Thiruthuraipoondi Piravi Marundeeswarar Temple

The name Piravi Marundeeswarar is a lovely one: the Lord who is medicine for the illness of birth itself. In Sanskrit the same idea gives Bhava Oushadeeswarar, the name under which the temple appears in the HR&CE Department's list.

In traditional lists of nakshatraⓘநட்சத்திரம்: One of the 27 star groups the Moon passes through, about one a day. The one at your birth is your birth star. temples, this is the temple given for Ashwini. The Ashwini Devas, the deities of that star, are associated with healing, and that is said to be why the star is linked with this temple of the "medicine" Lord. It is a traditional association, and lists can differ slightly from one another.

The goddess is Periyanayaki, also called Brihannayaki; the HR&CE listing names her Mangalanayaki. In most Shiva temples the Lord faces east. Here the main deity faces west, which is the temple's distinctive feature.

Shiva is also revered here as Gajasamharamurthy, and a puranic story lies behind it. The sages of Tharukavana grew proud, believing even God drew his power from their rituals. To humble them, Shiva came as a handsome mendicant, Bhikshatana, and Vishnu as the enchantress Mohini. Realising they had been fooled, the sages raised an elephant from their sacrificial fire and sent it against Shiva. He destroyed it and wrapped himself in its hide, and the sages, their pride broken, bowed before him.

Another story concerns Jallika, a demoness devoted to Shiva. Her cruel husband, Virupakshan, killed and ate a Brahmin boy who was on his way to the Ganga to perform rites for his ancestors. Distraught, Jallika pleaded with the Lord here, and the temple account says the goddess Periyanayaki restored both the boy and her husband to life. Devotees therefore believe the goddess stands by those who perform rites for their ancestors, and by women who pray for their husbands' wellbeing.

People born under the Ashwini star traditionally come here to offer abhishekam and archana to the main deity, and temple accounts say they come seeking relief from difficult planetary periods. One temple listing suggests a Dhanvantri homa, a Saneeswara homa and worship of Angaraka (Mars) for good health. Others come with prayers for marriage, children or studies. When a prayer is answered, devotees customarily offer abhishekam and new clothes to the Lord and the goddess. These are traditional devotional practices, and no result is promised. Please check special days, timings and fees with the temple before going.