Sri Irumbai Mahakaleshwar Temple (Pondy)

Temple’s Peculiarity:

This ancient Hindu temple is hailed as one of the 275 Thevara pedal petra sthalas, with Lord Siva as the prime effigy. This temple is a hoary one, but now renovated into a stunning abode of the Lord, located at Irumbai village in the vicinity of Auroville International Township.  "Maakalar" rishi by name, during his pilgrimage, installed three lingas named as lord Mahakaleswar. This is one of the three places where Lord Shiva resides as Mahakaleshwar - the first two being at Ujjain in MP and the Ambar-Maakalam near Mayiladuthurai in Tanjavur Dt, Tamil Nadu. There are beautiful paintings on the walls of the temple depicting the story of the temple.

Sthala Puranam:

Two demons securing boons from Lord Shiva wanted to Have Mother Parvathi for them and marry Her. Mother Parvathi incarnated as Maha Kali and destroyed them. For killing them, even Mother was inflicted with the Brahmahatya Dosha and was wandering in this place. She performed penance here for the darshan Lord Shiva and got relieved of the sin. 

Later, a Siddha known as "Kaduveli Siddha" performed severe penance sitting under a peepal tree here.  There was a terrible draught at the time and the people suffered from extreme poverty.  Assuming that rain failed in the place due to saint's penance, the king sent a woman of enticing beauty to spoil the sage's penance.  When the Siddha came to consciousness after having been perturbed, the king told him that he only did it doubting that his penance could have caused the monsoon failure.  On hearing the king, the Siddha stopped his penance, stayed there and was serving Lord Shiva.  The place became prosperous with good rain and crop.

People celebrated on this occasion in praise of the Lord.  The woman who disturbed the penance was dancing before the Lord in procession when her anklet got loose and fell off.  To avoid the merriment of the celebration, Siddha took the anklet and fixed it back on the leg of the Devadasi.  People began to mock at the Siddha blaming him for his strange behaviour.  Angry Siddha sang on the Lord saying that he gave up the penance for the sake of the people who are now misunderstanding him.  The Linga in the temple split into three with remorse.  King fell at the feet of the Siddha and apologized.  Siddha sang again forgiving the king.  The split parts joined again, Lord Shiva appeared and granted salvation to the the Siddha.

Mother Ambica is worshipped as Kuyil Mozhi Nayaki – Ambica with a voice as sweet as that of the nightingale.  She is seated on a Lotus-designed Peettha facing south with features of Mother Mahalakshmi - the Goddess of Wealth.  Ambica was watching the penance of Kaduveli Siddha and was telling the Lord of the greatness of his penance in her sweet voice, hence, the name Kuyil Mozhi Nayaki.  People used to perform abhishek to Ambica with honey and consume it seeking Her blessing for a sweet voice and mastery of fine arts.

Lord Moon-Chandra has His shrine in the praakaara facing west, holding a palm leaf praised as the 'Kaala Chandra'.  Devotees worship him with milk and rice seeking His blessings to shine in education and arts.  All the 9 planets in the Navagraha shrine give darshan with their spouses.  The Sun god sits on Lotus Peettham with His legs crossed along with his spousestwo consorts - Usha and Pradusha on His either laps. This is a rare darshan of the Sun.

Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambu murthy. Shiva lingam in this temple is split into three parts with three faces. All the three faces are covered with a copper plate even during puja. It is said that the three faces represent three Lords - Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara. This form of Lord Shiva is a rarity.

Timings:

This temple is kept open from 6 am to 12 am then from 5 pm to 9 pm.

Travel Mode:

Bus:

Buses from Chennai will travel to Pondicherry. This temple is situated a few kilometers from Pondicherry bus stand; there are local buses to Irumbai.

Train:

One can get down at the Pondicherry railway station from where there are local buses to this temple.

Flight:

The nearest airport is in Chennai.