Sri Mullaivana Nathar temple (More than 2000 years old)

The place was once dense with Mullai plants. One Niruthuvar and his Vedigai were praying to Lord Mullaivana Nathar seeking a child boon. Vedikai became pregnant. While Niruthuvar was out, Vedikai was in a fainted stage with pain. A sage Oordhvapathar came to the house and sought alms. Vedika could not treat the guest. Not knowing the truth, the angry sage cursed her causing abortion. Vedikai begged the mother for the protection of the child. Ambica appeared and stored the aborted child in a pot with her blessings and kept it safe with Her till the child was born. Touched by the grace of Mother Ambica, Vedika begged Mother to stay here as Garba Rakshambika and bless pregnant women to the safe delivery of the children and the mothers.

Presiding Lord Shiva is a swayambumuthy in the form of an anthill. Hence, instead of direct abisheks only Pnugu Chattam is offered to the Lord.

Saint Tirugnana Sambandar had sung the glory of Lord of the temple in his Thevaram hymns. This is the 18th Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in Thevaram hymns.

Devotees do the cleaning of the steps with ghee for an auspicious conclusion of marriage proposals. Women do it before the shrine of Ambica and draw Ranglori with archanas for wedding and child boon. Realizing their wish, they tie cradles and offer Tulabaram. Women not having a child even after years of marriage are offered ghee dedicated to Ambica with Mantras and placed at the feet of Mother Karukatha Nayaki. They have to consume it for 48 nights continuously. Though the husband fails in the procedure, the wife should scrupulously follow this condition. There is no diet condition while taking this ghee by a woman. The woman will conceive shortly. The temple offers a puja castor oil for the pregnant women placed at the feet of the Mother which they have to apply on the stomach during the labor pain time for safe delivery of the child. This oil is applied to pregnant women even when they feel pain naturally at some times during the period.

The majority of the devotees praying to Mother Karukatha Nayaki are women longing for a child after years of marriage. Many pray for safe delivery. Those facing menstrual and uterus problems and whose marriage is delayed pray to Mother for a cure and happy results.

Those suffering from skin diseases pray to Lord Mullaivana Nathar offering Punugu Chattam – a cosmetic paste. This practice is followed even now as experience proves the effect. Others pray for mental peace, job opportunities, progress in trade, and promotions in positions.

The main prayer commitment followed is the offering of Punugu Chattam to Lord Mullaivana Nathar on each Pradosha day of the full moon fortnight. Devotees offer rice, fruits, jaggery, sugar candy, money, etc. equal to their weight, a commitment called Tulabaram. Devotees perform abishek with rice flour, turmeric, cosmetic powders, milk, curd, green coconut, pachamirtham, sandal, and honey and Archana to Lord and Mother and offer vastras. On Sundays of Karthikai month (November-December) abishek to Lord is performed with 1008 conches. As the presiding deity is in the form of an anthill, it is covered with a bowl – Kuvalai in Tamil – for the abishek. Devotees offer nivedhanas to Lord and mother and distribute the same to other visiting devotees. They also contribute to the temple renovation fund.

The presiding deity Lord Shiva is a swayambumurthi in the form of an anthill. As no abishek could be performed with liquid items, only a punugu paste (a cosmetic paste) is offered – punugu chattam in Tamil. The place was earlier dense with Mullai plants – belonging to the jasmine family – from where the Shivalinga was found. As the plants were covering the Linga, those scars are still visible on the Linga.

Since the days of yore, the place is considered a place of safety for pregnant women. Lord and Mother protect these women from any problem such as abortion etc. and ensure the safe delivery of the child.

It is noteworthy that presiding Lord, Nandhi and Lord Vinayaka are swayambumurthis in the temple.

As Lord Muruga – Somaskanda - is in between Lord and Mother, people pray to him for child boon. In the Navagraha shrine, all the planets are facing Sun. Jupiter is directly facing Sun. All planets offer only positive aspects, none retrograde.

Mother graces the devotees with Her hand on Her hip as if holding pregnancy.