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Monday, February 22, 2021

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Thenambakkam – History

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.