Dakshinapureeswarar Temple, Thalachangadu,
Nagapattinam
Dakshinapureeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated
to Lord Shiva located at Thalachangadu Village in Nagapattinam District of
Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Dakshinapureeswarar and Mother is
called as Akilandeswari. The Temple is situated on the way to Thalachangadu
Sangaranyeswarar Temple, a Devaram Paadal Petra Sthalam. It is believed that
this is one of the Mada temple built by Kochengata Chola.
Legends
Kochengat Chola was a Chola king and one
of the 63 Nayanmars (Saivite saints) of Saivism. He is
believed to have attained spiritual rebirth of a spider that fought with an
elephant in its previous birth over the worship of the Hindu god Shiva. He
had red eyes during birth as he remained in his mother’s womb a little longer.
His mother, looking into the babies red eyes said Kochengkannano (in Tamil Ko=king,
Cheng=red, Kan=eyes), which literally means king with red eyes and hence he was
named Kochengat Cholan. After becoming a king, he followed Saivism and
built 70 Maadakovils, temples with elevated structure where elephants
cannot reach the sanctum, in the Chola empire. It is believed that this is one
of the temple built by him.
History
This Temple was built by Govinda Swamy Pillai in 30 June
1902 and has been renovated by his daughter in law on 01 June 1959 as per the
inscriptions available in the Temple. As per popular belief, this Mada Temple
was built by Kochengata Chola but later it was completely destroyed. The new
Temple was built on the same place where Cholan temple stand at its glorious
time.
The
Temple
Presiding Deity is called as Dakshinapureeswarar and
Mother is called as Akilandeswari. This temple is famous for the god of Saturn
(Saneeswarar) who is facing to the west side. Saturn lies in the north-east
corner of the temple. There are shrines for Vinayaga, Nandhi, Murugan and
Chandikeswarar in the temple premises.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 400 meters from Thalachangadu
Sangaranyeswarar Temple, 2.5 Kms from Karuvi Bus Stop, 4 Kms from Thiruvalampuram,
8 Kms from Poompuhar, 18 Kms from Vaitheeswaran Kovil, 16 Kms from Sirkazhi, 19
Kms from Mayiladuthurai, 23 Kms from Mayiladuthurai Railway Junction, 29 Kms
from Karaikal, 49 Kms from Nagapattinam and 143 Kms from Trichy Airport. The
Temple is situated on the way to Thalachangadu Sangaranyeswarar Temple, a
Devaram Paadal Petra Sthalam. Nearest Railway Station is located at Mayiladuthurai
and Nearest Airport is located at Trichy.
Location
