Thadagapureeswarar Temple,
Madam, Thiruvannamalai
Thadagapureeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva located in Madam Village
in Chetpet Taluk in Thiruvannamalai
District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Thadagapureeswarar and Mother is called as Brihannayagi. The
Temple is situated close to Thirumalpadi
Ranganathar Temple.
Legends
Thadagapureeswarar:
It was believed the Linga was
found while digging the land for the pond. Hence, the Lord came to be called as
Thadagapureeswarar (as he was found in Thadagam – Pond in Tamil).
Madam:
A Madam was constructed in this
Village for the benefit of Shaiva devotees, Siddhars and Sages, who were on
pilgrimage to Thiruvannamalai. Later, Madam itself became the name of this
Village.
History
The Temple was built by
Kulothunga Chola - I (1070 – 1122 AD). Vikrama Chola, Rajaraja Chola
II, Sundara Pandyan, Veerapandya Jadavarman, Sambuvarayars and Vijayanagara
Kings had done renovations to this Temple. The Village was called as Jayamkonda
Chozha Mandalathu Palkundrak Kottathu Thennatrur during Chola period.
Kulothunga Chola I also digged the Temple pond and created a Nandavanam in
addition to the Temple. Vikrama Chola donated the nearby villages of Mazhaiyur
and Kothandapuram for conducting Temple festivals. Sundara Pandyan donated the
village of Aaliyur and Kampanna Udayar of Vijayanagara Kingdom donated the
village of Enthal for the maintenance of the Temple.
The
Temple
This is a south facing Temple
with five-tiered Rajagopuram. The Temple has two prakarams. Nandi, Balipeedam
and Dwajastambam can be found facing the sanctum. The Sanctum Sanctorum
consists of Artha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam and Sanctum. Presiding Deity is
called as Thadagapureeswarar /
Agneeswaramudaiyar / Srikulanthai Andar and is facing south.
Nardana Ganapathy, Vishnu,
Brahma, Veena Dakshinamoorthy and Vishnu Durga are the Koshta idols located
around the sanctum walls. Mother is called as Brihannayagi / Periya Nayagi. She
is housed in a separate east facing shrine. She is in standing posture. She is
holding lotus in one hand and showing Abhaya and Varada Hastha in other hand.
Vasantha Mandapam can be seen
immediately after the entrance. This Mandapam consists of 88 pillars. Lord and
Mother graces the devotees during festival time in this Mandapam. There is a
small shrine for Nataraja can be found in the Temple premises. Idols of
Varasiddhi Vinayagar and Murugan can be found in the Artha Mandapam. Lord
Murugan of this Temple is having 6 faces and 12 hands. He is gracing the
devotees along with his consorts Valli and Deivanai.
A newly built Navagraha Shrine
can be found in the Temple premises. There are about 34 inscriptions in the
Temple. Idols and Shrines of Karakandeswarar, Ulaganathar, Vilvanathar, 108
Lingams, Sahasra Lingam, Saptha Mathas, Sambandar, Kamakshi, Siva Surya, a
Swayambhu Linga can be found in the Temple premises.
Festivals
5 Days Masi Magam, Navaratri,
Pournami, Amavasya and Monthly Pradoshams are celebrated here.
Contact
Thadagapureeswarar
Temple,
Madam,
Chetpet Taluk,
Thiruvannamalai
District – 604 502
Mobile: +91 99422 64556 / 94431 31119 / 93448 71762
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 17 Kms from Chetpet, 17 Kms from Chetpet Bus Stand, 17
Kms from Thellar, 23 Kms from Vandavasi, 41 Kms from Arani, 43 Kms from Polur
Railway Station, 46 Kms from Tindivanam Railway Station, 63 Kms from Thiruvannamalai
and 119 Kms from Chennai Airport. The Temple is situated on Chetpet to
Vandavasi Route. Take a branch road from Enthal Cross Road towards Madam
Village for about 5 Kms to reach this Temple. Bus facilities are available from
Arani, Chetpet and Vandavasi.
Location