In the lush green belt of Kumbakonam about 35 kms towards East, which is a lovely drive by road lies this small temple town Thirumanancheri, (click on the link to get driving directions) in Mayiladuthurai District. Thirumanancheri literally translates to Village of Divine Wedding (Thirumanam=Wedding & Cheri=Village). The Main Deities are Bhagwan Shiva as Shri Kalyanasundareshwarar (also known as Udvaganathar) and Maa Parvati as Kokilambal.

The Temple

This is 79^th Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam also called Thevara Sthalam (out of 276) and 25^th Sthalam on the Chola Nadu’s North side of River Kaveri. Now this place is called as Keezhai Thirumanancheri or Thirumanancheri. It is important to note that they are two different villages and even now there is another village close by named Keezhai Thirumanancheri which is not as popular as this Nitya Thirumana Kshetram. It is also believed that Shri Kalyanasundarar Murti is Svayambhu (Self-Manifested). This east facing temple’s Rajagopuram is 5-tiered and temple has 2 Mantapas (Corridors). Based on the earliest inscriptions, the temple is reconstructed by Chola King Kulathunga Chola III in the 12th Century. There are some inscriptions pointing to Temple renovation by Queen Sembian Mahadevi, wife of Chola King Kandaradithan. Many other kingdoms (Pandyan, Hoysala, also have contributed to the temple based on other inscriptions dating to 13th, 14th and 16th Centuries.

The Legend

Thirumanacheri has an important position int the legend due to its association with various other Padalpetra Shiva Sthalams. Maa Parvati expressed her desire to undergo rituals of a marriage in the Human realm and following all rituals as humans do on the earth. The ever benevolent Shiva agrees and asks Her to wait for an appropriate time to get the wish fulfilled.

Therazendur

In due course, it so happened during a celestial banter during a game of dice between Vishnu and Shiva, there was a contention between them and Maa Parvati was called into adjudicate. Maa Parvati favours Her Brother Vishnu and in a fit of rage, Shiva curses Maa Parvati to an earthly life and transforms Her into a cow. Maa Parvati descends to earth in a place called Therazendur (Click on the link for Location), about 10kms from Thirumanancheri. This is the place where King Uparichara Vasu’s Chariot (Theru) gets stuck because of Vishnu’s intervention. The king was so pious that he had a blessing that he could ride his chariot even through the skies and he also had a boon that anything on which shadow of his chariot falls would be burnt. On one of his sojourns in the skies, shadow of his chariot falls on Gomaatas (cows) on the earth and it gets severe burn injuries. Enraged Vishnu places his feet on the shadow of the chariot bringing it down to earth and getting it stuck to stand in this place, Therazendur. Shiva and Vishnu also is believed to have played dice here in this village and Maa Parvati gets cursed here turning her into a cow. Vishnu then decides to stay here as a Cowherd to take care of his sister. Saint Poet Kambar who composed the Tamizh Ramayanam was born in this temple town.

Tirukozhambiam

However, Maa Parvati was dedicated to Her Husband and as Gomaata continues to worship Shiva in a place called Tirukozhambiam(Click on the link for Location),around 12 kms from Thirumanancheri. Once while she was performing Milk Abhisheka of Shiva (He presides here as Shri Kokileshwarar) she accidentally steps on Bhagwan Shiva and leaves mark of Her hoof on Shiva’s chest. The Shiva lingam here still has that hoof mark

Thiruvaduthurai

At about 8kms from Thirumanancheri, is the place Thiruvaduthurai(Click on the link for Location) where Maa Parvati gets redeemed of Her curse and regains Her original form. Shiva in this temple presides as Shri Masilamaniswarar and Maa Parvati as Atulyakujambigai. Nandi here is very huge and said to be bigger than the one in Tanjavur. The now famous Adheenam which presented the Gnana Sengol to Shri Narendra Modi ji during the New Parliament Building Inauguration, is situated here.

Kuthalam (Thiruthuruthi)

About 6kms from Thirumanancheri is Thiruthuruthi-Kuthalam(Click on the link for Location) temple for Lord Shiva as a Swayambumurthi in the form Uktavedeeswarar with His consort Parvati as Arumbanna Vanamulai Nayaki. Maa Parvati after getting redeemed from the curse and regaining Her original form (from a cow) emerges in the form of a child from the Putrakameshti Yagna Fire performed by Rishi Bharatha. After she grows up, Bharatha continues to pray and do penance for a suitable bridegroom for his daughter. Responding to his prayers, Shiva appeared before him and told him that he would marry his daughter and also reveals that his daughter was none other than Parvati. Shiva and His entourage is said to have arrived here and set out from here as a Groom’s party for His marriage. Due to unbearable heat Shiva wears a Paduka and also brings Uddala Tree from Devaloka for shade. These can be seen in the temple even to this date. After many years, we were told that this temple underwent renovation recently (Sharing the post-renovation picture that I received from our guide from Thirumanacheri)

Edirkolpadi

Shiva and the groom’s party were received by Bride Parvati’s father Bharatha in Edirkolpadi(Click on the link for Location). This temple is about 1km from Thirumanancheri. Shiva presides in this temple as Shri Airavateshwarar. The place gets its name “Ethirkolpaadi” (“ethirkol” means “ceremonial reception” and “paadi” means village). This is also one of the place where Elephant Airavata prayed to get Durvasa’s curse redeemed (He was cursed to be ordinary wild elephant to be born on earth) and hence Deity here is Shri Airavateshwarar

Thiruvelvikudi

Shiva and Parvati marriage was solemnised in a place called Thiruvelvikudi(Click on the link for Location), about 4kms from Thirumanacheri. This is the actual place the Yagna (Velvi in Tamizh) and all other earthly rituals of wedding between Parvati and Shiva was performed. Shiva presides in this temple as Shri Kalyanasundareshwarar or Shri Manavaleshwarar and Parvati as Shri Parimalasugandhanayaki. They are also known as Shri Koudukeshwari and Shri Koudukeshwarar. Paravati performed Vratam for 16 Mondays to get Shiva as Her husband and on 17th Monday, Shiva appears as Shri Manavaleshwarar and accepts to marry Her. With Brahma as Chief Priest and with Parvati’s brother Vishnu doing Kanyadanam, this celestial wedding takes place.

Thirumanancheri

At Thirumanancheri, Shiva and Parvati appear in their Kalyana Kolam and offers darshan to Devotees. As seen in the pictures above, Shri Kokilambal in Thirumanancheri has a typically shy bridal posture with her head tilted to one side and Shiva blesses devotee with His Left Abhaya hastha since His right hand is holding Shri Kokilambal’s hands.

Puja Samagris

The list of items you need for the Pooja is as follows: You can buy them in the official temple counter for ₹150 (price when we visited)

1. Two Garlands
2. Two Coconuts
3. Turmeric and Kumkum
4. Camphor, Ghee, and Sandal Powder
5. Betel leaf and Betel Nut
6. Lemon and Bananas.

Puja Pocedures

• First step is to Pray at Dwaja Sthambham and Sri Selva Ganapati, right as you enter the main dwaram.
• Light 5 ghee lamps at Deepa Mandapam.
• Proceed to Thirumana Prarthana Mandapam with the Pooja samagris and pray with utmost devotion and sincerity.
• Archaka would come & receives the pooja samagris.
• While the Aarchana is progress, offer your prayers to Shri Kalyana Sundareswarar and Ma Parvathi.
• Priest will give you the prasadam including a lemon and garland at the end of the Pooja.
• Once back home, after shower (head bath), cut the lemon and mix it in water. Drink the juice without additives (sugar or salt).
• Place the garland in your pooja room and offer your normal everyday prayers
• After marriage, visit the temple along with your spouse with same garland and hand it over to Priest (don’t worry even if it is just string and all flowers have withered away).
• Take Prasadam and return home.

||Namah Parvati Pataye
Hara Hara Mahadeva||

PS:
I have experienced the effectiveness personally, when we had taken our Manasika daughters and additionally we took a vow on our nephew behalf. The marriage got fixed within 1 month after the prayers and 2 out of 3 who took vow are already married.

Most of the inputs came from Shri Ganapati Sivacharya AVL who insisted that I mention all these Padal Petra Shiva Sthalams that are interlinked to the Legend of Thirumanancheri. I acknowledge with thanks the Video he sent by Whatsapp which forms the basis of the piece and the narration

I was requested by another Priest (who did not want to be named) to also reproduce this pathigam in English with a request to all Devotees to chant this during their vows. Saint Gnanasambandar during his Visit to this temple composed this Thirupathigam

Ayilarum ampatha narpura muntreythu
kuyilarum menmozhi yaloru kuraki
mayilarum malkiya cholai manancherip
payilvanaip patrinin trarkkillai pavame

Vithiyanai vinnavar thanthozhu theththiya
nethiyanai nilsatai melnikazh viththavan
mathiyanai vanpozhil chuzhntha manancherip
pathiyanaip pataval larvinai parume

Eyppanark kinpuru thenalith thuriya
ippala yenaiyum ala vuriyanai
vaippana matankal chuzhntha manancheri
meyppanai mevinin trarvinai vitume

Vitaiyanai melula kezhumip parelam
utaiyanai uzhitho ruzhi ulathaya
pataiyanaip pannisai patu manancheri
ataivanai yataiyaval larkkillai yallale

Eriyarpun kontraiyi notum ilamaththam
veriyarun chenchatai yara milaiththanai
mariyarun kaiyutai yanai manancherich
cherivanaich cheppaval lark kitar serave

Mozhiyanai munnoru nanmarai yarankam
pazhiyamaip pannisai yana pakarvanai
vazhiyanai vanava reththu manancheri
izhiyamai yeththaval larkkeythum inpame

Ennanai yennamar sirimai yorkatkuk
kannanaik kannoru muntru mutaiyanai
mannanai mavayal chuzhntha manancherip
pennanaip pesanin trarperi yorkale

Etuththanai yezhilmuti yettum irantunthol
ketuththanaik ketilach chem’mai yutaiyanai
matuththara vantisai patum manancheri
pitiththarap penaval larperiyorkale

Sollanaith thotrankan tanum netumalum
kallanaik katrana sollith thozhuthonka
vallarnan mathava reththum manancheri
ellamam emperu mankazhal eththume

Satreyun thama’ari vilsaman sakkiyar
sotreyum vannamor chem’mai yutaiyanai
vatratha vavikal chuzhntha manancheri
patraka vazhpavar melvinai patrave

Kannarun kazhiyar konkaruth tharviththa
thannarsir gnanasam banthan thamizhmalai
mannarum mavayal chuzhntha manancheri
pannarap pataval larkkillai pavame

Thanks to Shri Diwakaran, Bengaluru, who shared this link. For those who find it difficult to pronounce and chant the above pathigam in Tamizh, the next best solution, listen to this: