Temple Today

          Mailam or Mayilam is located fifteen kilometres from Tindivanam and thirty from Pondicherry. The temple, situated on a small hill, is connected with Bomayapalaiyam village on the Coromandel coast, very near to Pondicherry, where a Veera Saiva mutt is found.

The name bomma or bomme is said to be derived from brāhmana. This was a village donated to brahmans, as is confirmed by the sthala purāna.in which Bomayapalaiyam is also named Brahmapuram.

About Temple :

Thiruvakkarai is a place where one can find shrines of Lord Siva, Lord Vishnu and Goddess Shakti together. The sacred bathing ghat of this place is the Varaaga river.

One can take a Tindivanam-Pondicherry bus, alight at Perumbakkam, and travel south for 7 km to reach this place or board a Villupuram-Pondicherry bus, alight at Thirukanur and travel north for 5 km.

Vakrasooran and Dhunmukhi:

Vakrasooran, a demon, placed Lord Siva in his throat and worshipped him. Impressed by his devotion, Lord Siva appeared before him and granted him his wish - an eternal life. The demon became arrogant and cruel, tortured the Devas and Rishis, who then went to Lord Siva to complain.

Lord Siva then asked Lord Vishnu to kill the demon. Vishnu did so using his Chakraayudha. Vakrasooran's sister Dhunmukhi was equally cruel and it was left to Goddess Parvathi to destroy her. Since Dhunmukhi was carrying a child in her womb, there was a small hitch in killing her.

According to the sastras, it is a sin to kill a pregnant woman or a baby. So, Parvathi tore the demoness' stomach, took the baby out and wore it as her earring (kundalam) on her right ear. Thus, as Vakrakaali, She sits majestically in this sacred spot. Because of Vakrasooran's vatham and Parvathi appearing as Vakrakaali, the place is called Thiruvakkarai