Dharmeshvarar Temple, Manimangalam, Kanchipuram
Dharmeshvarar
Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located at Manimangalam Village in
Kanchipuram District of Tamilnadu. Manimangalam is located 20 kms to the east
of Sriperumpudur. This is an Archeological Society of India (ASI) maintained
temple and so, like other ASI maintained temples, this is also nicely fenced
and landscaped. The temple is very beautiful and is present in a nice
environment with a mammoth Peepal tree in the huge open space in front. This
was built by Kulothunga Chola.
Manimangalam
is about 10 kms to the west of Tambaram and 20 km to the east of Sriperumpudur.
From Tambaram, it can be reached through Mudichur. Like Somangalam,
Manimangalam was also a Chaturvedimangalam, a village donated by the Kings to
the pundits of the four vedas to conduct Yagnas and poojas regularly. Presiding
Deity is known as Sri Dharmeswarar. The Goddess here is Sri Vedhambikai.
According
to the inscriptions, this temple is said to have got constructed by Chozhas.
This temple has mentions in the inscriptions as Grama Sikhamani Chaturvedhi
Mangalam, belonging to Kunrathur Naadu, a division of Puliyur Kottam in the district of
Jayamkonda Chozha Mandalam. This Shiva temple is on the east side of the
village and under the control of Archeological survey of India with fence
around the temple complex.
History
The
earliest references to Manimangalam are in relation to a battle fought between the Western
Chalukya ruler Pulikesin
II and the Pallava King Narasimhavarman
I. This fact is mentioned in the copper plates discovered
at Kooram. Kalki has written about the Manimangalam battle in Sivagamiyin
Sabatham. He describes how Mahendra Varma Pallava was injured in the battle at
Manimangalam, and how his son Narasimha Varma Pallava and his trusted
lieutenant Paranjothi vanquished Pulikesin's army.
The
Temple
Manimangalam
has an ancient temple for Lord Shiva called Dharmeswarar. The Goddess here is
Sri Vedhambikai. According to the inscriptions, this temple is said to have got
constructed by Chozhas. Chozhas, Pandyas and Vijayanagara Kings had contributed
for the construction of this temple. The main shrine was constructed by Chozhas
with Gajapristha vimanam and front mandapam was built by Vijayanagara Kings and
Ambal Sannadhi was built by Pandyas. There is no Rajagopuram, Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam and
Nandhi originally. The Nandhi and Balipeedam are erected in the outer at a very
latter stage in front of Ambal temple.
Ambal is
in a separate Sannadhi without Gopuram. Looks with a childish face. It is
believed that Ambal is very powerful. The temple is facing east with sanctum
and mandapam and constructed like a mada koil. At the entrance
Ganapathy and Subramaniyar are facing each other. In the outer prakaram Sannadhi
for Vinayagar, Bairavar and Saneeswarar are located. In the mandapam Sannadhi
for Chandran, Suryan, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Navagrahas
are located.
In
Koshtam Vinayagar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai are located. Sandikeswarar
looks cute with Jadamudi without mazhu in hand and posture is little
different from other Sandikeswarar. Moolavar is little tall. The temple is
built on a very vast space amidst greenish paddy fields. A beautiful Peepal
tree welcomes you as you enter the gates of the temple. This temple is
maintained by Archeological Society of India and protected properly. The looks
and the structure itself show the antiquity of the temple.
There is
a small Mandapam outside the sanctum. Sri Vinayagar and Sri Subramanyar are
seen on either sides of the entrance of the sanctum. The main deity, Sri
Dharmeswarar is seen facing east. One can feel the divinity in this calm and
cool ambience with the view of the Lord in natural light and the light from the
temple lamps. There is a small Nandhi facing the Lord in the sanctum, from this
Mandapam. There’s another small gated portion facing south, which is empty.
There had been a beautiful Sri Natarajar here in ancient days and some
miscreants had stolen the deity.
While
local people chased them, it is said that the miscreants had thrown Sri
Natarajar in the nearby pond and ran off, in which Sri Natarajar’s idol was
damaged. In the inner prakaram, Sri Vinayagar is found at the South western
corner, under a tree in good shadow. Along the walls of the prakaram, Sri
Vinayagar and Sri Dhakshinamurthy are seen facing south. Lord Sri Mahavishnu is
facing the west from the walls of the prakaram. Lord Sri Brahma, Sri Sandikeswarar
and Sri Durgai are seen on the Northern side of the prakaram.
A
window, beautifully carved window with 12 openings is found on the eastern side
wall of the prakaram. The Vimaanam is built of Gajabrushta shape called
Thoonganai Maadam (தூங்கானை
மாடம்) in Thamizh. Unusually Nandhi and Bali Peetam are
present outside the inner Prahara wall. Nandhi was looking at the Prahara wall
without even a window in the compound wall.
There is a small mandapam in front
of the sanctum sanctorum with some nice sculptures. Ganesha is sitting under
the Sthala Vriksham. The Koshta gods are beautifully done. This temple was also
built by the same Kulothunga king who built the Somangalam temple and so this
also has the Gajaprashta Vimanam.
Shiva is
present in the sanctum sanctorum as Dharmeswarar in linga form with Ambal in a
separate shrine. One is assured of immense satisfaction and peace with the
serene atmosphere of the temple and the village. The whole temple is built on
stone with wonderful architecture. Even the steps to reach the Mandapam outside
the sanctum is done beautifully, but damaged in few places. There are many
dilapidated idols of Parivaara moorthies and Shiva Lingam kept safely in the
inner prakaram.
One can
notice many inscriptions along the walls of the temple. There is a separate
shrine for Goddess Vedhambikai at the outer prakaram, facing south. Goddess is
beautifully dressed and is so gracefully in blessing posture like a Mother
blessing her children. The temple pond is found adjacent to the temple, without
any steps or bathing Ghats to it. The Nandi statue opposite to the sanctum of
Lord Siva is sculpted artistically and installed. A strike on it releases the
sound of bronze.
Another
rarity of Manimangalam is one can find many Vinayagar temples in this village,
be it small or big. And all the Vinayagar have elephant as their Vahana
(Carrier) and not the Mooshikha (mouse). Manimangalam also has another ancient
temple for Lord Shiva called Sri
Kailaasanaathar, which again is an
ancient one and needs attention.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 8.00 am to 10.00 am and from 5.00 pm to night 9’o clock.
Festivals
Festivals, like Maha Shivarathri, Aadi Pooram, Navarathri, Pradosham
and Karthigai Dheepam are celebrated well in this temple, with much effort of the
priests. People from various parts of the city visit this temple very often but
unfortunately, not the local villagers.
Contact
Dharmeswarar
Temple,
Manimangalam
– 601 301
Kanchipuram
District
Phone: +91- 44 - 2717
8157
Mobile: +91 - 98400 24594
/ 9345960180
Connectivity
Dharmeswarar
Temple is a Hindu temple located at Manimangalam, near Tambaram, a suburb of Chennai. Manimangalam is about 32 km to the east of
Kanchipuram. The temple is about 12 kms from Tambaram on the Mudichur road and
5 kms from Vandalur on the Sriperumpudur highway. One can take the Tambaram - Sriperumpudur
bus (route numbers: 55N, 555, M 52H, M80, 583C, 583D) to reach the temple.
Nearest Railway Station is located at Tambaram and Nearest Airport is located
at Chennai.
