Panch Mayanams

Mayanam means cremation ground. Lord Shiva is told to be in mayanams generally. Mayanams here are nothing but temples. But these following temples are told to have highest spiritual importance. Panch is count of five. There are five Shiva's mayanams and they are the following:

1. Kachi Mayanam   [Kancheepuram]

2. Kazhi Mayanam [Sirkazhi]

3. Veezhi Mayanam [Thiruveezhimizhalai]

4. Naalur Mayanam [Tirunallur Maayanam]

5. Kadavur Mayanam [Tirukkadavur Mayanam]

More details about the temples are below:

1. Ekambareswarar Temple, Kancheepuram (Kachi Ekambam)

Location of the temple	Located in Kancheepuram Town - about 2 Kms. from Kancheepuram bus stand.
Lord Shiva known as	Ekambaranathar, Ekambareswarar
Female deity known as	Kamatchi Amman
Pathigam	Thirunavukarasar, Sambandar, Sundarar
How to reach	Kancheepuram is well connected by train and road from Chennai, the Capital City of Tamilnadu and also from other parts of the state. It is situated at a distance of 80 Kms from Chennai by road. Kancheepuram railway station is on the Chengalpattu-Arakkonam section of the Southern Railway.

This is known as the "City of Temples", Kancheepuram is one of the seven great holy centers of ancient India. Ekambaranathar temple is situated in this holy town of Kancheepuram, one of the Panch Bootha Sthalangal of God Shiva. The presiding deity Shiva is worshipped here as Prithvi Lingam (Lingam of Earth). There is no seperate shrine for the Female deity as is customary in all the Shiva Temples found in Kancheepuram. There is a sacred mango tree inside the temple which is supposed to be more than 3000 years old. This tree is the Sthala Vruksham (Temple Tree) of this temple. The four branches of this tree represent the 4 Vedhas and the tree bears 4 different types of mango fruits in 4 different seasons. Goddess Parvathi, once seperated from her husband, came to Kancheepuram and made a Sivalingam out of sand and installed it under a mango tree on the banks of a river and worshipped it and got Shiva's hand in marriage.

2. Brahmapureesar Temple, Sirkazhi

Location of the temple	Sirkazhi
Lord Shiva known as	Brahmapureesar, Sattainathar, Thoniyappar
Female deity known as	Thirunilainayagi, Sthira Sundari
Pathigam	Sambandar - 67 (Sambandar's birthplace), Thirunaavukarasar - 3
How to reach	Sirkazhi can be reached by road from Chennai and from many other parts of Tamilnadu. It is 260 Kms from Chennai by road, 17 Kms from Chidambaram and 58 Kms from Kumbakonam. Another Paadal Petra Sthalam Tirukolakka is situated at a distance of about 1 Km. from this temple.

Sirkazhi, known for the famous temple for Lord Shiva known as Brahampureesar, is also associated with the birth of Tirugnanasambandar. When Sambandar as a 3 years old child was crying on the banks of the temple tank, Goddess Parvati appeared in person and fed him with Gnanapaal, (wisdom of milk). Thereafter, Sambandar started singing in praise of the God Shiva with his first and famous Pathigam "Thodudaya Sevian".

According to mythology, when the great deluge (pralayam) started submerging the whole earth, God Shiva carried the 64 arts in a Thoni (boat) with him and landed at Sirkazhi which was not submerged in the great deluge. God Brahma after worshipping Shiva here started afresh his job of creating life forms. Because Brahma worshipped Shiva, he is known here as Brahmapureesar and also as Thoniappar for carrying the 64 arts with him in the Thoni (boat).

Temple: The Shiva temple at Sirkazhi is a big complex and there are 3 separate shrines for God Shiva here - Brahmapureesar, Thoniappar and Sattanathar. The main shrine for Brahmapureesar is on the banks of temple tank facing east. The shrine for Thoniappar is situated on an elevated site to the west of the main shrine. The Sattanathar shrine can be reached from the southern side pathway of Thoniappar shrine by climbing a few steps. The shrine for Thirugnanasambhandar is located on the outer prakram. The female deity Thirunilaianayagi's shrine is situated adjacent to Sambandar shrine.

Brahma, Murugan, Kali, Guru, Indiran, Chandran, Suryan and Sage Vyasar are believed to have worshipped the god Shiva at this place.

3. Nethrarbaneswarar Temple, Tiruveezhimizhalai

Location of the temple	Tiruveezhimizhalai
Lord Shiva known as	Nethrarbaneswarar
Female deity known as	Brahat Sundarakusambikai
Pathigam	Thirunavukarasar, Sambandar, Sundarar
How to reach	This sivasthalam is located near Peralam and Poonthottam. It is located about 10 Kms from Poonthottam on the north bank of river Arasalaru. Nearest railway station is Poonthottam. Another paadal petra sthalam ThiruAnniyur is located at a distance of 3 Kms to the north from here.

  

4. Palasavanesar Temple, Tirunallur Mayaanam

Location of the temple	Tirunallur Maayanam
Lord Shiva known as	Palasavanesar, Gnanaparameswarar
Female deity known as	Periyanayagi, Gnanambikai
Pathigam	Sambandar - 1
How to reach	This sivasthalam temple is situated at a distance of 14 Kms. on the bus route from Kumbakonam to Kudavasal.The other paadal petra sivasthalams in the vicinity are: 1. Kudavasal and 2. Tirucherai

5. Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Tirukkadavur Mayanam

Location of the temple	Tirukkadavur Mayanam
Lord Shiva known as	Brahmapureeswarar
Female deity known as	Nimalakusaambikai
Pathigam	Thirunavukarasar, Sambandar, Sundarar
How to reach	This sivasthalam temple is located at a distance of 2 Kms to the east from another paadal petra sthalam Tirukkadavur. Tirukkadavur can be reached from Sirkazhi and Mayiladuthurai.

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