the unbearable heat and showered with rain after his penance was broken and the temperature began to drop.
The King gave the order to hold a large pooja at this temple to commemorate this occasion. As the temple dancer, Valli was expected to execute Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance (Anantha Thandavam). The Siddhar accepted her invitation to attend the Pooja at the temple and see her dance performance.
But she lost her rhythm during the performance when one of her anklets came off. Upon seeing Lord Shiva in Valli, Kaduveli Siddhar picked up the anklet and replaced it on her foot. He was subjected to both public and royal derision since he had touched a dancing girl’s feet. The Siddhar, enraged by the jeers, commanded Lord Shiva to emerge from his temple and demonstrate his innocence by releasing a hail of stones.
Deities in the Temple:
The corridors contain shrines dedicated to Lords Vinayakar, Subramanian along with his consorts Valli and Daivanai, Natarajar, Dakshinamurthy, Kalabhairava, and Chandran (the Moon God).
The nine planets—Suryan (Usha and Pradusha), Chandran (Keerthika), Angarakan (Sakthi Devi), Budhan (Gana Devi), Guru (Dhara Devi), Sukran (Sirungini Devi), Sani (Jesta Devi), Raghu (Singi Devi), and Kethu (Chitraleka)—are represented by their respective consorts in the Navagraham at this temple, which is significant.
Irumbai Temple Distance
Irumbai is located on the Puducherry to Tindivanam route, roughly 10 km from Puducherry and 2 km from Morattandi. The temple is located in Irumbai village, which can be reached by taking a small road on the right side after Morattandi. Auroville International Township is also close to the temple.
Nearby are two other Padal Petra Sthalam locations: Kiliyanur and Arisili.
Irumbai Temple Timings & Location:
7:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Shri Mahakaleswarar Temple,
Irumbai Mahalam,
Vanur Taluk, Villupuram District,
Tamil Nadu – 605 111
Tele: +91- 413 – 268 8943, 98435 26601.
The temple priest Sri Raja Gurukkal can be contacted at: 80981 44813.
For more details visit the official website of Liturgical Temples or Temples in Tamilnadu. You can get information about different temples and their special occasions.