Chaayavaneswarar Melaiyur

God

Chaayavaneswarar, facing east. Suyambu Lingam (self occurring)

Goddess

Kuyilinum Inia Mozhiyal

Other Deities

Surya, Indra, Iyarpagai Nayanar, Moovar, Vinayaka, Muruga, Kala Bhairava, Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas

Chaayavaneswarar Melaiyur is a large east facing Maadakovil (elevated structure). At the entrance is a large and beautiful 5 tier Rajagopuram. A large temple tank is on the south-east of the Rajagopuram. Lord Muruga is seen here with a Bow in hand and is said to have been taken from the sea nearby.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Airavatha Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Korai (Cyperus rotundus)

History

Tirunavukkarasar (7th Century CE) has sung the praise of the lord here at Chaayavaneswarar Melaiyur in his Thevaram hymns though he has not visited the temple. Chaayavaneswarar Melaiyur is a Maadakovil built by Kotchengat Chozhan. Iyarpagai Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanars was borne and attained salvation here at Chaayavaneswarar Melaiyur.

Legend

The Lord is believed to have tested the devotion of Iyarpagai Nayanar by visiting as a guest and asking for his wife. The Nayanar offered her without hesitation and upon reaching the village outskirts escorted by the Nayanar the Lord took his original form with Parvati. Lord Indra driven by his mother Athithi’s devotion to the lord is believed to have attempted to pull the Chaayavaneswarar Melaiyur temple with his Vahana Airavata (White Elephant) and dropped the idea when he heard the sweet nightingale voice of the goddess (hence her name ‘Kuyilinum Inia Mozhiyal’) and on the advise of the Lord himself.

Directions

Chaayavaneswarar Melaiyur is about 2.5 Kilometers before the famous, historic, ancient and important city of Poompuhar which today is in a sad state.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest is Mayiladuthurai

Chaayavaneswarar, Melaiyur