Mahendra Mangalam, Tiruchi district, is a 1,500-year old temple for Siva. Built by the Maratha rulers, it was affected during the Muslim invasion.
Inscriptions on stone and copper vouch for these facts. Now in a dilapidated condition, the deities - Sri Chandramouliswara and Sri Tripurasundari – have been placed under a thatched roof for worship.
Mahendra Mangalam gets its eminence from the fact that Paramacharya, in his childhood (1908-12), stayed here to learn the Vedas (the place is well-maintained). Again as head of the Kamakoti Peetam he chose this charming village, through which flows the Cauvery and where an agraharam existed, to observe Chatur Masya vrata for three years (the present Acharyas wish to revive the practice when the temple is restored). And this is where he started his padhayatra.
He also had the image of Adi Sankara installed on the banks of the river. An idol of Paramacharya has been installed here now.
Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati's jayanti is celebrated with Veda parayanam and free eye camps in this village, located on the Thottiyam-Musiri route.
It has been planned to construct the temple with Rajagopuram.
For details contact Subramanya Sastrigal (09282161971), Ramamurthi Sastrigal (9976611657) and Krishnamurthi (04326254615).
