हिंदीOn this day
Standing

Madhuvaneswarar Temple, Nannilam

The great temple of Nannilam, where the devas hid as honeybees in the sanctum, and bees still live. Sundarar sang it and named Kochengat Chola as its builder.

Built: Maadakoil of Kochengat Chola on an artificial hillock; structure of about the 8th–9th centuryWhere: Tamil Nadu (Tiruvarur district)Deity: Bhagwan Shiva as Madhuvaneswarar (Brihadeeswarar); Devi as Madhuvana Nayaki10.88° N, 79.61° E
Photo: Ssriram mt · CC BY-SA 4.0

01The bee grove

Hunted by Vritrasura, the devas ran to Shiva, and the temple’s katha says He made them honeybees and let them live in His sanctum and worship there; madhu is honey, and the Lord is Madhuvaneswarar. Bees still nest in the sanctum and quiet corners, and leave visitors alone. The sanctum stands on a kattumalai, a built hillock, which the katha explains as a fragment of Meru dropped here when Vayu tore off a peak. Sundarar called it Nannilathu Perunkoyil, the great temple of Nannilam, and in his last verse names the Chola Kochengan as its builder. The complex is about 270 by 135 feet, with shrines of Brahmapureeswarar and Agastheeswarar in the outer court.

Visiting

In Nannilam town, about 17 km from Tiruvarur and 30 km from Kumbakonam; from the bus stand take the road opposite the Government Hospital.

Nearby

Pasupatheeswarar Temple, TirukondeeswaramStanding
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Pasupatheeswarar Temple, Tirukondeeswaram

A moated shrine whose small linga is split by the horn of Parvati in cow form; a three-headed Jvaradeva on a pillar is prayed to for fevers. Appar sang it twice.

Vanchinathar Temple, SrivanchiyamStanding
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Vanchinathar Temple, Srivanchiyam

Where Yama is worshipped in his own shrine as the guardian of the temple, and where those who die are said to be spared his terrors. Held equal to Kashi.

Soundareswarar Temple, TiruppanaiyurStanding
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Soundareswarar Temple, Tiruppanaiyur

The palmyra village where the boy Karikala Chola hid under Vinayakar’s protection, and where Shiva danced before Sundarar at the boundary. Sambandar and Sundarar sang it.

Mathimukteeswarar Temple, Tilatharpanapuri (Sethalapathi)Standing
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Mathimukteeswarar Temple, Tilatharpanapuri (Sethalapathi)

Tilatharpanapuri, the town of the sesame offering, where Rama and Lakshmana gave water and sesame for Dasharatha and Jatayu. Pitru rites may be done here on any day, and Sambandar sang it.