Thiruporur Kandhaswamy Temple – History
The
temple is believed to have been built during the Pallava era during the 10th century. Chidambara Swamigal,
believed to be a descendant of the Sangam
age poets, rebuilt the temple during the 17th
century. An effort was made to dig up a room in the temple by
archaeologists during 2013, which yielded only items used during rituals and
not any archaeological artifact. During 2013, as many as 36 acres
(15 ha) belonging to the temple located at Thandalam that was leased earlier, was recovered from the
land grabbers. The recovered land was valued at ₹100 crores.
Thiruporur
Devasthanam preserves Pallava inscriptions from as early as the 10th century as
well as from the period of Vikrama Chola of the 12th century CE. As evidenced
from an inscription found on a stone pillar in this temple, one is inclined to
infer that the temple must have been originally built in the reign of Pallavas
because of the two birudus of atyantakama and Atiranachanda ascribable to
Rajasimha (Narasimha Varma II). Thiruporur flourished in that age but slipped
into oblivion for some time.
During
the middle of the seventeenth century, however, Thiruporur was rediscovered and
renovated by Chidambara Swamigal, who is said to be a descendant of one of the
poets of the Tamil Sangam of Madurai. This place was then a forest of Palmyra
trees. Lord Murugan as Swayambhu Murti lay covered up by an anthill. Chidambara
Swamigal is said to have discovered the image of Skanda in the anthill and
then rebuilt the temple and reinstalled the deity.
When the
Muslim ruler's daughter was afflicted with a form of vertigo, his minister
"the dubash" suggested that the ruler seek the blessings of the
nearby Chidambara Swamy as all other efforts to cure his young daughter had
proved unfruitful. The Muslim ruler accepted the suggestion and prostrated,
along with his daughter before Sri Chidambara Swamy. When Sri Chidambara Swamy
applied the sacred ash to his daughter's body, she was cured instantly. In
modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious
and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamilnadu.