Thindrivaneshwarar Temple,
Tindivanam, Villupuram
Thindrivaneshwarar Temple is a
Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Tindivanam Town in Villupuram
District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Thindrivaneshwarar and
Mother is called as Maragathavalli / Maragathambal. The Temple is considered as
Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about this Temple.
Legends
Thindrivaneshwarar:
Tindivanam was initially known
as Tinthrivanam (Jungle of Tamarind) where Tinthiri means tamarind and Vanam
means Jungle in Tamil. Linga was found under Tamarind Tree. Hence the Lord of
this Temple came to be called as Thindrivaneshwarar.
Thindeeswaram:
The place where Thindi
worshipped Lord Shiva is called Thindeeswaram (Tindivanam) and the place where
Mundi worshipped the Lord is called Mundeeswaram.
Veda Vyasa had built the Rajagopuram of this Temple:
It is believed that Veda Vyasa had
built the Rajagopuram of this Temple
People worshipped Lord Shiva here:
Sages Valmiki, Vyasa,
Dwarapalakas (securities) of Lord Shiva Thindi and Mundi, Killi, Killali worshipped
Lord Shiva of this Temple.
History
The temple was probably built by
the Cholas. The place has also been visited by the Nalvars (Appar, Sundarar, Manikkavasakar
and Thirugnana Sambandar) and Saint Arunagirinathar as per local history. The
temple has been called as Oyma Nattu Thindeeswaram as per the inscriptions in
the Temple.
The Temple
The Temple is facing east with 6
tiered Rajagopuram. The Temple has granite construction in bottom portion while
the top portion are made of bricks. Dhwajastambha and Nandi can be found facing
the sanctum. The temple is having two prakarams. Presiding Deity is called as Thindrivaneshwarar.
Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.
He is facing east.
Selva Ganapathy, Dakshina
Moorthy, Vishnu and Durga are the Koshta Idols located around the sanctum
walls. Chandikeswarar can be found in his usual location. Mother is called as Maragathavalli
/ Maragathambal. She is housed in a separate east facing shrine. Her Shrine is situated to the left of the sanctum.
The Bhairavar and Suryan flank the inside entrance of the Gopuram.
There are murals of Prahalada
and the Surutapalli temple painted on the wall. The outer prakaram has shrines
of Vinayaka, Murugan, Anjaneyar and Navagraha. The temple contains Pancha Lingams
(Five Lingams). They are Baktha Prahaladeswarar, Gyanapureeswarar,
Karakandeswarar, Swaymbhu Moolanathar and presiding deity Thindrivaneshwarar. Sthala
Vriksham is Tamarind tree.
Literary Mention
The Temple is considered as
Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar had a mention about this
Temple. The Temple is mentioned in 6th Thirumurai in 7th
Patikam in 8th Song and 6th Thirumurai in 70th
Patikam in 9th Song.
6-7-8:
தெள்ளும் புனற்கெடில வீரட்டமுந்
திண்டீச் சரமுந் திருப்புகலூர்
எள்ளும் படையான் இடைத்தானமும்
ஏயீச் சரமுநல் லேமங்கூடல்
கொள்ளு மிலயத்தார் கோடிகாவுங்
குரங்கணில் முட்டமுங் குறும்பலாவுங்
கள்ளருந்தத் தெள்ளியா ருள்கியேத்துங்
காரோணந் தம்முடைய காப்புக்களே
6-70-9:
திண்டீச்சரஞ் சேய்ஞலூர் செம்பொன் பள்ளி
தேவூர் சிரபுரஞ்சிற் றேமஞ் சேறை
கொண்டீச்சரங் கூந்தலூர் கூழையூர் கூடல்
குருகாவூர் வெள்ளடை குமரி கொங்கு
அண்டர் தொழுமதிகை வீரட் டானம்
ஐயா றசோகந்தி ஆமாத் தூருங்
கண்டியூர் வீரட்டங் கருகா வூருங்
கயிலாய நாதனையே காண லாமே
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 1
Km from Tindivanam Railway Station, 2 Kms from Tindivanam Bus Stand, 39 Kms
from Puducherry Airport, 40 Kms from Puducherry, 46 Kms from Viluppuram, 105
Kms from Chennai Airport and 139 Kms from Chennai. Tindivanam is situated on
National Highways NH-45 connecting Chennai and Trichy. Tindivanam is situated at
the junction of roads going to Trichy, Pondicherry, Thiruvannamalai, Kanchipuram, Viluppuram,
Thellar, Marakkanam and Chennai.
While proceeding from Chennai to
Trichy when you reach Tindivanam bypass the road will have three exits. Take
the far right one and proceed for 4 Kms into the town. The temple is seen on
your right. Buses from Chennai to Southern part of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry,
Trichy, Salem and Villupuram on NH 45 stops at Tindivanam. Nearest Railway
Station is located at Tindivanam. Nearest Airports are located at Puducherry
and Chennai.
