Mahalingaswamy Temple - Thiruvidaimarudur (Paadal Petra Sthalam)

Mahalingeswarar temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the town of Thiruvidaimarudur close to Kumbakonam. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams of Saivism. The lingam of the temple acts as the focal point for the seven consorts of lord Shiva. The temple was built during the Chola regime and widely expanded during the Nayak period around the 16th century. This temple is associated with the life of King Varaguna Pandian. The king was once returning to his capital after a hunting trip to nearby forests. It was close sunset time and the king was riding on a horse. He unwittingly killed a brahmin riding over him. Thus, he was afflicted with Brahmahathi dosham (the sin of killing a brahmin) and further was possessed by the spirit of the dead brahmin instantly. The king was an ardent devotee of lord Shiva and wanted to get out of this sin.

One day, Lord Shiva appeared in his dreams and advised him to visit Thiruvidaimarudur. As soon as he entered this place, the spirit occupying him did not have the courage to enter. So, it stayed behind hoping to catch the king once again when he came out of that place. But the king was directed by lord Shiva to exit through another side of the temple and was thus relieved from the Brahmahathi dosham. Even today, the practice of entering the temple through the main entrance and exiting through the west gate is followed by all the visitors. The temple is spread in 20 acres of area with 7 outer walls and towers making it one of the grandest temples of the region. The oldest parts of the present masonry structure were built during the Chola rulers in the 9th century, while later expansions, including the towering gopuram gatehouses, are attributed to later periods up to the Thanjavur Nayaks.