Mayurnathaswamy Temple
Tamil Nadu is famous for its many temples of historical and spiritual importance, that is why it is also called the “Land of Temples”. Amidst the many Shaivite temples like Arunachaleshwar, Chidambaram Nataraja and Meenakshi Amman, Mylapore Tiruvannamalai The situated Mayurnath Swami Temple holds a special place due to its antiquity, unique mythology and grand architecture. It is an attractive destination not only for devotees but also for history and culture lovers.
The most unique feature of this temple is that Lord Shiva is worshiped here in the form of ‘Mayurnath’. According to the Puranas, Goddess Parvati had established Shivalinga in the form of a peacock. According to the stories, Goddess Parvati performed penance to atone for the insult caused by Daksh Prajapati’s yagya and to purify her soul and in her next birth, she is reborn as a peacock and worships Lord Shiva. That is why the name of the temple was ‘Mayurnath’ from the combination of ‘Mayur’ (peacock) and ‘Nath’ (Shiva). Here Goddess Parvati is worshiped in the forms Abhayambika and Abhaypradambika.
The temple was built during the Chola period
Mayurnath Temple is located in the town of Mailaduthurai (formerly Mayavaram) in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. The grand nine-storey Rajagopuram, beautiful sculptures, intricate stone carvings and Dravidian style architecture further enhance the beauty of this temple. According to ancient inscriptions, this temple was built during the Chola period in the 9th century AD. The artistic talent of that period is clearly visible in sculpture and building construction.
According to the belief of the local people, during the Daksh Yagya, a baby peacock out of fear hid in the lap of Goddess Parvati in the Yagya Kund. Goddess Parvati did penance to save the peacock. As a result of that penance, he had to take the form of a peacock in his next birth and he obtained the blessings of Lord Shiva by installing Shivalinga. This story gives the message of devotion, compassion and self-purification to the devotees.
Goddess Parvati did penance under the banyan tree!
The spiritual importance of this place is also very high. It is believed that Goddess Parvati performed penance under a banyan tree located in the temple premises. The confluence of river Kaveri and Vrishabha Tirtha located nearby is known as ‘Dakshina Triveni Sangam’. It is believed that bathing here on the full moon day washes away sins and gives peace to the mind.
The temple is filled with devotees during Mahashivratri, Kartik month and other important festivals. Chanting, special pujas and festivals of Lord Shiva provide spiritual bliss to the devotees. Thus, Mayurnath Temple is not just a historical monument but a living center of peace, devotion and introspection for Shiva devotees.
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Disclaimer: The information given in this news is based on religious beliefs and general information. TV9 Bharatvarsha does not confirm this.