It's not everyday you get the chance to see such a quaint and vibrant temple. We were truly blessed. On 12/5/24 after visiting Lalgudi and being blessed with darshan of lord Saptharishishwarar and Srimathy ambal ( https://drlsravi.blogspot.com/2011/12/saptharishishwarar-temple-lalgudi.html?m=1) , we visited the Sankara matam in lalgudi as it was Sankara Jayanthi ( https://drlsravi.blogspot.com/2024/05/kanchi-mutt-lalgudi-ancient-adi.html?m=1) . It was around 12 noon when we bid our good byes and started back . Halfway I got a phone from my cousin asking me to return as the priest of Edayathumangalam had called him and informed temple was open. Our joy was great it's not everyday the lord invites you and is gracious enough to wait for you.
Many famous people hail from this village and still keep in touch with their roots. The trichy E.R.Highschool was founded by sri.Nataraja Iyer from this village
How to Reach:
Edayathumangalam is a tiny village , now a part of Lalgudi about 3 kms away on the banks of the Kollidam. The dry riverbed was a sore sight but when there is flowing water I could imagine the vibrant life around. So travelling via lalgudi towards Kollidam a right turn on the north bank leads you to the temple
Maangalya maharishi who did penance here had immense virtue in his palm. The akshathai blessings he bestowed were precious so all devathas would come with spouses to receive them. We will see invitations of hindu weddings with angels flying around printed on them we believe these angels bestow blessings. These angels get the power and are recharged after they visit Maangalya Maharishi in this temple with their spouses.
Hence first invitation for the wedding is always placed here to invite the Rishi and his Patni to our weddings and he comes with all the devathas at muhurtham time to bless the couple.
Srimathy ambal of Lalgudi saptharishishwara temple was born as the daughter of this rishi in this village and the descendents of that house still send paternal gifts to the goddess during the annual festival.
People pray to this rishi especially uthara star sign for happy early marriage, longevity and happiness. There is a separate statue for him in front of the vinayakar sannidhi. He also has a statue in the lalgudi saptharishishwara temple also.
As you enter the east facing temple we see a huge nandi in front of the sanctum in outer praharam
On the left we find the vinayakar sannidhi with Maangalya rishi in the frontThe Small temple has unique Kosta vigrahas
The sthala vriksham
The main sanctum houses a gigantic Shivalingam corresponding to the Nandi . The lord faces east
(Pic courtesy from internet)The ambal Mangalanayaki is in the same praharam her sannidhi faces south
(Pic courtesy the internet)Contact details:
09843951363.
Sri.srinivasan sivachariyar
(The priest of the temple)