Our scriptures indicate that there are three significant realms of existence Booloka, Pathalaloka and Sivaloka. Around 15 kms from Mayiladuthurai, there are three temples representing each. Boolokanadhar in Thirumangalam, Naganathaswamy in Poigaikudi and Sivalokanadhar in Mangudi. These temples are located in a triangular fashion and are few kilometers apart. Thirumangalam Boolokanadhar temple representing Booloka, Pogaikudi Naganathaswamy temple representing Pathalaloka while Mangudi Sivalokanadhar temple represents Sivaloka. It is considered very auspicious to have darshan at these three temples during Shivarathiri day and is equivalent to visiting all Shiva temples in all three lokas. It is the path to Mukthi (Sivaloka).
'Mangudi' is a derived form of 'Malgudi' which means Thirumal + Gudi . In Tamizh, Thirumal denotes MahaVishnu and it is believed that Sri Vishnu stopped here along with Sri MahaLakshmi on his way to Thirumanancheri to witness the divine Shiva-Parvati wedding. Such an ancient and divine abode is in ruins now. There is no trace of the Gopuram which once would have been a grand structure. Grabha griha, Artha mandapam, Maha Mandapam and Idai Naazhi are in highly dilapidated state with risk of collapsing anytime. Inside the Garbhagriha, Lord Sivalokanadhar along with Ambigai blesses us in his exuberant form.
May this ancient temple see its glorious days again. Om Namah Shivaya!
The google map location is https://goo.gl/maps/rRvcHy6LrvoTMEw97
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