Mahakumbabishekam of Sundarambigai Samedha Vaidyanathaswamy Temple at Thirumazhapadi in this district will be held on February 8 between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Renovation taken up at a cost of Rs. 36 lakh has been completed. Nine copper kalasams for installation at the Rajagopuram with seven tiers at the entrance of the temple are ready and will be installed soon. Besides, the temple has another Rajagopuram of seven tiers next to the main one and seven copper kalasams will be installed in this tower. There are 13 vimanas, including the ones for Adhikara Nandhi, Surya (Sun), Chandran (Moon), Subramanyar, Vinayagar, and Agoraveerabhadrar. Copper kalasams, one for each vimana, will be installed. Yagasala pujas start on February 5 and will continue till the morning on February 8. There will be nine yaga kundams for the Lord Vaidyanathaswamy and another nine for Goddesses Sundarambigai and Balambigai. Another 18 yaga kundams will be for Parihara devathas. Forty four Sivacharyas will perform the yagasala pujas.
Located on the northern bank of the Kollidam, the temple is facing east.
The main deity of the temple is Vaidyanathaswamy and his two consorts are Sundarambigai and Balambigai. There are separate sannidhis for the two consorts. Legend has it that Vaidyanathaswamy performed dance with “Mazhu” (an axe like weapon) in his hand on “Vaikasi Visakam” for Markandeya, a saint. Thus, the name “Mazhuvadi” formed the basis for the name “Thirumazhapadi.” It is said that the Lord took avatar by breaking open the earth for the sake of “Purushamirugam” — a Siva bhaktha.
A unique function in the temple is the marriage for Nandhi (Nandhikeswarar) with Suyamprabadevi in “Panguni Punarpoosam.” Nayanmars Appar, Sundarar, and Sambandar have sung in praise of Vaidyanathaswamy. Palmyrah is the sthalavirutcham and there are two theerthams — Lakkumi theertham (opposite to Amman temple) and Sivagangai theertham in the Kollidam.
The temple has beautiful sculptures of Somaskandar, made of one stone, Dakshinamurthy on Rishapa Vahana, Gajasamharamurthy, Prushumirugam - a Siva bhaktha worshipping the Lord, Madhurupagan.
