Mayuranathaswami Temple, Mayiladuthurai

Mayuranathaswami temple
Gopura of the Mayuranathaswami Temple
Mayuranathaswami temple Location within Tamil Nadu
Name
Proper name	Mayuranathaswami Koil
Tamil	மயூரநாதசுவாமி திருக்கோயில்
Geography
Coordinates	11°0′N 79°15′E / 11.000°N 79.250°E / 11.000; 79.250Coordinates: 11°0′N 79°15′E / 11.000°N 79.250°E / 11.000; 79.250
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Nagapattinam
Location	Mayiladuthurai
Culture
Primary deity	Mayuranatha Swamy(Shiva)
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture

Mayuranathaswami Temple, Mayiladuthurai (மயூரநாதஸ்வாமி கோயில், மயிலாடுதுறை) or Mayuranathar Temple is a Hindu temple in the town of Mayiladuthurai (formerly known as Mayavaram or Mayuram) in the Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu in India. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and has given its name to the town itself.

The main icon is a lingam and the presiding deity is called Mayuranathar because the Hindu goddess Parvathi worshipped Shiva here in the form of a mayura.

On the day of the new moon in the Tamil month of Aippasi (November–December), religious Hindus have a ceremonial bath in the temple tank as it is believed to purify them from sins. An annual dance festival called the Mayura Natyanjali festival is celebrated within the precincts of the temple each year.

The Mayuranathaswami temple is located in the southern part of Mayiladuthurai about a mile from the Kaveri River. The temple is on the Chidambaram–Thanjavur highway.

The presiding deity is a swayambhu lingam or a self-manifested lingam, the symbol of the Hindu god Shiva. Shiva's consort is known by the names Abhayapradhambikai, Abhayambikai, Anjalanayaki and Anjalai. There are three smaller shrines to the Hindu god Ganesha and another to Shiva as Nataraja or "Lord of Dance". One of the sculptures in the temple represent Shiva embracing Goddess Parvathi. According to mythology, the goddess Parvathi, the consort of Shiva, once offended him. Shiva was so annoyed he cursed Parvathi to be born as a lowly peahen. Later, when Parvathi repented, Shiva reduced this sentence. Parvathi had to pray first at Mylapore and then at Mayiladuthurai, at the end of which she was ridden of her curse and became known as "Abhayambal". It is believed that Brahma, Lakshmi, sage Agastya, Manmatha, birds and animals worshipped Mayuranathar.