Gangadareswarar Temple, Purasaiwakam – The Temple
This is a big east facing temple built in the typical
South Indian architectural style. It has a beautiful 5-tiered Rajagopuram
(tower), flag staff (Dhwaja Stambha) and Bali Peetha. The idol of Nandi (the
divine bull) can be found facing the sanctum sanctorum similar to any other
South Indian Shiva temple. Presiding Deity is called as Gangadareswarar and is
facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of small Shiva Linga. The wall
surrounding the main shrine has the images of Ganesha, Dhakshinamoorthi,
Vishnu, Brahma and Durga.
The mandapa opposite the main sanctum, from
where you can also see the shrine for Goddess Pankajambal, is very modern.
Apparently, it was constructed in 1964 when the temple was renovated. A rare
stone image here, not usually seen in temples, is of Bhagiratha, a king who
performed penance to Siva for bringing the River Ganga to earth from the
heavens. Adjacent to the sanctum sanctorum, there is another shrine facing the
east direction having Somaskanda idols.
Mother is called as Pankajambal. She is housed in a
separate south facing shrine situated very near to sanctum. The temple also has
another entrance, Bali Peetha and flag staff opposite to the shrine of
Pankajambal. The smaller prakara (corridor) surrounding the shrines of
Gangadareswarar, Somaskanda and Pankajambal have various idols and small
shrines. The idols of Surya and Chandra are found facing the shrine of
Gangadareswarar.
The idols of Nalvar, Nagaraj, Bhagiratha, Kasi Viswanathar,
Veerabhadra, Sekkizhar, Kulachirai Nayanar, Surya, Shanmukha, Durga, Bhairava,
Dakshina Murti, Chandikeshvara and another Bhairava are located in the small
prakara. The small shrines of Maha
Ganapati, Subramanya with his consorts Valli and Devasena, Bala Subramanya, Nataraja
Utsava (bronze) idol with Sivakami, Vaitheeswarar (Shiva Linga) along with
Ganesha, Uchishta Ganapati with Siddhi and Shiva Linga with Manonmani.
The big prakara has the shrine where the bronze idols of
63 Nayanmars are placed. The walls have paintings depicting the stories of Lord
Shiva. These are not old paintings. They are very recent time additions. There
is a tree under which a Shiva Linga named Kurunda Malleswarar and Nandi are
found. It is believed that the great devotee Manikavasagar preached under this
tree. A new attraction is the giant idol of Lord Shiva along with Shiva Linga
and Bhagiratha.
Another surprise for the devotees is a rare shrine of
Satyanarayana in this temple. Bana Linga shrine, Navagraha shrine and Ramalinga
Adigalar idol are also found in the big prakara. Sthala Vriksham is Purasai
Tree (Flame of the Forest). It is said that there are seven tanks in this
temple complex, however only one is seen nowadays.
There are idols kept in this temple belongs
to Thiruvenbakkam, presently called as Poondi Shiva temple. While constructing
the Poondi Reservoir, Presiding Deity Oondreeswarar, Mother Minnoli Ambal,
Vinayagar, Subramaniyar and Bairavar were brought and kept in this temple.
After some years the Idols were installed in this temple itself. After
completion of the Poondi reservoir the present temple at Poondi was
reconstructed and when asked to shift the original Idols, Lord Shiva has
not given permission and stayed here itself. One of the Nandhi’s horn is
in broken condition due to hitting of Sundarar's oontrukol, which can be
seen.
Most of the ancient inscriptions are missing. Only one
Chola inscription remain in the temple. This inscription dates to the 13th
Century CE. It registers a donation made by a man named Neelakankaraiyan to the
temple in Thiruvanmiyur (probably referring to the Marundeeswarar temple). A
few other inscriptions have also been found in this temple and these belong to
the reign of the Vijayanagara emperors. One such inscription can be dated to
the 15th Century CE and perhaps belongs to Deva Raya I or Deva Raya
II. It is written in the Tamil script of Vijayanagara times, but is
unfortunately in a damaged condition, with only some portions readable.
On a stone slab found in this temple is another
inscription belonging to the Vijayanagara times of the 16th century CE. It too
is in Tamil. Unfortunately, this too is slightly damaged. It records that a
person was employed in this temple to light the lamps daily. Another Vijayanagara
inscription of the 16th Century CE found on the north wall of the sanctum
sanctorum (garbha griha) is also in Tamil. This fragmented epigraph
mentions devotees praying at the temple and giving gifts to the shrine.
