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| Mangalanatha swamy temple, Ramanathapuram, TN, you tube |
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| Mangalanatha swamy temple, Ramanathapuram, TN en.wikipedia.org |
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| Nataraja idol made of emerald, Maragathanathar temple, TN,Pinrest com |
Uthirakosamangai Mangalanatha swamy temple, dedicated to God Shaiva, 15 km from Ramanathapuram town in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu is an old one which is believed to have been built at various times by the Pandya kings, Achutappa Nayak (1529–1542 CE.), Muthuveerappar and other rulers of Ramanthapuram Sethupathy Dynasty. The stone carved sculptures like Yali (lion like) are made with care and dedication, hence they look impressive. This temple is older than 9th century.
Among the several shrines, Mangalanathar, Mangalambigai and Natarajar are prominent. An interesting feature of this temple is the 1.8 meter tall maragatha Nataraja idol made from a single emerald stone. It is kept in the safe vault as it it is priceless. It is anointed with sandal paste round the year except on Tiruvathidirai festival day when special worship is done. No percussion instruments are allowed during puja near the maragatha idol as the sound vibrations might damage the precious idol.The Raja gopuram - tower is a 7 tier structure and a hall near the sanctum has 1000 lingams. The temple has many shrines as one will find in the Shivalayas. The lingams made of Padigam (spatika) in the front hall are anointed with cooked rice every afternoon during puja. This temple is a rare one where thazhambu (screw-pine flower) is still used for worship contrary to the tradition. Manickavasagar, the 9th century Tamil saivite saint poet glorified Mangalanathar and the temple in his hyms in Thiruvasakam, compiled as the Eighth Tirumurai. Arunagirinathar, a famous 15th-century Tamil poet composed Tamil hymns glorifying Murugan in the temple. It was here God Muruga was bestowed with Airavata (white elephant) by celestial god Indra.
The name Uthara Kosa Mangai where the temple is located, is derived from "Mann Mundhiyo Mangai Mundhiyo" It means " Which one came first- mud (mann) or Mangai (the goddess of the temple)?".The legend has it it was here God Shiva revealed the secrets of the Vedas to Parvati. Uthiram meaning upadesam, kosam implies secrets and Mangai refers to Parvati.
The temple tank is called Agni thertham as the legend says: once responding to 1000 rishis' (sages) penance, God Shiva told them that he would appear here later as a ball of fire after responding to penance done by Mandothiri, Langa king Ravana's mother. Appearing before Mandothiri in Langa as a small kid, king Ravana, struck by the child's beauty lifted him. At that time a fire ball came out of the Agni Theertham at this temple and the sages thought Ravana and the god were at war. Out of 1000 sages, 999 killed themselves by getting into the fire and the sage who remained alive saved the Vedic scriptures. Shiva pleased with the sage for his timely action and appeared as Sahasralingam (thousand lingams); one for himself and 999 for the sages who killed themselves here. The sage who saved the Vedas is believed to have taken rebirth as Manickavasgar in his later birth.
The distinctive temple tradition here is as part of the worship protocol the priests read the Veda texts to the accompaniment of nagaswaram (wind instrument) music. Once it is over, devotees who attend the prayer/puja prostrate toward the main deity in front of the temple mast or Dwajsthambam. Among the several festivals held here Pathunal Siva Uthsavam during Aaani (July–August), Annabishekam during Aipasi (October–November), Tiruvathidirai during Margazhi (December–January) and Sivarathri during Masi (February–March). The Tiruvathidirai festival in December are celebrated with pomp and devotion by the countless devotees. The temple is being managed by HR & CE, a govt. organization which is muddled with corruption, land-grabbing financial irregularities, etc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uthirakosamangai
https://www.trawell.in/tamilnadu/rameshwaram/uthirakosamangai
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