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{{Short description|Hindu temple in Thanjavur}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Tiruvidaimarudur
| image =Tiruvidaimaruthur.jpg
| alt = The gateway tower of the temple

| caption = The gateway tower of the temple
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|10|59|40|N|79|27|01|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Thanjavur]]
| location = [[Tiruvidaimarudur]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Mahalingaswamy([[Shiva]])
Bruhatsundarakuchaambigai([[Mookambika]])

| facade_direction =
| temple_tank = Kaveri, Karunya and Amirta Theertam
| tower =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Tamil architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator = Chola kingdom
| website =
}}

'''Mahalingeswaraswamy Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur''' is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to the deity [[Shiva]], located in [[Tiruvidaimaruthur]], a village in the [[South India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. It is significant to the Hindu sect of [[Saivism]] as one of the seven major Shiva temples. Shiva is worshiped as Mahalingeswaraswamy, and is represented by the ''[[lingam]]'', with his idol referred to as ''Jyothirmayalingam''. His consort [[Mookambika]] is depicted as Devi Bruhatsundarakuchaambika or Bruhatsundarakuchaambigai amman. The ''lingam'' of the temple is believed to be the focal point for the seven consorts of Shiva. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th-century-CE Tamil Saiva canonical work, the ''[[Tevaram]]'', written by Tamil poet saints known as the [[nayanars]] and classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]''.<ref>{{Cite web
|url= http://www.projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/pdf/pm0162.pdf
|title=Campantar Tevaram -2
|work=Projectmadurai.org
|access-date=16 July 2011
}}</ref> The 9th-century-CE ''Saiva'' saint poet [[Manikkavacakar]] has sung praise about the temple in his works. [[Pattinathar (1936 film)|Pattinattar]], one of the revered saints visited this shrine many times .

There are 149 inscriptions associated with the temple indicating contributions from [[Pandyas]], [[Cholas]], [[Thanjavur Nayaks]] and [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom]]. The oldest parts of the present masonry structure were built during the [[Chola dynasty]] in the 9th century, while later expansions, including the towering [[gopuram]] gatehouses, are attributed to later periods, up to the Thanjavur Nayaks during the 16th century.

The temple complex is one of the largest in the state and it houses four gateway towers known as ''[[gopurams]]''. The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Mahalingeswaraswamy, Bruhatsundarakuchaambika and Mookambigai ( or Devi Mookambika ) being the most prominent. The temple complex houses many halls and three precincts; the most notable is the second precinct built during the [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagar period]] that has many sculptures. The temple has six daily rituals at various times from [[5:30]] a.m. to 10 p.m., and twelve yearly festivals on its calendar. The temple is maintained and administered by [[Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam]], a South Indian monastic institution.

==Legend==
[[File:Tiruvidaimaruthur13.jpg|thumb|Tiruvidaimaruthur temple|250px|left]]
The name "Kumbakonam", roughly translated in English as the "Jug's Corner",<ref name="catholicp710">[[#Herbermann|Herbermann 1934]], p. 710</ref> is believed to be an [[allusion]] to the mythical pot (''[[kumbha]]'') of the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] god [[Brahma]] that contained the seed of all living beings on earth. The ''kumbha'' is believed to have been displaced by a ''[[pralaya]]'' (dissolution of the universe) and ultimately came to rest at the spot where the town of [[Kumbakonam]] now stands.<ref name="chandrasekharendrap73">[[#Sastri|Sastri 1991]], p. 73</ref><ref name="ancienttamilsp88">[[#Pillai|Pillai]], p. 88</ref> The drops of nectar are believed to have fallen onto five shrines around Kumbakonam, namely Mahalingeswarar temple at [[Tiruvidaimarudur]], Tirudharasuram, [[Rahu Stalam|Naganathar Temple]] at [[Tirunageswaram]], Tiruvorgam and Tirupadalavanam.<ref>[[#Dalal|Dalal 2010]], p. 202</ref>

The legend of a [[Chola]] prince who killed a [[Brahmin]] and was in turn, pursued by his spirit (''Brahmarakshas''), is associated with the temple. The Chola prince, it is believed, entered the Mahalingeswarar Temple and prayed to his favourite God, [[Shiva]] for relief from the clutches of the spirit of the dead Brahmin or ''brahmarakshas''. The Chola prince made his way out through another entrance thereby saving himself.<ref name="Ayyar">[[#Ayyar|Ayyar 1991]], p. 299</ref> Some sources associate the legend with [[Pandya]] king [[Varagunapandian]].<ref name="R">[[#R.|R. 2001]], pp. 145-6</ref> It continues till day where people take the second entrance to exit the premises after worship. There is a sculpture of ''Chola brahmaharakshas'' on the eastern premises in one of the inner ''[[gopurams]]'' (tower gateway).

Shiva is believed to have appeared as a flame to please [[Agastya]] and other sages who were performing penance. Shiva (Rudra) is said to have emanated from the heart of Mookambika. It is also believed that several other deities like [[Vinayaga]], [[Murugan]], [[Parvathi]], [[Kali]], [[Lakshmi]], [[Saraswathi]], [[Brahma]], [[Airavata]] (the elephant of celestial king [[Indra]]) and [[Vishnu]] worshipped Mahalingaswamy.<ref name="R"/>

==Etymology ==
[[File:Tiruvidaimarudur 7.JPG|250px|thumb|Image of the second precinct|right]]
Marudur is derived from the name of the holy tree, namely Maruda.<ref name="R"/><ref name="tourist"/> The ''[[Sthala Vriksha]]'' (temple tree) is Maruda.<ref name="R"/> This temple is classified as ''Madhya Arjunam'', called ''Idai Maruthu'' meaning centre Marudur.<ref name="padal"/> The [[Mallikarjuna Swamy|Mallikarjuna swamy temple]] are [[Srisailam]] is called ''Thalai Maruthu'' (meaning top Marudur) and Tirupudaimaruthur temple at [[Ambasamudram]] in [[Tirunelveli district]] is called ''Kadai Maruthu'' (meaning lower Marudur).<ref name="padal"/> Since Shiva raised out as a flame to the sages, the presiding deity is also referred as Jyothirmaya Mahalingam. Historically Shiva was worshipped as Jyothi, the sacred flame and with the course of time, [[Jyotirlinga|Jyothrilinga temples]] were developed. Since the place is full of Maruda tree, Shiva is also referred as Marudavanan. The [[Sanskrit]] word for the Tamil word ''Maruda'' is Arjuna vruksham.<ref name=Om35>[[#Om|Narayanaswamy 1987]], pp. 35-6</ref>

==Inscriptions==
There are a total of 149 inscriptions associated with the temple.<ref name="R"/> According to legend, the site of the temple at Thiruvidaimarudur has been used for over 2,000 years and is associated with the [[Pandya]] king Varaguna Pandian. The temple contains inscriptions of the [[Hoysala]] kings and some [[Vijayanagara]] grants, and many records of the later Nayaks and [[Marathas]].<ref>''Imperial gazetteer of India: Provincial series'', Volume 18, p.137</ref> The inscriptions in the walls of the temple are from [[Kulothunga Chola I]] indicating revenue survey and settlement and other additions made inside the temple.<ref name="Ayyar"/> This inscription (No. 32 of 1895) on the second precinct records a grant of 120 sheep for two lamps and the ''pujaris'' and inhabitants are appointed trustees of the grant. The date is the 172nd day of 26th year of the reign of Kulothunga I, who conquered the [[Kalinga (historical kingdom)|Kalinga]] region. The other inscriptions mention the name of the queen and adore her as the "mistress of the whole world". Three other queens, Dinachintamani, Elisai Vallabhi and Tyagavalli.<ref>[[#Hultzsch|Hultzsch 1899]], pp. 155-156</ref>

The temple is also famous historically for ''[[devadasi]]'' tradition, which involves donating dance women to the temple during the medieval period.<ref name="Ayyar"/> The inscriptions indicate the tradition, dances, rearrangement during festivals and procession of deities during festivals.<ref name="Ayyar"/> The record is dated in the seventh reignal year of [[Vikrama Chola]] (1118-35 CE).<ref>[[#Singh|Singh 1997]], p. 57</ref> There are five inscriptions in this vein from the 10th century and there are three later inscriptions date 1123 CE, 1142 CE and 1218 CE. The possible reasoning for the hundred-year gap indicates the shifting of all temple women to [[Brihadeeswarar temple]] by [[Rajaraja I]].<ref>[[#Orr|Orr 2000]], p. 142</ref> Since the temple received lot of gifts, the Cholas deputed a special army to protect the endowments.<ref>[[#Vasudevan|Vasudevan 2003]], p. 116</ref>

==Architecture==
[[File:Tiruvidaimaruthur11.jpg|thumb|A view of the temple tank|250px|right]]
The temple is located in [[Tiruvidaimaruthur]], a village in the [[South India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]], {{convert|8|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from [[Kumbakonam]] on the Kumbakonam - Mayiladuthurai highway.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Top Ten Temple Towns of India|publisher=Mark Age Publication|first=S.C.|last=Karkar|location=Kolkota|isbn=978-81-87952-12-1|year=2009|page=84}}</ref> The temple has a five-tiered Raja[[gopuram]] and three precincts, each enclosed inside huge walls and having gateway towers for each of them.<ref name="R"/> The temple is rectangular in plan with east–west orientation and has four entrances in each of the four directions. Maha''[[lingam]]'', literally meaning big lingam, is the presiding deity and is considered the centre of all consort deities of Tamil Nadu.<ref name="tourist"/> There are five temple tanks inside the temple, namely Karunyamirdha Theertham, Soma Theertham, Kanaga Theertham, Kalyana Theertham and Iravatha Theertham.<ref name="tourist"/> There are 27 other water bodies that are associated with the temple. There is a separate shrine for Mookambiga and it is built in north Indian style.<ref name="tourist"/> The shrine of Mookambiga is where Parvathi is believed to have performed her penance.<ref name="R"/> There are stone images of [[Pattinathar]] and Bhadragiriyar in the eastern and western gateways of the temple respectively.<ref name="tourist"/> The central shrine of the temple is that of Mahalingaswamy facing East. The shrine of Ambal faces the east and is situated close to the Mookambigai Amman shrine.<ref name="R"/> The temple was widely expanded during the Nayak period in the 16th century with the development of twin Mahalinga and Devi shrines.<ref name="Michell"/> The shrines of [[Muruga]] and [[Nataraja]] are enshrined in the spaces between the pier.<ref name="Michell">[[#Michell|Michell 2005]], pp. 97-99</ref> There are other shrines for Padithurai Vinayagar and Agora Veerabadrar.<ref name="R"/>

The three precincts are called Aswametha Pradakshina, Kodumudi and Pranava. The Vinayagar in the Southern side is called Anda Vinayagar and as per Hindu legend, the Vinayagar ruled the world and hence obtained the name. Pranava precinct has lot of sculptures dating back to the Nayak period of the 16th century. One of the notable among them is the sculpture of a chariot having twelve pillars, each denoting the twelve [[lagna]]s. In the northern portion of Kodumudi precinct, there is an image of Chokkanathar.<ref name=Om37>[[#Om|Narayanaswamy 1987]], p. 37</ref>
[[File:Tiruvidaimaruthur15.jpg|thumb|The second precinct of the temple portraying sculptures|250px|left]]
The piers standing has attached colonettes, lotus beams and suspended beams are atypical of Nayak style though the attached hall and innermost compound are recent additions.<ref name="Michell"/> [[Govinda Dikshitar]], the minister of [[Thanjavur Nayak kingdom#Achuthappa Nayak|Nayak]] is believed to have built the Pushyamantapas (halls) in this temple.<ref>[[#V.|V. 1995]], p. 120</ref> Achyutappa also added gift of a village to the temple, the income of which was to be utilized for the temple car festival for the goddess in Adipuram day.<ref>[[#V.|V. 1995]], p. 53</ref>

[[Thanjavur Marathas]] ruled the region during the 18th century. Pratap Singh (1736–63) was a patron of the temple after his prayer to Mahalingaswamy to marry love was fulfilled. He is believed to have donated one lakh metal lamps to the temple. His concubine Theepanachiar is believed to have personified as one of the lamps. An ornamental metal image of a lady called Pavai Nonbu holding a lamp is still present in temple. The base of the lamp has an inscription indicating the gift of Marathas to the temple.<ref name=Om38>[[#Om1|K. 1987]], pp. 38-9</ref>

In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by [[Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam]], a South Indian monastic institution. A Saiva Siddantha library inside the temple maintains palm leaf manuscripts and Saiva literature.<ref name="tourist"/> The temple is one of the most visited temples in the district.<ref name="TN">{{cite web|title=What to see - Thanjavur district attractions|url=http://www.thanjavur.tn.nic.in/whattoseetou.html|publisher=Thanjavur District Administration|access-date=7 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518021412/http://www.thanjavur.tn.nic.in/whattoseetou.html|archive-date=18 May 2013}}</ref>

==Worship and festivals==
{{multiple image
|align=right
|direction=vertical
|image1=15Tiruvadmarudur Processional Car.jpg
|caption1=Historic image of temple car of the temple
|image2=Tiruvidaimaruthur16.jpg
|caption2=Modern image of temple car of the temple
}}
The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Shaivism|Shaivaite]] community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 6:00 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 8:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 9:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: ''abhisheka'' (sacred bath), ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Mahalingeswarar and Pirguchuntaragujambigai. The worship is held amidst music with ''[[nagaswaram]]'' (pipe instrument) and ''[[tavil]]'' (percussion instrument), religious instructions in the [[Vedas]] read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast. There are weekly rituals like ''{{lang|te-Latn|somavaram}}'' and ''{{lang|te-Latn|sukravaram}}'', fortnightly rituals like ''[[pradosha]]m'' and monthly festivals like ''[[amavasya|amavasai]]'' (new moon day), ''kiruthigai'', ''[[pournami (festival)|pournami]]'' (full moon day) and ''sathurthi''.<ref name="dinamalar"/> The most prominent festival of the temple, [[Thaipoosam]], is celebrated for ten days during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Thai''.<ref name="R"/><ref name="dinamalar"/> The festival deity of Mahalingeswarar and his consort [[Parikrama|circumambulate the temple]] and the streets in the village in different vehicles. The festival ends with ''Theerthavari'' on the last day. During the Tamil month of ''Vaikasi'', Tirukalyanam (sacred marriage), Ambal Tapasu (penance of Ambal), Ambal Thannai thaane festivals are celebrated.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Mahalingam temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=396|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=3 August 2014}}</ref>

==Religious significance==
According to Hindu legend, Mahalingaswamy is the centre of all Shiva temples in the region and the ''Saptha Vigraha moorthis'' (seven prime consorts in all [[Shiva]] temples) are located at seven cardinal points around the temple, located in various parts of the state.<ref name="tourist">[[#tourist|Tourist guide to Tamil Nadu 2007]], p. 53.</ref><ref name=Om34>{{cite journal|title=Jyothirmaya Mahalingam|last=Narayanaswami|journal=Om Sakthi|language=ta|publisher=Om Sakthi Publications|url=http://omsakthionline.com/|date=April 1987|location=Coimbatore|ref=Om|access-date=2 August 2014|archive-date=7 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607053811/http://www.omsakthionline.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The seven deities are [[Nataraja]] in [[Chidambaram Nataraja Temple]] at [[Chidambaram]], [[Satyagireeswarar Temple, Senganur|Chandikeswarar temple at Tirucheingalur]], [[Vinayagar]] in [[Thiruvalanjuli Kabardeeshwarar Temple (Vellai Vinayagar Temple)|Vellai Vinayagar Temple]] at [[Thiruvalanchuzhi]], [[Muruga]] in [[Swamimalai Murugan Temple]] at [[Swamimalai]], [[Bhairava]] in [[Sattainathar Temple, Sirkazhi|Sattainathar Temple]] at [[Sirkali]], [[Navagraha]] in [[Suryanar Kovil|Sooriyanar Temple]] at [[Suryanar Kovil]] and [[Dakshinamoorthy]] in [[Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi]] at [[Alangudi, Papanasam taluk]]. The other deities of a Shiva temple associated with Mahalingeswaraswamy are [[Durga]] in [[Thenupuriswarar Temple]] at [[Patteswaram]], [[Somaskanda]] in [[Thyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur]] at [[Tiruvarur]] and [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] at [[Masilamaniswara Temple, Thiruvaduthurai|Tiruvavaduthurai Temple]] at [[Thiruvaduthurai]].<ref name=Om34/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thiruvidaimarudur.com/Parivaara_Shrines_Temples.php|title = Parivaara Devata's Shrines - Thiruvalanchuzhi, Thiruvoypadi, Swamimalai, Chidambaram, Alangudi, Aduthurai, Sirkazhi, Thiruvavaduthurai, Thiruvarur}}</ref> [[Tiruvaiyaru|Thiruvayyaru]], [[Mayiladuthurai]], [[Thiruvidaimarudur|Thiruvidaimaruthur]], [[Thiruvenkadu]], Chayavanam and [[Srivanchiyam]] are considered equivalents of [[Varanasi|Kasi]]. Like in Kasi, where the city is centered around [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple]], the temples in these towns along the banks of river [[Cauvery]], namely [[Aiyarappar temple]] in Thiruvaiyaru, Mahalingeswarar temple in [[Thiruvidaimarudur]], [[Mayuranathaswami Temple, Mayiladuthurai|Mayuranathaswamy temple]] in [[Mayiladuthurai]], [[Sayavanam Chayavaneswarar Temple|Chayavaneswarar temple]] in Sayavanam, [[Swetharanyeswarar Temple|Swetharanyeswarar temple]] in [[Thiruvenkadu]], [[Vanchinadha Swamy Temple|Srivanchinadhaswamy Koil]] in [[Srivanchiyam]] are the centerpieces of the towns.<ref>{{cite book|title=Temples of Forgotten Glory: A Wide Angle Exposition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ItClDwAAQBAJ&q=aiyarappar+temple&pg=PT172|page=172|first=Sekar|last=Venkatraman|isbn=9781645876250|publisher=Notion Press|year=2019}}</ref> The temple is counted as one of the temples built on the banks of [[River Kaveri]].<ref name=Ka>{{cite book|title=River cauvery the most battl(r)ed|last=Ka. Vi.|first=Kannan|page=35|publisher=Notion Press|year=2019|isbn=9781684666041|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CGFDwAAQBAJ&q=thiruvavaduthurai}}</ref>

The temple is also referred as Pancha Linga stala due to the presence of five lingams, four of which in the cardinal directions and the fifth one at the centre. The temple of Viswanatha lies in the east street, Rishipuriswara in the west, Atmanatha in South street and Chokkanatha in North street.<ref name="R"/>

{| class="toccolours" style="clear:right; float:center; background:#ffffff; margin: 0 0 0.5em 1em; width:220"
|-
!style="background:#A8BDEC;text-align:center;" colspan="3"|[[File:Hinduism symbol.png|25px|Om symbol|left]] '''Sapthavigraha Moorthis''' [[File:Hinduism symbol.png|25px|Om symbol|right]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="3" | ''Saptha Vigraha moorthis'' are the seven prime consorts in all [[Shiva]] temples located at seven cardinal points around the temple
|-
|style="text-align:center;background:#A8BDEC"|'''Deity'''||style="text-align:center;background:#A8BDEC"|'''Temple'''||style="text-align:center;background:#A8BDEC"| '''Location'''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" |Shiva || Mahalingaswamy temple || [[Tiruvidaimarudur]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Durga]]|| [[Thenupuriswarar Temple]] || [[Patteswaram]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Vinayaga]] || [[Thiruvalanjuli Kabardeeshwarar Temple (Vellai Vinayagar Temple)|Vellai Vinayagar Temple]] || [[Thiruvalanchuzhi]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Murugan]] || [[Swamimalai Murugan temple]] || [[Swamimalai]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Nataraja]] || [[Chidambaram Nataraja Temple|Natarajar temple]] || [[Chidambaram]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Dakshinamurthy]]|| [[Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi|Apatsahayesvarar Temple]] || [[Alangudi, Nannilam|Alangudi]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Navagraha]]|| [[Suryanar Kovil]] || [[Suryanar Kovil]]
|-
|}

== Literary mention ==
The temple is revered in the verses of ''Tevaram'', the 7th century saivite canonical work by the three poet saints namely, [[Appar]], [[Sundarar]] and [[Sambandar|Thirugnanasambandhar]]. Appar has glorified the temple in five, Sundarar in one and Thirugnanasambandhar in six verses.<ref name="padal">[[#Senthilkumar|Senthil Kumar]] 2011, pp. 59-60</ref>
Appar refers the temple as Idaimaruthur.

::::"பாச மொன்றில ராய்ப்பல பக்தர்கள்
::::வாச நாண்மலர் கொண்டடி வைகலும்
::::ஈச நென்பெறு மான்இடை மருதினிற்
::::பூச நாம்புகு தும்புன லாடவே"<ref name="appar">[[Appar|Swamigal]], pp. 5.14-5.15</ref>

In another verse, he hails the deity here as
::::மங்கை காணக் கொடார்மண மாலையைக்
::::கங்கை காணக் கொடார்முடிக் கண்ணியை
::::நங்கை மீர் இடைக் மருதரிந் நங்கைக்கே
::::எங்கு வாங்கிக் கொடுத்தார் இதழியே<ref name="appar"/>
translating to
::::"Praise to you father in Idaimaruthur.
:::: Praise to you who carried Ganges river in your plait."<ref>[[#Irainaban|Iraianban 1999]], p. 63</ref>

Appar's verses point out the ''saiva agamas'' practised during the period.
::::"Because of our loneliness it is difficult for us to keep company of with dark ghosts
:::: So my tongue will go on uttering the saiva agamas in the presence of the companion (mind)
:::: to the accompaniment of the unrivalled music of Tiruvidaimaruthur"<ref>[[#Anand|Anand 2004]], p. 48</ref>

Maanickyavasagar praises the deity here as under
::::"You are the Eesan who had blessed Brahman, Vishnu and Indra when they bowed.
:::: You descended on earth and disclosed your perfect ways.
:::: You, in your grace, gave supreme virtues to that good dame of Idaimaruthur that is full of mansions set with good and brightful gems
:::: Our Lords are those who know that grace"<ref>[[#Irainaban|Iraianban 1999]], p. 251</ref>

The temple is also revered in the verses of Karnnantheva, [[Pattinathar]] and [[Manikkavacakar]].<ref name=Ka/>

==Photogallery==
<gallery>
File: Tiruvidaimaruthurtemple1.jpg
File: Tiruvidaimaruthurtemple3.jpg
File: Tiruvidaimaruthurtemple4.jpg
File: Tiruvidaimaruthurtemple2.jpg
File: Tiruvidaimaruthurtemple9.jpg
File: Tiruvidaimaruthurtemple7.jpg
File: Tiruvidaimaruthurtemple6.jpg
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{reflist
| colwidth = 20em
| refs =
}}

==References==
{{refbegin|2}}
* {{cite web|title=Mahalingeswarar temple, Thiruvidaimarudur|url=http://www.shivatemples.com/sofc/sc030.html|publisher=Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu}}
*{{cite book |last=Ayyar |first=P. V. Jagadisa |title=South Indian shrines: illustrated |year=1991 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-206-0151-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&q=tiruvidaimarudur&pg=PA297 |ref=Ayyar }}
* {{cite book|title=The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pNmfdAKFpkQC&q=tirunageswaram&pg=PA202|page=202|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|ref=Dalal|publisher=Penguin Books|year=2010|isbn=9780143415176}}
* {{cite book|page=710|title=The Catholic encyclopedia: an international work of reference on the constitution, doctrine, discipline, and history of the Catholic church, Volume 8|first=Charles George|last=Herbermann|author2=Edward Aloysius Pace |author3=Condé Bénoist Pallen |author4=Thomas Joseph Shahan |author5=John Joseph Wynne |publisher=The Catholic Encyclopedia Inc.|year=1934|ref=Herbermann}}
* {{cite book|title=South-Indian inscriptions New Imperial Series, volume XXIX, South-Indian Inscriptions, Volume 29|first=Eugen|last=Hultzsch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j11BAQAAIAAJ&q=tiruvidaimarudur&pg=PA178|year=1899|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|ref=Hultzsch}}
* {{cite book|title=Om namashivaya|first=Swamiji|last=Iraianban|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rUT3i-bvcsYC&q=idaimaruthur&pg=PA251|year=1999|publisher=Abhinav Publication|isbn=81-7017-373-6|ref=Irainaban}}
* {{cite journal|title=Pavai Nonbu|last=K.|first=Sridaran|journal=Om Sakthi|language=ta|publisher=Om Sakthi Publications|url=http://omsakthionline.com/|date=April 1987|location=Coimbatore|ref=Om|access-date=2 August 2014|archive-date=7 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607053811/http://www.omsakthionline.com/|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite book |last=Michell |first=George |title=Architecture and art of southern India: Vijayanagara and, Volume 1, Issue 6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W6bphUvvPf4C&q=tiruvidaimarudur&pg=PA97 |year=1995 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=New York |isbn=0-521-44110-2 |ref=Michell }}
* {{cite journal|title=Jyothirmaya Mahalingam|last=Narayanaswami|journal=Om Sakthi|language=ta|publisher=Om Sakthi Publications|url=http://omsakthionline.com/|date=April 1987|location=Coimbatore|ref=Om|access-date=2 August 2014|archive-date=7 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607053811/http://www.omsakthionline.com/|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite book|title=Donors, devotees, and daughters of God: temple women in medieval Tamilnadu|first=Leslie C.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F___xKcP8lMC&q=tiruvidaimarudur&pg=PA141|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=0-19-509962-1|last=Orr|date=9 March 2000|ref=Orr}}
*{{cite book |last=Parmeshwaranand |first=Swami |author2=Swami Parmeshwaranand |title=Encyclopaedia of the Śaivism |year=2001 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-7625-427-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_HQvbJDacNDMC |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_HQvbJDacNDMC/page/n54 48] |quote=tiruvidaimarudur. |ref=Paramesh }}
* {{cite book|title=The Chronology of the Early Tamils – Based on the Synchronistic Tables of Their Kings, Chieftains and Poets Appearing in the Sangam Literature|page=88|first= Sivaraja K.N.|last= Pillai|ref=Pillai}}
* {{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmi|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies|location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|ref=R.}}
* {{cite book|title=Paramacharya: life of Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam|last=Sastri |first= Sambamurthy S.|publisher=Jina kalan|ref=Sastri|year=1991}}
*{{cite book |last=Senthilkumar |first=Balaji |title=Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar paadal petra Siva Sthalangal (Siva Sthala Manjari)|year=2011 |publisher=Balaji Printers & Publishers |location=New Delhi |ref=Senthilkumar}}
* {{cite book|last=Singh|first=Nagendra Kr|title=Divine prostitution|year=1997|publisher=A.P.H. Publishing Corporation|location=New Delhi|isbn=81-7024-821-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nYEdPoGAaz0C&q=tiruvidaimarudur&pg=PA81|ref=Singh}}
* {{cite web |url=http://projectmadurai.org/pm_etexts/pdf/pm0186.pdf |title=Tevaram Of Tirunavukkaracu Cuvamikal Tirumurai 5 - 1 Poems(1-509) |last=Swamigal |first=Tirunavukkarasu |publisher=Projectmadurai.org |ref=Appar }}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nGxbJqdEQrwC&q=thiruvidaimarudur&pg=PA71|last=Tourist guide to Tamil Nadu|title=Tourist guide to Tamil Nadu|year=2007|publisher=T. Krishna Press|location=Chennai|isbn=978-81-7478-177-2|ref=tourist}}
* {{cite book|last=V.|first=Vriddhagirisan|title=Nayaks of Tanjore|year=1995|publisher=Asian Educational Services|location=New Delhi|isbn=81-206-0996-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GD_6ka-aYuQC&q=tiruvidaimarudur&pg=PA120|ref=V.}}
*{{cite book|last=Vasudevan|first=Geetha|title=The royal temple of Rajaraja: an instrument of imperial Cola power|year=2003|publisher=Abhinav Publications|location=New Delhi|isbn=81-7017-383-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O1b1N_Dx0jsC&q=tiruvidaimarudur&pg=RA1-PA116|ref=Vasudevan}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mahalingeswarar Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur}}

{{Famous Shiva temples}}
{{Hindu Temples of Kumbakonam}}
{{Tiruvicaippa and Thirupallandu Talangal}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Thanjavur district]]
[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]

Mahalingeswarar Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur - Revision history

AndreaV955081450: started initial biography initial version!