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 Ganesha, Murugan, 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.
