Tirumanancheri Temple is located near
Mayiladuthurai, in
Nagapattinam District,
Tamil Nadu. The temple is dedicated to Kalyanasundareswarar and Arul Vallal.
Legend is that, it was the place where
Goddess Parvati, who was reborn to Bharata Muni, married
Lord Shiva, and hence the name Tirumanancheri and Kalyanasundareswarar.
Tirumanancheri Temple extends over an area of about 3.5 acres and is bounded by a canal, the waters of the canal are said to represent the sea that gathered to witness the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati.
There is a shrine dedicated to Varadarajar (Lord Vishnu) with his consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi, in the temple complex.
Inscriptions dating back to 10th century, belonging to the rule of Parantaka Chola I are found in the temple. Inscriptions speaking of Sembiyan Mahadevi's endowments to this temple are also found here.
The niches of the sanctum are beautifully garnished with images of Lord Ganesh, Nataraja, Dakshinamurthy, Lingodbhavar, Brahma and Goddess Durga.
Tirukkalyanam, in the month of Chithira, Karthigai Deepam, Arudra Darisanam and Navratri, are the major festivals celebrated here amidst much pomp and splendor.
