Lord Shiva placed a purse of gold on the peeta through His Ganas

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.

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.

The Vimana above the sanctum is of Dwaidala design.  Sri Vinayaka of the temple is praised as Lord Thunaivandha Ganapathi – 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 Lord’s 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.
http://namasivayavalga.blogspot.com/2013/03/for-wealth-money-prosperity-and.html

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) Moolan’s 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 as Thirumoolar 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 Lord’s 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.

Sri Masilamani Easwarar Temple, Thiruvavaduthurai Aadheenam, Thiruvavaduthurai – 609 803. Nagapattinam dist.

Moolavar: Gomuktheeswarar

Amman: Oppilamulai Nayaki

Thala Virutcham : Padar Arasu

Theertham : Gomukthi, Kaivalya and Padma theerthams

Agamam : Kameekam

Old year : 1000-2000 years old

Historical Name : Nandhi Nagar, Navakoti Chitharpuram

City: Tiruvavaduthurai – (Tiru Avadu Thurai)

District : Nagapattinam

Thirumurai 7.66 திருவாவடுதுறை

பாடல் எண் : 1

மறைய வன்ஒரு மாணிவந் தடைய
வார மாய்அவன் ஆருயிர் நிறுத்தக்
கறைகொள் வேலுடைக் காலனைக் காலாற்
கடந்த காரணங் கண்டுகண் டடியேன்
இறைவன் எம்பெரு மான்என் றெப்போதும்
ஏத்தி ஏத்திநின் றஞ்சலி செய்துன்
அறைகொள் சேவடிக் கன்பொடும் அடைந்தேன்
ஆவ டுதுறை ஆதிஎம் மானே

பாடல் எண் : 2

தெருண்ட வாயிடை நூல்கொண்டு சிலந்தி
சித்திரப் பந்தர் சிக்கென இயற்றச்
சுருண்ட செஞ்சடை யாய்அது தன்னைச்
சோழ னாக்கிய தொடர்ச்சிகண் டடியேன்
புரண்டு வீழ்ந்துநின் பொன்மலர்ப் பாதம்
போற்றி போற்றியென் றன்பொடு புலம்பி
அரண்டென் மேல்வினைக் கஞ்சிவந் தடைந்தேன்
ஆவ டுதுறை ஆதிஎம் மானே

பாடல் எண் : 3

திகழும் மாலவன் ஆயிர மலரால்
ஏத்து வான்ஒரு நீள்மலர் குறையப்
புகழி னால்அவன் கண்ணிடந் திடலும்
புரிந்து சக்கரங் கொடுத்தல்கண் டடியேன்
திகழு நின்திருப் பாதங்கள் பரவித்
தேவ தேவநின் திறம்பல பிதற்றி
அகழும் வல்வினைக் கஞ்சிவந் தடைந்தேன்
ஆவ டுதுறை ஆதிஎம் மானே

பாடல் எண் : 4

வீரத் தால்ஒரு வேடுவ னாகி
விசைத்தொர் கேழலைத் துரந்துசென் றணைந்து
போரைத் தான்விச யன்றனக் கன்பாய்ப்
புரிந்து வான்படை கொடுத்தல்கண் டடியேன்
வாரத் தால்உன நாமங்கள் பரவி
வழிபட் டுன்திற மேநினைந் துருகி
ஆர்வத் தோடும்வந் தடியிணை அடைந்தேன்
ஆவ டுதுறை ஆதிஎம் மானே

பாடல் எண் : 5

ஒக்க முப்புரம் ஓங்கெரி தூவ
உன்னை உன்னிய மூவர்நின் சரணம்
புக்கு மற்றவர் பொன்னுல காளப்
புகழி னால்அருள் ஈந்தமை யறிந்து
மிக்க நின்கழ லேதொழு தரற்றி
வேதி யாஆதி மூர்த்திநின் அரையில்
அக்க ணிந்தஎம் மானுனை யடைந்தேன்
ஆவ டுதுறை ஆதிஎம் மானே

our master who is the origin of all things and who is in Āvaṭutuṟai!
when a brahmin bachelor approached you with love, for protection.
in order to save his precious life.
having understood many times your grace in destroying the god of death who has blood-stained trident.
your slave.
standing by joining both hands and raising them in worship and praising always saying, my father who pervades everything!
our master!
I approached your lotus-feet in which kaḻal and anklets are sounding please admit me to your grace.
see 1st verse.

the spider with clear knowledge.
with the help of the web from its mouth.
spun firmly a beautiful pantal the Lord with curly red caṭai!
having learnt the connection of your grace in causing it to be born as Kōcceṅkaṭcōḻaṉ.
I, your slave.
falling and rolling at your beautiful lotus feet.
and crying out with love, praying Let your beautiful lotus feet protect me always!
being terrified.
I approached you being afraid of the Karmams yet to be done by me please admit me to your grace.

see 1st verse.
Civaṉ superior to other deities!
beautiful mālavaṉ.
who was worshipping you daily with one thousand lotus flowers.
when one long flower was wanting with a resolute mind fit to be praised.
as soon as he laid his eye on your feet scooping it out.
on learning that you gave him a discus, pleased with it.
I, your slave.
praising your shining feet.
prattling your different acts of grace.
being afraid of the irresistible Karmams which make me removed from my position and make me wander, without a permanent footing.
I approached you coming to you as my refuge Please admit me to your grace.

see 1st verse.
assuming the form of a hunter.
approaching Vicayaṉ by chasing a pig, strongly and bravely.
having fought with Vicayaṉ with love towards him.
having learnt that you gave him a superior weapon.
I, your slave.
worshipping you by uttering your many names with devotion.
and my heart melting thinking of the many acts of your grace.
I approached your feet with affection please admit me to your grace

see 1st verse.
when the blazing fire was raging over the three cities at the same time.
the three acurar who fixed their thoughts on you.
when they took refuge in your feet.
knowing that you granted them rule over the heaven in a manner worthy of praise.
crying aloud worshipping your superior feet themselves and nothing else, Civaṉ who chants the vētams.
the god who assumed a form and the origin of the world!
our master who adorned your waist with chank-beads!
I approached you as my refuge please admit me to your grace.