Vijayanatheswarar Temple, Thiruvijayamangai

Vijayanatheswarar Temple is a Shiva temple at Thiruvijayamangai, or Vijayamangai, in Thanjavur district, about 4 km from Thiruppurambiyam and 11 km from Kumbakonam. It was built by the Medieval Cholas in the Chola style of the time. Shiva is worshipped as Vijayanatheswarar and the goddess as Mangalanayaki or Mangalambikai, with lesser shrines to Ganesha, Surya, Chandra and Dakshinamoorthy.

The temple is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, sung by Tirugnanasambandar and Tirunavukkarasar. Its story comes from the Mahabharata: while Arjuna meditated on Shiva for the Pasupata weapon, the demon Mookasura attacked him, and Arjuna and Shiva, disguised as a hunter with Parvati, both shot the demon. In the quarrel over whose arrow had killed him, Arjuna struck Shiva, who, pleased with his strength, revealed himself and granted him the weapon.