Uthirakosamangai

View of the temple towers

As per Hindu legend, once hundreds of rishis (ascetics) performed penance worshipping Shiva. Shiva told the rishis that he would appear in the form of a fireball to acknowledge the penance of Mandothari, the wife of king Ravana in Sri Lanka. Shiva appeared in the form a small child in Ravana's palace. Ravana lifted the beautiful child and there was a small wound out of it. Simultaneously, there was a fireball out of the Agni Theertham (temple tank), which the rishis felt were on account of Shiva attacking Ravana. Out of thousand, 999 killed themselves by falling in the fire, while one of them remained to save the vedic books. Shiva was pleased by the rishi and appeared as Sahasralingam (thousand lingams) for the 999 and one more for himself in the temple. The single rishi was believed to have emerged later as Manickavasgar in his later birth.[4]

View of the temple tower and the temple tank

Mangalanathaswamy Temple, also known as Uthirakosamangai Mangalanathaswamy Temple, is a Shiva temple located in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, India. This temple is notable for several reasons.

Historical Significance: The temple has a history dating back 3,000 years. It is spread across about 20 acres of land and is believed to have been constructed by 1,000 Shiva devotees who attained Moksha (spiritual liberation) simultaneously.

Deities: Within the temple complex, you can find shrines dedicated to Mangalanathar Swami, Mangaleswari Amman, Natarajar, Suyambulingam, Byravar, Datsinamoorthy, Chandikeswarar, and Balabhairav. There is also a sacred temple pool.

Unique Features: The temple boasts five towers, including seven-tiered royal towers. Two magnificent yalis (mythical lion-like creatures) guard the entrance with stone balls in their mouths, which visitors can move by hand.

Religious Significance: The temple is home to the priceless emerald statue of Sage Mangaleswarar, standing at five and a half feet tall. Natarajar, the cosmic dancing form of Lord Shiva, is displayed in sandalwood cups throughout the year. It is believed to be one of the earliest Shiva temples in the world, with only the Sun, Moon, and Mars representing the celestial bodies when the temple was established.

Historical Legends: According to legend, Mandothari, the wife of Ravana, sought to marry the most devoted Shiva worshipper. Lord Shiva entrusted a sacred scripture to sages for safekeeping. When Ravana attempted to touch a child (Lord Shiva in disguise), Lord Shiva transformed into Agni, causing chaos. The sages, fearing Shiva's wrath, jumped into a sacred pool, which came to be known as "Agni Theertham." Only Manikavasagar, a sage, saved the scripture. As a result, Manikavasagar is honored in the temple with a lingam (a symbol of Lord Shiva).

Historical Significance: The temple's name, Uttirakosamangai, stems from the Lord's teachings to Goddess Parvati about sacred scriptures. During the reign of the Pandyan kings, the temple was a prominent place, and their capital was Uttarakosamangai.

Festivals: The temple hosts several important festivals, including Chithirai, Tirukkalyanam, Thervila, and Arudra Darshan[4]

The temple is located 32 km East from Paramakkudi and 17 km west from Ramanathapuram. The temple has a seven-tiered rajagopuram (gateway tower). The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Mangalanathar, Mangalambigai and Natarajar being the most prominent. There are separate shrines for Mangalanathar (Shiva) in the form of lingam and Mangalambigai. There is a 6 ft (1.8 m) tall ancient maragatha Nataraja idol carved out of emerald inside the temple.[5] A hall of Saharasralingam has a thousand lingams enshrined in it. At the entrance of the main precinct, the temple features exquisite stone carvings of Yali (mythological dragon), depicted with a rolling stone ball inside its mouth. The granite images of the deities Ganesha (son of Shiva and god of wisdom), Murugan (son of Shiva), Nandi (Representative of all our Souls) and Navagraha (nine planetary deities) are located in the hall leading to the sanctum. As in other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the first precinct or the walls around the sanctum of Erumbeeswarar has images of Thenmugaparaman (Dakshinamurthy-Shiva as the Teacher), Durga (warrior-goddess) and Chandikeswarar (a saint and devotee of Shiva).[4]

The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Shaiva community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for all the deities in the temple. The worship is held amidst music with nagaswaram (pipe instrument), religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred texts) read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast. There are weekly rituals like somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi. The major festival of the temple are Tirukalyana Vaibhavam (sacred marriage) during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April–May), Vasanthotsavam during Vaigasi (May–June), 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 attracts a large number of tourists.[4]

Sculptures on the pillars of the temple

The temple is considered sacred along the lines of Ramanathapuram, Sethu Madhava Theertham and Lakshmana Theertham. The emerald image of Nataraja is anointed with sandal paste round the year except on Tiruvathidirai festival day when special worship is practiced.[6] It is believed that even small vibrations can damage the image and hence no percussion instruments are used during worship practises. The front hall has lingams made of Padigam (spatika), that are anointed with cooked rice every afternoon. As per Hindu legend, Vishnu and Brahma contested for superiority, Shiva appeared as a flame, and challenged them to find his source. Brahma took the form of a swan, and flew to the sky to see the top of the flame, while Vishnu became the boar Varaha, and sought its base. Neither Brahma nor Vishnu could find the source, and while Vishnu conceded his defeat, Brahma lied with the help of a thazhambu (Pandanus odorifer flower / Screw Pine Flower / Ketaki flower) and said he had found the pinnacle. In punishment, Shiva ordained that Brahma would never have temples on earth in his worship and all Shiva temples do not use thazhambu during worship practises. This is one such temple where thazhambu is still used for worship practises. This story is found in Shaivaite scriptures.

Manickavasagar, the 9th century Tamil saivite saint poet has revered Mangalanathar and the temple in his verses in Thiruvasakam, compiled as the Eighth Tirumurai.[7] Arunagirinathar, a 15th-century Tamil poet has composed Tamil hymns glorifying Murugan in the temple. As per Hindu legend, Muruga was awarded the Airavata (white elephant) of celestial deity Indra at this place.[4]