Vaikalnathar temple, TiruVaikalmadakovil
Location
Tiru Vaikal
Deity
Vaikalnathar, Shenbaka Aranyeswarar
Female Deity
Vaikal Nayaki, Kombialkothai
Pathikam
Sambandar - 1
Gallery - TiruVaikal Maadakoil
How to Reach
This Shiva temple is located 12 km from Kumbakonam.
Temple Address
Vaikal Village
Melaiyur Post
Via Aaduthurai
Thanjavur District
PIN – 612101
Temple Hours
Morning : 6:30 - 12:00
Evening : 4:00 - 7:00
Nearby Paadal Petra Shiva Temples
Travel Note
The temple is located in a village. When planning a temple trip around Kumbakonam, this temple can be combined with visits to Tirunallam, Tiruneelakudi, and Tirukozhambam, as all these temples lie along the same route. However, due to its interior location, it is advisable to visit during daylight hours. Since there are no bus or auto facilities available nearby, arranging a private vehicle is recommended. The temple caretaker lives close to the premises and usually opens the shrine for visitors even if it is closed at the time of arrival. Nevertheless, it is best to contact in advance and plan your visit accordingly.
Significance of Vaikal Village
In the small village of Vaikal, there are three Shiva temples:
- The Viswanathar Temple in the southern part of the village.
- The Brahmapureeswarar Temple.
- The Vaikalnathar Temple - A Maadakkoil, one of the elevated temples glorified in the Thevaram hymns.
Among these three temples – Viswanathar, Brahmapureeswarar, and Vaikalnathar – which are revered like the three eyes of Shiva, the Vaikalnathar Temple located to the west of the village holds the special distinction of being a Paadal Petra Sthalam (a temple praised in the Tevaram hymns). In his previous birth as a spider, the illustrious emperor of the Chola dynasty, King Kochengat Chozhan worshipped a Shiva Linga at Thiruvanaikka by weaving a protective web over the deity. Remembering how an elephant had repeatedly disturbed his worship in his previous birth, King Kochengat Chozhan constructed a unique style of temples with elevated sanctums that elephants could not access. These temples came to be known as Maadakkoils. The temple at this site is one such Maadakkoil built by the great Chola king.
Puranic History
According to the Sthala Puranam, when Bhoomadevi desired to marry Maha Vishnu, she worshipped Him with unwavering devotion. Pleased with her sincere penance, Maha Vishnu accepted her as His consort. Distressed by this, Goddess Lakshmi came to this sacred place, then a dense forest of Shenbaka trees, and performed intense penance, worshipping God Shiva. In search of Goddess Lakshmi, Maha Vishnu, accompanied by Bhoomadevi, arrived and joined Her in worshipping God Shiva. Meanwhile, Brahma, who was searching for Maha Vishnu, also came to this place and offered his prayers to the Lord of Vaikal alongside them. Moved by their devotion, God Shiva reunited Maha Vishnu with Goddess Lakshmi and also bestowed His blessings upon Brahma. This divine episode forms the Sthala Puranam of Vaikal and highlights the spiritual significance of the three sacred temples situated in this village. Significance of Worship: This temple, glorified in the sacred Thevaram hymns, together with the other two Shiva temples in the village, is revered as the place of worship by Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Goddess Lakshmi, Indra, and several celestial beings, as well as sages such as Agastya.
Temple Structure
Gopuram and Entrances
This temple does not have a Rajagopuram and is entered through a single east-facing gateway. From the southern side of the outer prakaram, a flight of steps leads to the elevated platform of the Maadakkoil. At the entrance to this platform stands the Nandi Mandapam, where Nandi faces the sanctum of God Shiva in reverence.
Garbhagriham and Sanctums
Inside the elevated Maadakkoil, the presiding deiy Vaikal Nathar appears in the east-facing sanctum. To the right of this elevated structure is the sannidhi of the Goddess, Kombiyal Kodhai.
Other Sannidhis
- Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai
- Maha Vishnu with Sri Devi and Bhu Devi
- Saneeswarar – in a separate sannidhi
- Vinayaka
- Dakshinamurthy
Connection with Sambandhar
Tirugnana Sambandhar's hymn in praise of the presiding deity of this temple is found in the Third Thirumurai. In the fourth verse of this Pathigam, Tirugnana Sambandhar explicitly states that the temple was built by King Kochengat Chozhan. He also refers to the Goddess as Kombiyal Kodhai and describes the temple as being situated to the west of the village of Vaikal. In the tenth and concluding verse of the same hymn, Sambandhar extols this sacred shrine as being equal in glory to Mount Kailash, the divine abode of God Shiva in the north.
Gallery
