Mutheeswarar Athur

Mutheeswarar, Athur

Saivite Temples, Chengalpet Taluk

God

Mutheeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Aramvalarthanayaki (also called Dharmasamvardhini), facing south in a separate sanctum

Other Deities

Varahi, Vinayaka, Shanmuga with consorts, Jeshta Devi, Nataraja. Sanctum niches – Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara

Mutheeswarar Athur is a medium sized east facing temple with the entrance gateway from the south. All the shrines and sanctum are located in one spacious Prakaram. As you enter Varahi is in a separate shrine facing North. In the north western corner is a rare idol of Jeshta Devi. She is seen with a woman next to her with the face of a donkey and a flag with the crow in it. The Shiva Lingam is seen with a thin line separating the right and the left halves representing the Ardhanareeswara concept of Man and Woman together. There is a space in the ground which is covered possibly to hide the idols during invasions. There are four other Lingams which have been found here, two with Aavudayars (base) and two Banalingams without a base. it is thought that there could have been 8 of them here, but the rest have not been found. The holy tree here, Mango, has a forked trunk, each side yielding fruits with different tastes, considered in line with the Arthanareeswara concept. The Nandi outside faces the Lord through a nine slotted window (Navadhwara) and there is one more Nandi inside the sanctum. the Idol of Lord Muruga as Shanmuga here at Mutheeswarar Athur is a very beautiful piece with 6 faces, 12 hands seated on a fine peacock, all carved out of a single stone, balancing itself perfectly without mounting.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Ksheera Nadhi (Paalar River)

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Mango (Mangifera sps), Vilwam (Aegle marmelos)

History

Mutheeswarar Athur is an ancient temple with plenty of stone inscriptions all around the Sanctum Sanctorum. These mention that the Shiva Lingam was found by Kulothunga Chola amidst a mango grove and built the temple. Koperunchingan further developed the temple. During that period the revenue generated by this temple was used to build the South Gopuram of Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram. This information is mentioned in the inscriptions of both temples. Mutheeswarar Athur was in a very dilapidated condition and the local youngsters commendably formed a Trust to raise funds, renovate and conduct rituals regularly. 6 times Pooja ritual is conducted here at Mutheeswarar Athur during Shivaratri, similar to Thiruvannamalai.

Legend

Jeshta Devi worship used to exist very early in history. She first appears in the Baudhayanagrhyasutra (300 to 600 BCE). She was worshiped during the Chola period and faded away later. She is associated with misfortune and considered the opposite of Goddess Lakshmi who is her younger sister as she appeared from the churning of the oceans after Jeshta. Thus special pooja is performed on Tuesdays during the Rahu Kaalam to Jeshta Devi.

Directions

Mutheeswarar Athur is 6 kilometers northwest of Chingleput in the Walajabad Road from where the temple is visible. Further down east of this temple is a small Shiva Temple – Vazhithurai Paneeswarar.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest are the restaurants in the Walajabad Road or Chingleput.

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