The place where Nandhi got married

Sri Vaidyanatha Swamy temple is on the banks of the river Coleroon or Kollidam at Thirumazhapadi, in Ariyalur district. The Kollidam river flows northward here in the vicinity of the temple. This temple is one of the important ‘Padal Petra Sthalams’. The very famous Sundarar Tevaram,

“பொன்னார் மேனியனே புலித்தோலை அரைக்கசைத்து

மின்னார் செஞ்சடைமேல் மிளிர் கொன்றை அணிந்தவனே

மன்னே மாமணியே மழபாடியுள் மாணிக்கமே

அன்னே உன்னையல்லால் இனி யாரை நினைக்கேனே”

describes Lord Vaidyanatha Swami as, gold skinned God – dressed in tiger skin, kondrai flowers spreading fragrance from the head with lightning bright hair and the crescent moon. Sundarar adds that, whom he would think of in the world after seeing the gem blessing the world from Mazhapadi.

There are lot of inscriptions on the temple walls. Inscriptions say that this temple has received contributions from the kings of various dynasties like Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Vijayanagara, Hoysala and Maratha and of course the smaller rulers of Ariyalur.

Vaidyanathaswamy, the presiding deity of the temple is present here along with his Consort Sunarambigai. The Lord is also known as Mazhuvadeeswarar (Mazhu means Battle Axe). There is a statue of Mazhuvadeeswarar in the ardhamandapam. He is seen with an axe in his right hand along with a spear and a rope. He is said to have saved Markandeya from Yama here.

This huge temple complex has separate temples for Vaidyanathaswamy and Sundarambigai. There are two Nandis one behind the other in front of the Sanctum sanatorium. Another unusual sight here is there are four Nandis in front of the idol of Brahma. These represent the four Vedas. There are no Navagraha idols in the temple. Instead, there are three pits between Lord Shiva and Nandi which devotees consider Navagrahas. Poojas to the Navagrahas is offered here. The sthala vriksham here is Panai Maram (Palm Tree).

Vaidyanathaswamy temple at Thirumazhapadi is associated with the Aiyarappar temple at Tiruvayaru, which is on the other side of the river and situated at a distance of about 15 km from Thirumazhapadi. In the Tamil month of Panguni on the Punarpoosam star day, Nandi Kalyanam is celebrated every year. Lord Nandeeswara, the bridegroom from Thiruvayaru Aiyarappar temple marries Goddess Swayambikai Devi of Thiumazhapadi temple. On that day the ritual of welcoming bridegroom family (Aiyarappar, Darmasamvardhini Ambal and Nandigeshwarar) by Vaidyanatha Swamy on the banks of Kollidam is very famous.

The marriage ceremony is conducted by the priests of the temple. The newly wed Celestial couple are taken in a procession through the village. As per the Hindu marriage ritual the couple goes around the ceremonial fire seven times. After that ‘Saptha Sthanam’, a very rare festival among Shaiva temples happens. Lord Shiva take the newlywed couple to seven Shiva temples around Thiruvaiyar as procession. These seven temples are known as Saptha Sthanams. This group of temples is very close to each other and can be covered in one session. In the tamil month of Chittirai (April-May), the Deity (Utsavar) of Thiruvaiyaru is carried on a palanquin to all these temples.

Those suffering from high fever offer boiled rice with rasam to Jurahareswarar of this Thirumazhapadi temple and get relief. It is believed that having a bath in the temple tank will cure all illness. It is also believed that by visiting this temple unmarried will get married soon.