Friday, September 15, 2017

Marundeeswarar Temple, Thiruvanmiyur – The Temple

Marundeeswarar Temple, Thiruvanmiyur – The Temple
The temple has two entrances, one from East Coast Road and the other from West Tank Street both adorned by 5-tiered gopuram (gateway tower). The Entrance from the West Tank Street has got three gates whereas the entrance from the East Coast Road has only one gate. The temple is facing west with Dwajasthambam, Palipeedam and Nandhi. The temple occupies an area of about 1 acre - numerous images adorn the pillars of the temple, while stucco figures adorn the gopurams. The Samadhi of Sri Pamban Swamigal is about 0.5 Km from this temple.





The main temple consists of two separate spacious chambers, the Thyagaraja Mandapam and Marundeeswarar Mandapam. The mandapam (hall) housing the Somaskanda form of Shiva has 36 massive pillars adorned with carvings. Devasriyan Mandapam inside the temple conducts Shaiva Siddhartha lectures every day between 7 pm and 8.30 pm. The temple has smaller Shrines for GaneshaMurugan, there is a shrine for 3 Ganeshas who control all the time periods. Adjacent to this a Vedagama Pada salai is situated.





Swayambu Linga known as Marundeeswarar with Goddess Thiripura Sundari in separate shrines. The main deity is about 1 foot high and is present in a slightly slanting position in white colour. Only Lord Shiva shrine is facing west in the temple.  Lord is also known as Vanmikanathar, Vedapureeswarar, Amudheeswarar and Paalvanna Nathar. Kamadenu worshipped the lingam here and the foot marks of Kamadenu can be seen at the lingam. Abishek to Lord is performed each day only after Gopuja – Puja to cow. Only milk abishekam is done to moolavar and the rest of the abishekams are for Avudayar only.





Brahma, Durgai, Vishnu, Dhakshinamoorthy and Vinayagar are the Koshta Idols surrounding the sanctum walls. The Vimana (tower above the sanctum sanctorum) of the presiding deity is of Chaturvastam design. Mother is called as Thiripurasundari / Chokka Nayagi / Sundara Nayagi. Mother is in standing posture in a separate temple near the east side entrance facing south. There is no koshta moortham in the niches of Mother temple. Sarabeswarar Sculpture can be found in one of the pillars of the Ambal temple is to be seen. Srichakkram is there in front of Goddess.





Lord Muruga is seen with right leg on peacock and bow in his hand. Arunagirinathar sang Thirupugazh on Murugan of this place. Lord Vinayaka is known as Vigneshwara. Sthala Vriksham, Vanni tree is in the prakara where Lord granted darshan to Sage Agasthya and Sage Valmiki. No Navagrahas are present since the Navagraha worship came into practice only after 10th century during the Chola period.




There are 5 Theerthams – Janma Nasini, Kama Nasini, Papa Nasini, Gyana Dhayini & Moksha Nasini which are from the Jada Mudi of Lord Shiva. Gnanadhyayini is said to have ceased to exist. Kamanasini and Mokshadhayini are in the form of wells. Janmanasini is in the form of the Chitrakulam tank in front of the Eastern tower entrance, while the Papanasini is the massive tank situated a little away from the same tower. 




The temple has smaller Shrines for Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan. Lord Thyagaraja has separate shrine before entering in to Moolavar sannidhi. While entering the Swamy Sannathi from south entrance, adjacent to Thyagarajar shrine one can see straight Lord Natarajar and Sivakami Ambal facing south. Natarajar and Sivakami statues are big and beautiful. Shrines for Vinayagar, Naalvar, Gajalakshmi, Natarajar, Subramaniyar with Arunagirinathar, Shiva Lingams (108), Unnamalai, Arunachaleswarar, Shiva on Rishabha vahanam and 63 Nayanmars Idols are found in the inner prakaram. Shrines for Vinayagar, Sthalavruksham with Nagars and Ambal are found in the outer prakaram.





There is an Idol for Sukravara Amman in the prakaram facing west. Subramaniyar and Vinayagar Sannidhis are facing east at the east side entrance. There is also a 4 pillar mandapam on the left side of the east entrance. Irattai Vinayakar, Office, lecture hall and Goshala are located in the south side wall. Also in this temple are found 108 Shivalingams and five massive Shivalingams representing the elements. On the eastern inner corridor, the Shivalingams of Kedareeswarar, Ramanatheswarar, Sundareswarar, Arunachaleswarar and Jambukeswarar can be seen, all facing west.





The idol of Mahavishnu found on the eastern wall of the sanctum deserve special mention. Between the east side Rajagopurams on the left side there is a theertha Kulam called Chithirai Kulam. Opposite to Chitrakulam, there is cultural hall called Thyagarajar Kalai Arangam. Outside of the temple, by the side of vehicle parking there is an another Thirukulam with Neerazhi mandapam at the centre.