Mathrubootham form of Shiva is associated with Him taking
the form of a Mother. In this form, He is worshipped at the Thayumanavar Temple
located near Trichy in Tamil Nadu. The story of this form of Shiva is
associated with Him coming to the aid of a pregnant woman.
An ardent female devotee of Shiva lived on the banks of
River Kaveri. She used to daily offer prayers to Shiva on a nearby temple atop
a hillock. She was pregnant and the delivery time was nearby when heavy rains
flooded the river. This prevented her mother who was on the other bank of river
from attending on the woman’s delivery.
The delivery time neared and the woman was in intense labor
pain. There was no one to help her. She pleaded Lord Shiva to come to help her.
Suddenly, her mother arrived, did the delivery and went
away.
As the rain subsided, the actual mother of the woman came
and apologized for not making it on time.
Then only did the woman realize that Lord Shiva himself came
in the form of her mother and did the delivery.
The god on the hill temple got the name Mathrubootham who
also became a mother.