Brahmapureeswarar Temple,
Thenambakkam – History
This
temple is believed to be around 1500 years dated to
Pallava period. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi (20 May 1894 – 8 January
1994), the 68th Jagadguru of the Kanchi
Kamakoti Peetham found this
Pallava era temple in ruins. He took up the renovation activities
and rebuilt this
temple adhering to the Pallava architecture. He chose to live in self-exile
for more than a year in this
place.
He performed penance for about a year inside this temple
in a small room (10 X 10). It is said that he never ventured out from the room.
A small well separated his room with the next room of similar dimension and the
outside world. Indira Gandhi and some foreign delegates visited him only
from the room on the other side of the well.
Indra Gandhi is said to have got the election symbol of
Hand for her Congress only through the blessings of Periyava here. His room had
been converted into a shrine and can be entered separately. His Palanquin and
rope cot can be seen here.
The wooden staircase he used to go on top to see the
Gopurams of Kanchipuram is still present here. The Idol of Chandrasekara
Ganapathy in this
temple is believed to be sculpted by him in a single day. The Temple
activities are taken care of by the Sri Sankara Baktha Jana Sabha trust and
also running a Vedha Padasala.
