Presiding Deity: Sri Ardhanaareshwara Swamy
Presiding Goddess: Sri Mukthambika
Stala Vriksham: Pinnai Tree & Mahila Tree
Teertham : Agasthiya Teertham, Indra Teertham, Sankara Teertham
This temple is located in Rishivandiyam , in Villupuram District. This place gets its name from " Rishi Vanda Vanam". It is a beautiful temple having its history recorded for more that 1000 years. Thesame was built by the early Pandya Kings and later renovated by the successors Pandya Kings and Vijayanagara Emperors.
As you enter the street leading to the temple you can see a four pillared mandap housing the Nandi Deva in front of the temple.The temple entrance has a 7 tiered Gopuram/Tower. The mandap infront of the gopuram has idols of the Shiva Family.
As you cross the Gopuram and enter the temple there is another Nandi housed in a smaller mandap.
You enter mahamandap you get to see the Lord Nataraja & Sivakami towards your right, Sri Vinayagar and the Palliyarai towards your left. After worshipping Sri Ganesha and as I enter towards the Sanctum , the feeling changes, i felt as i am going to my parents place where they both are sitting together and eagerly wanting to grace their blessings.
As i entered the queue to take the darshan, the preistperformed the mangala aarathi. I enquired with him about the temple history, he narrates the history as follows…..
" The baanam ( the lingam ) is swayambhu and is very special as it houses both Lord Shiva and Lordess Parvathi, however one cannot see Parvathi Devi normally. Indra Deva was performing pooja to Lord Shiva on a daily basis with Milk abhishekam, however he would leave without taking dasrshan of Devi Parvathi ! Being offended by the act of Indra Deva, Sri Parvathi devi complained to Lord Shiva, who inturn offered his Left side to Parvathi Devi. While DeveIndra was performing abhiseka he saw Parvathi Devi in the left part of the Lingam. Havingrealized his ignorance lord indra sought forgiveness from Devi Parvathi and went to his Loka,Until today one can see Devi parvathi in the Lingam while Honey abhiseka is performed"
He further informed that" This temple is also place of granting marriage boon to those who seek it. During the marriage of Lord Shiva & Lordess Parvathi, as people went to Northern Land the earth tilted towards North, Hence Sage Agasthiyar was asked to travel Southward to couter balance the tilt with the assurance of he will get to see all the rituals of the Marriage , This place is one such place where he saw the marriage"
After explaining the history we were asked to do a cicumabulation and come to Sri Mukthambika Shrine, while doing the pradakshina( going around the shrine) one can get to see the gostha devatas,
Sri Vinayagar, Sri Dakshinamurthy, Sri Lingothbavar, Sri Brahma, Sri Durga Devi, Sri Chandikeswara, and the Nayanmars.
By the time we reach the Shrine of Mukthambika the priest had opened the doors and asked us to come and perform aarthi. The devi offers mukthi(liberation) to her devotees hence the name. The idol of Devi is of immense beauty that will keep you bound there. You can get to see a human sized stone carved statue of Mahavishnu in the Mandapa before the Sanctum of Devi.
The Specialities of the Temple:
1. One can get to see Lordess Parvathi while performing Honey abhisheka and Milk Abisheka.
2. It is marriage boon offering temple, one has to visit this temple for 3/5 Amavasyas and perform archanai and in one of the months can offer the abhishek.
3. There is statue of a Yaali ( A mythical Creature) carved in one stone and in its mouth one can see a stone ball, which you cannot take out, however it rolls inside its mouth.
4. The temple has in its praharam five pillars which produces rhytmic sounds.
5. The Utsavar/ Somaskandar in the temple is of incomparable beauty.
How to reach?
One can reach Rishivandiyam from Thirukovilur, Kallakurichi or Ulundurpet.
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