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The shrine is praised in the Thevaram hymns of the three Saivite Saints, Tirugnanasambandar, Tirunavukkarasar and Sundarar. Saint Sundarar, in his hymns prays to Lord Gomuktheeswarar that he had reached him fearing the deep adverse destinies following him. This is the 36th Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in hymns.

The Vimana above the sanctum is of Dwaidala design. Sri Vinayaka of the temple is praised as Lord Thunaivandha Ganapathi coming to the rescue of devotee. There is a statue in the prakara showing a cow pouring milk on the Linga, worshipped as Gorupambika. Sani Bhagwan is nearby. There is no shrine for the Navagrahas the nine planets. There are Three Suns gracing the devotees together. This is a rare darshan for the devotees.

Emperor Mushukunda Chakravarthi was much annoyed as he had no child. He was worshipping Lord Thyagesar presented to him by Indira. Lord Shiva appeared in his dream and advised to come to this place for worship to get a child. The emperor was blessed with a child following Lords directions. It is the faith of the devotees that they would be blessed with a child if they pray here. Lord Thyagesar shrine is at the right of the sanctum.

The procession deity is named Anaithu Irundha Nayakar Lord embracing Mother. Though so called, the idol is such that the hands of Lord do not touch Mother Ambica. Couples pray here for marital unity.

Saint Tirugnanasambandar was staying in this place for a while with his father, Shivapada Hru dayar. He wanted to perform a yajna in Sirkali and asked his son saint to get him the wherewithal for the purpose. Sambandar sung a Pathigam ten verses praying to Lord for gold and other materials needed for the yajna. Lord Shiva placed a purse of gold on the peeta through His Ganas. Shivapada Hrudayar conducted the yajna in Sirkali. The peeta still exists in the temple with the Ganas around. It is believed that praying in this spot in the temple would bring prosperity to the devotees.

Reputation of Nandhi: Thirumaaligai Thevar, a staunch Shiva devotee and one among the celebrated Nayanmars was serving Lord here. Believing some baseless allegations as true, the king sent his men to attack him. Mother Ambica urged Lord to protect Thevar. Lord sent an army of Nandhis and drove them away. All the Nandhis merged together and became one too big in size. Deducting the height of the peeta platform, the actual height of the Nandhi is 14 feet, 3 inches made with many stones. There is also a small Nandhi before the big one.

Maha Abishek is performed during the pradosha time. There is also an Adhikara Nandhi with a small one. Of the various remedial shrines around Tiruvidai Marudur, praying to Nandhi Baghwan here is considered very effective.

Thirumoolar: A Shivayogi called Sundaranathar came to Earth from Kailash the abode of Lord Shiva. He was visiting Shiva Temples in the country. He found a shepherd Moolan by name lying dead and the cows around him were in grief. Sympathizing with the cows, he entered into the body of the shepherd with his yogic powers Parakaya Pravesam, entering into the body of those dead for some noble purpose took the cows to their homes. He began his penance on Lord Shiva in this place. (Original) Moolans wife asked him to return home. Her relatives said that he had attained the divine wisdom, hence she too returned home.

The saint came to be known as Thirumoolar. He would wake up from his penance once a year and sing a song with a high philosophic content and go back to penance again. Thus he produced 3,000 songs sung in 3,000 years. This is edited asThirumoolar Thirumandhiram. His shrine is in the prakara where he merged with Lord Shiva.

The shrine for Lord Thyagesa with Mother Kamalambika is on the right of the presiding Lords shrine. It is said that Lord Shiva taught the 8 yogic powers (Ashtama Siddhis) to Navakoti Siddhas including Bogar from this holy land. There are separate shrines for Thirumaaligai Thevar whose 4 pathigams (40 verses) form the 9th Tirumurai (Thiruvisaipa) of the 12 holy saivite devotional literature (Panniru Thirumurai) and Namshivayamurthy Swamigal.

The place is also praised as Nandhinagar and Gomuktinagar.

Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi were playing the dice in Kailash. At the end of each game, Lord Shiva was successively winning the game. As Parvathi grew angry, Lord cursed Her to become a cow on earth. Lord said that the curse would end at this place where she should perform penance. Ambica did penance as a cow here. Go in Sanskrit means cow. Mukti means relief. As the cow got the relief from the curse here, Lord Shiva is praised as Gomukti Easwarar Lord who relieved the cow from its past curse. Lord is a swayambumurthy. The Jeeva Samadhi (tomb) of Thirumoolar is in the temple.

Moolavar: Masilamani Eswarar, PrakasamaniNathar, Gomuktheeswarar

Amman / Thayar: Oppilamulai Nayaki, Athulakusa Nayagi

Thala Virutcham: Padar Arasu

Theertham: Gomukthi, Kaivalya and Padma theerthams

Agamam / Pooja: KameekamPathigam: Thirunavukarasar, Sambandar, Sundarar

Old year: 1000-2000 years old

Historical Name: Nandhi Nagar, Navakoti Chitharpuram

This sivasthalam temple is located 20 Kms from Mayiladuturai en route to Kumbakonam. Thiruvavaduthurai is home to the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam, the Shiva Mutt which manages a number of charitable endowments and is responsible for preservation of many Shiva temples. It is thanks to this mutt that a number of Shiva temples in this area are still standing tall and have priests to perform the regular puja.

Thiruvavadudurai itself is home to a beautiful and huge temple, where Parvati as a cow worshipped Shiva, pouring her milk on the lingam, and where she attained a female form. The main deity in this temple is Masilamaneeswarar or Mukteeswarar and his consort is Abhaya Gujambal.

Shiva is believed to have blessed the saint Thirumoolar at this temple, where the saint finally attained Samadhi. The saints Samadhi is located in the outer prakaram.

Presiding Lord of the temple is a swayambumurthy. Nandhi the vehicle of Lord Shiva is big in size. Jeeva Samadhi of Saint Tirumoolar is in the temple.

Purattasi Brahmmotsavam in (September-October)

Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in (December-January)

Shivrathri Annabishekam in (February-March) are the festivals observed in the temple.

Women pray for the safety and longevity of their Mangalsutras for the longevity of their husbands. They also pray for affinity between the couples and for child boon.

Devotees perform abishek to Lord and Mother offering vastras.

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Sri Masilamani Easwarar Temple, Thiruvavaduthurai Aadheenam, Thiruvavaduthurai ? 609 803. Nagapattinam district. Contact Number - +91 4364 232 055.

Do:

Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.

Don't s:

Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
Do not smoke at Temple.
Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.