Brahmapureeswarar Temple,
Thenambakkam – The Temple
This temple is facing towards east. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found facing the sanctum. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Ardha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam. Presiding Deity is called as Brahmapureeswarar / Shivasthaneswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Nardana Ganapathy, Anandha Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbhava, Brahma and Vishnu Durga are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls.
All the idols in Koshta are of recent origin. The idol of Dakshinamoorthy in the Koshta is unique as you can notice a smile on his face. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. The vimana, structure over the sanctum is in the form of Gajabrusta, the shape of an elephant in its sitting posture. Mother is called as Kamakshi. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine.
There is a shrine for Somaganapathy behind the sanctum. This shrine houses a sculpture of Lord Shiva, Parvathy and Lord Ganesha in Mother Parvathy lap. Usually in south Indian temples, it would always be Lord Murugan in Mother Parvathy lap. This depiction is famously called as Somaskanda. There is a stucco image of Veda Vyasa and Adhi Sankara on the wall behind the sanctum.
Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi (20 May 1894 – 8 January 1994), the 68th Jagadguru of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, stayed here for long time. 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.
There is a shrine for Chandrasekara Ganapathy in the temple premises. It is believed that the idol was sculpted in a single day by Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi, the 68th Jagadguru of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. There are shrines for Murugan, Navagrahas, Bairavar, Karya Siddhi Vinayaga and Swaminatha Swamy in the temple premises. Naga Idols can be seen under a Peepal tree.
The temple has a beautiful garden and Veda Pada Shala. Theertham associated with this temple is Brahma Theertham. The water from the Theertham is used in performing ablutions to Lord Shiva. Hence, people are not allowed to step into the temple pond. Sthala Vriksham is Vilwa tree.
