Manachanallur Bhoominathar Temple - Vastu Temple

Welcome to Bhoominathar Temple, a Hindu temple located in the village of Manachanallur, just 15 kilometers away from Trichy in Tamil Nadu. This sacred site is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is renowned for its significance in Vastu Shastra. Let's delve into the details of this fascinating temple.

Highlights:

• God - Bhoominathar
• Goddess - Dharmasamvardini
• Special temple for Vastu Shastra

Legend:

According to an ancient legend, a troubled King sought help when he encountered various problems in his palace, which were attributed to Vastu flaws. A sage advised him to worship Lord Shiva, and in accordance, the King installed the Shiv Linga in this temple, naming it Bhoominathar. By regularly performing poojas to the Linga, the King's issues were resolved. Since then, the presiding deity of this temple is believed to have the power to mitigate Vastu-related problems. Even today, devotees facing land or house-related issues visit the temple in large numbers, seeking its divine assistance.

History:

The temple appears to date back to the later Chola period, although most of the icons, except for the Dwarapalas (gatekeepers), seem to be of a later period. There might not be any inscriptions found within the temple premises. Due to its strong Vastu belief and the influx of numerous devotees, the temple has witnessed a plethora of religious activities, which, unfortunately, have caused some loss to its heritage value.

Temple Layout:

The temple faces east and boasts an impressive tower. One can find Kodi Mara Vinayaka near the wooden flagstaff, and Nandi faces the sanctum.

Inside the east-facing sanctum, a small Shiv Linga named Bhoominathar is enshrined. Additionally, the Goddess Dharma Samvardini has her own separate south-facing shrine.

Two majestic Dwarapala images guard the sanctum entrance, accompanied by icons of Ganesha and Subramanya.

The sanctum is surrounded by Koshta images of Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Lingodbhava, Brahma, and Durga. Niche images of Ichcha Shakti, Kriya Shakti, and Gnana Shakti are present around the Goddess's shrine.

Within the prakara (outer courtyard), you can find sub-shrines dedicated to Ganesha, Subramanya-Valli-Devasena, Gaja Lakshmi, Vishwanathar, Vishalakshi, Chandikeshwara, and Chandikeshwari.

Facing towards the sanctum, icons of Surya, Chandra, and Bhairava grace the temple premises, along with Nalvar and Sapta Matas.

In the Navagraha (nine planetary deities) section, only Surya is present with his consorts, while the other eight Grahas face towards him, with Surya at the center.

Outside the main temple, a small shrine of Mannai Mahashakti Mari Amman awaits devotees.

To reach Bhoominathar Temple, it is well connected by road from Karur and Trichy, and public transport facilities are available. For accommodation, you can stay in either Trichy or Karur, both easily accessible from the temple site. While exploring this sacred place, you can also savor the local delicacies by visiting restaurants in Trichy or Karur.

Happy travelling.