Mahalingeswarar Temple - ePrarthana.com

A temple will have a Linga in the sanctum and parivara devatas in the temple all around. However, here the temple is a sanctum with the presiding Mahalingam. The Vinayagar is at Thiruvalanchuli; Muruga at Swamimalai, Somaskanda at Tiruvarur, Nataraja at Chidambaram, Bairava at Sirkazhi, Nandi at Aduthurai, Dakshinamurthi at Alangudi, Chandesa at Thiruappadi and planets at Suryanar Kovil. Thus, the entire Chola nadu is treated as one temple.

The temple has five circuits including the street. In the west entrance in Bhadrakiri and in the east is Pattinathar. The temple faces east. At first, we see a small Nandi, and then another big stucco Nandi. There is a flight of steps to the south of Torana Vayil and there in a south wall there is a figure with head disheveled and face immersed betwixt the knees. This is the Brahamahathi. Hathi means the sin caused by murder. The various circuits in this temple carry names and people circumambulate each prakara for specific purposes. The outermost is called Asvameda prakara and the next is kodumudi prakara. To go round this circuit is deemed to have gone around Mount Kailas. Next is Pranava where Omkara is heard. It is around the sanctum. The holy tree Marudu is opposite. Though we associate Vinayaka with trees here, we find Chandrasekara under the tree. There are three places where a sacred well is in the form of a lion. There are Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Vrinchipuram and Krishna Kupam. Besides this, there are several holy thrithas; Karunyamrita Tirtham, Bana Tirtham, Parachara Tirtham, Soma Tirtham, Rudra Tirtham etc.

There are countless Lingas in this shrine. Agashya Lingam, Kasyapa Lingam, Romesa Lingam, Chola Lingam, Chera Lingam, Sahasara Lingam, Pancha bhuda Lingam and 27 lingams behind Chokkanathar are seen. Going round the Kodumudi prakara, to the south is the circuit of the Devi Shrine. To the right side of the Moolavar, the Devi is there. Brihat Sundara Kusambika is her name. In her shine is a cell facing north fashioned in north Indian style. Even today one can see several people inflicted with mental disorders go round the circuit and get redress.