Thindrivaneshwarar Temple, Tindivanam, Villupuram

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 6^th Thirumurai in 7^th Patikam in 8^th Song and 6^th Thirumurai in 70^th Patikam in 9^th 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.

Location