Thoodhuvalai Keerai cure asthma, cold and cough

The temple is praised by the three saints of Saivism-Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar.  This is the 55th Lord Shiva temple on the southern bank of Cauvery praised in hymns.

Mahakalanathar Temple, Thirumakalam, Tiruvarur district.

Mother Kali and Nagarajan the serpent had worshipped Lord in this temple.  The east facing 5 tier Rajagopuram has vast inner space.  On the right are the Alankara Mandapa and the Marudappar shrine on the left.  Mokshalingam, Kali koil, Shivalokanathar shrines, yaga sala are in the prakara.  The second tower is known as Adhikara Nandhi Gopuram.  In the prakara here are the shrines of Lord Vanmeeka Nathar, Somasimarar and his spouse Susheelai, 63 Nayanmars, Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga and Sattanathar at the top of the tower, Mother Mahalakshmi, Eesana (northeast) Jwarahara Lingas, Navagrahas the nine planets, Nataraja hall-Mandap, Sani Bhagwan, Bhairava and Lord Dandapani.

Two demons, Amban and Ambarasuran planned to wed Mother Parvathi.  Knowing their plan, Mother took the form of Kali and destroyed them.  She thus incurred the sin Brahmmahathi dosha.  To relieve Herself from the sin, She installed a Shivalinga here and performed archanas with Vilwa leaves.  As Kali performed Shiva Puaja here, the Lord is known as Makalanathar.

Sage Madanga Maharshi sought child boon from Lord Shiva.  He was blessed with a girl child and was named Rajamadangi.  When She grew, Lord appeared before Her and asked about Her wish.  Rajamadangi said that She wanted to be with Him in Wedding form.  Based on this event, those facing delays in wedding offer two garlands to Mother and then wear one of them on self.

Lord Vinayaka with a human face and Adhi Skanda grace the devotees in the temple.  As Lord Vinayaka came here to take part in the yajna of Somasimarar with a human face, it is said that He had stayed here in the same form.  It is also our belief that 8 serpents are holding the earth, Vasuki one among them.  There is a shrine for Vasuki in the temple.

Lord Makaleswara in the temple is believed to be the authority to decide the longevity of people.  People pray for longevity here and also Lord Shiva in Ujjain and in Irumbai near Villupuram.

Somasimarar, one among the celebrated 63 Nayanmars was residing here with his wife Susheelai.  He wanted to conduct the Soma Yajna and aspired that Lord Shiva Himself should be present in the yaga sala to accept the Havir Baga the fruits of the yajna.  To invite the Lord, it was necessary to secure the help of Saint Sundarar who was suffering from coughing then.  To cure him of the coughing, Nayanar sent herbal leaves called Thoodhuvalai Keerai every day.  Sundarar did not know who sent the medicine to him but his spouse Sangiliar knew the person.  When relieved, Sundarar came to see Somasiar to thank him.

Somasimarar sought the help of Sundarar to get Lord to be present in his Yajna and Sundarar was too happy to take up the mission and secured the consent of Lord.  Lord promised to be present on the Ayilya star day in Vaikasi (May-June).  As Lord Himself would be attending the yajna, Vedic scholars, sages from all corners gathered at the yajna spot.  Lord came there as low caste born with four dogs representing four Vedas and a dead calf.  He was accompanied by Mother Parvathi, Vinayaka and Muruga.  As a Neecha-low born appeared there, all were afraid that there was something seriously wrong in the procedures of Yajna.  Lord Vinayaka appeared in His true form and told Somasimarar that the visitor was no less a person than Lord Shiva Himself.  Somasimarar joy knew bounds.  He did all honours  to Lord Shiva Thyagaraja and offered the Havir Bagha.  Lord left his Neecha form and granted darshan to Somasimarar with Mother Parvathi and made him one among the Nayanmars.

Moolavar : Mahakalanathar, Kalakandeswarar
Amman / Thayar: Bayakshambikai, Acham Thavirtha Nayaki
Thala Virutcham: Marudham, Karungali
Theertham : Mahakala theertham
Old year : 1000-2000 years old
Historical Name : Thiruvambar Makalam
City : Thirumakalam
District : Tiruvarur

Thirumurai 1.83

திருஅம்பர்மாகாளம்

பாடல் எண் : 1

அடையார் புரமூன்று மனல்வாய் விழவெய்து
மடையார் புனலம்பர் மாகா ளம்மேய
விடையார் கொடியெந்தை வெள்ளைப் பிறைசூடும்
சடையான் கழலேத்தச் சாரா வினைதானே.

பாடல் எண் : 2

தேனார் மதமத்தந் திங்கள் புனல்சூடி
வானார் பொழிலம்பர் மாகா ளம்மேய
ஊனார் தலைதன்னிற் பலிகொண் டுழல்வாழ்க்கை
ஆனான் கழலேத்த வல்ல லடையாவே.

பாடல் எண் : 3

திரையார் புனலோடு செல்வ மதிசூடி
விரையார் பொழிலம்பர் மாகா ளம்மேய
நரையார் விடையூரு நம்பான் கழனாளும்
உரையா தவர்கண்மே லொழியா வூனம்மே.

பாடல் எண் : 4

கொந்தண் பொழிற்சோலைக் கோல வரிவண்டு
மந்தம் மலியம்பர் மாகா ளம்மேய
கந்தங் கமழ்கொன்றை கமழ்புன்சடை வைத்த
எந்தை கழலேத்த விடர்வந் தடையாவே.

பாடல் எண் : 5

அணியார் மலைமங்கை யாகம் பாகமாய்
மணியார் புனலம்பர் மாகா ளம்மேய
துணியா ருடையினான் றுதைபொற் கழனாளும்
பணியா தவர்தம்மேற் பறையா பாவம்மே.

பாடல் எண் : 6

பண்டாழ் கடனஞ்சை யுண்டு களிமாந்தி
வண்டார் பொழிலம்பர் மாகா ளம்மேய
விண்டார் புரம்வேவ மேருச் சிலையாகக்
கொண்டான் கழலேத்தக் குறுகா குற்றம்மே.

பாடல் எண் : 7

மிளிரும் மரவோடு வெள்ளைப் பிறைசூடி
வளரும் பொழிலம்பர் மாகா ளம்மேய
கிளரும் சடையண்ணல் கேடில் கழலேத்தத்
தளரும் முறுநோய்கள் சாருந் தவந்தானே.

பாடல் எண் : 8

கொலையார் மழுவோடு கோலச் சிலையேந்தி
மலையார் புனலம்பர் மாகா ளம்மேய
இலையார் திரிசூலப் படையான் கழனாளும்
நிலையா நினைவார்மே னில்லா வினைதானே.

பாடல் எண் : 9

சிறையார் வரிவண்டு தேனுண் டிசைபாட
மறையார் நிறையம்பர் மாகா ளம்மேய
நறையார் மலரானும் மாலும் காண்பொண்ணா
இறையான் கழலேத்த வெய்தும் மின்பம்மே.

பாடல் எண் : 10

மாசூர் வடிவின்னார் மண்டை யுணல்கொள்வார்
கூசா துரைக்குஞ்சொற் கொள்கை குணமல்ல
வாசார் பொழிலம்பர் மாகா ளம்மேய
ஈசா வென்பார்கட் கில்லை யிடர்தானே.

பாடல் எண் : 11

வெரிநீர் கொளவோங்கும் வேணு புரந்தன்னுள்
திருமா மறைஞான சம்பந் தனசேணார்
பெருமான் மலியம்பர் மாகா ளம்பேணி
உருகா வுரைசெய்வா ருயர்வா னடைவாரே.

discharging an arrow to make all the three cities of the enemies to fall into fire.
if people praise the feet of Civaṉ who wears a white crescent on his caṭai, and our father who has a flag of a bull and who dwells in ampar mākaḷan which has sluices for the flow of water.
Karmams will not approach them.

wearing datura flowers of abundant honey, crescent and water.
Civaṉ who dwells in amparmākalam which has tall gardens which seem to touch the sky.
afflictions will not come near any one if he praises the feet of Civaṉ who does not cease from the life of wandering for alms receiving it in a skull which has flesh.

wearing the crescent in a flourishing state with water of roaring waves.
Civaṉ who dwells in ampar mākāḷam which has fragrant gardens.
defect will not cease from those who do not speak daily about the feet of Civaṉ who rides on a white bull

Civaṉ who dwells in Ampar Mākāḷam where there is always balmy southern breeze and beautiful bestles with lines on their bodies in the big and small gardens which blossom flowers in bunches.
if one praise the feet of our father who has a spreading caṭai gold in colour on which the koṉṟai spreads in fragrance.
sufferings will not come here him.

Civaṉ has on his body as a half the daughter of the mountain who is badecked with ornaments.
who is in Ampar Mākāḷam which has deep water resembling sapphire;
sins of those who do not worship the golden feet of Civaṉ which wear tight kaḻal, who wears a loin-cloth torn from a big one, will not vanish.

having consumed the poison which rose in the deep ocean, long ago.
and feeling very happy.
Civaṉ dwells in amparmākāḷam which has fragrant gardens.
faults will not come near one if he praises the feet of Civaṉ who used as a bow the mountain, mēru to burn the cities of the enemies.

Civaṉ wore on his head a white crescent along with a shining cobra.
who dwells in amparmākāḷam which has flourishing gardens.
if one praises the feet which do not know destruction, of the chief who has a shining caṭai the big diseases will become enfealed;
the fruits of penance will reach them.

Civaṉ who is in amparmākāḷam which has water with waves like mountains, holding a beautiful bow with a battle-axe which can be used in killing Karmams will stay with those who meditate upon the feet of Civaṉ who has a trident of three blades, without a wavering mind.
(In this decade there is no reference to Irāvaṇaṉ in the 8th verse, as usual).

Civaṉ who dwells in amparmākālam where brahmins throng and the bees with lines on the wings hum like music having sucked the honey.
pleasure will reach of its own accord, people who praise the feet of Civaṉ who could not be seen by Piramaṉ in the lotus flower having honey, and Māl.

accepting the words of the amaṇar who have dirty bodies and buddhists who eat their food in an earthern vessel resembling in shape the skull, which they talk without any shyness, is not good.
there will be no afflictions to those who praise Civaṉ as the Lord in amparmākāḷam which has fragrant gardens

thinking with esteem Amparmākāḷam of the chief of the celestials, the songs composed by Ñāṉacampantaṉ who has the wealth of knowledge of the Vētam-s, and who is a native of Vēṇupuram which rose above the frightfull deluge which engulfed the world.
those who recite them their hearts softened, will reach the superior heaven.