Vijayamangai Temple

There are twoprakarams here, and the Amman Temple is in the external Prakaram. Pralayamkaatta Vinayakar embellishes the inner prakaram as in Tiruppurampayam nearby. There are numerouswritings from the Imperial Chola period in this temple. There is yet another Vijayamangai on the southern banks of the Kollidam river, enshrining Vijayanathar, Mangainayaki, Visalakshi, and Viswanathar. There are murals of Natarajar, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma Vishnu, Vinayakar, Subramanian, Shiva and Parvati and the Tevara Moovar and Manikkavacakar in the Mahamandapam.

About this Vijayamangai Temple Arujnua anticipatedgetting the Pasupatha missile to defeat the Kurukshetra war.  Lord Krishna told him that though he got many weapons with the blessings of his father Indira, for Pasupatha he had to charm to Lord Shiva only.   Arjuna came to this place and implementedpropitiation on Lord Shiva.  Duryodhana directed the demon Mookasura to spoil the penance and execute Arjuna.  Lord Shiva appeared at the spot as a predator with Mother Parvathi followed by four dogs signifying the four Vedas.  Lord shot an arrow on the Mookasura pig and killed it while simultaneously Arjuna too hit the pig with his arrow.  An argument arose between and Hunter Lord and Arjuna as to whose arrow hit the animal first.  War of words between the two ended in a true fight.  Lord broke Arujuna’s arrow.  Exasperated Arjuna hit the Lord with the broken arrow, and all felt the impact of the blow in the three worlds.  Lord appeared before him with Mother Parvathi in His true form and blessed him with the Pasupatha armament.

The mark on the Linga is still noticeable on the Linga.  As Arjuna-Vijaya performed atonement here, the place was named Tiru Vijaya Mangai.  Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthi.  The scab caused by Arjuna is still visible on the Shiva Linga

According to the Indian epic Mahabharata, Arjuna wanted to get the Pasupatha missile to conquer the Kurukya war. Lord Krishna told him that though he had obtained many weapons with the blessings of his father Indira, he had to approach only Lord Shiva for Pasupatha. Arjuna came to this place and performed penance on Lord Shiva. Dhuryodhana sent the demon Mookasura to spoil the penance and kill Arjuna. Lord Shiva appeared on the spot as a hunter with mother Parvathi followed by four dogs representing the four Vedas. The Lord shot an arrow at the pig Mookasura and killed him while Arjuna also hit the pig with his arrow.

There was an argument between the Hunter Lord and Arjuna as to whose arrow hit the animal first. The war of words between the two ended in an actual fight. The Lord broke Arjuna’s arrow. Exasperated, Arjuna struck the Lord with a broken arrow and the impact of the blow was felt by everyone in the three worlds. The Lord appeared before him with Mother Parvathi in his true form and blessed him with the Pasupatha weapon.

The scar on Linga is still visible on Linga. When Arjuna-Vijaya performed penance here, the place was named Tiru Vijaya Mangai. Lord Shiva in the temple is Swayambumurthy. The scar caused by Arjuna is still visible on the Shiva Linga.

The yearly Bhramotsavam falls in the month of Chittirai where the commemoration deities are taken out in decorated vahanams.

Masi Maha Shivratri is grandly celebrated in the Vijayamangai Temple in February-March.

In This Vijayamangai Temple Presiding deity Lord Shiva is facing east.  Mother Mangalambikai is facing south.  There are shrines of Lords Nandana Vinayaka, Anugraha Dakshinamurthy, Sun, and Moon.

Vijayamangai Temple is open from 8.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.

10°59’33″N   79°18’16″E

Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu