CHENNAI TEMPLES - Tambaram - Madambakkam

Madambakkam - Dhenubureeswarar Temple

This ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is located in the suburb of Chennai called Madambakkam, near Tambaram.

This temple is over 1000 years old (956-973 AD), which is said to have been built during the reign of Parantaka Chola II or Sundara Chola, father of Rajaraja Chola 1 (who constructed Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur). The temple is believed to be rebuilt of stone during the reign of Kulothunga Chola1.

HISTORY

According to legend, there was a rishi called “Kapila” who was performing penance towards Lord Shiva to attain Mukthi. He had a Shiva Linga for which he was performing pooja everyday. One day during his pooja, he was holding the Shiva Linga on his left hand and started doing Abhishekam with the milk on his right hand. He was caught with a Dhosha as he held the idol on his left hand, which is a sin, result of which he cannot attain Moksha. Because of the Dhosha, he had to take another birth as a cow and live the entire life praying the God, to attain Moksha. He took birth as a cow in a village (Sitreri) and was gazing near a lake in South of India. One day, the master of the cow saw the cow pouring its milk on a small stone buried in the ground. He angrily hit the cow for having wasted its milk. Unable to bear the pain, the cow tapped it’s leg on the ground where it hit the stone. The stone started bleeding. The man got frightened and called all the villagers who dug the ground and saw that it’s a Shiva Linga. The master of the cow prayed the God to forgive him.

Lord Shiva appeared and said that it was his act for the sake of Kapila Rishi, who was born as the cow. Kapila Rishi also apologized to Lord Shiva for having kicked on the head of the Linga. Lord Shiva forgave him and Kapila attained Moksha.

The people went and informed the king who was coming downside of Sitreri. The king arranged to construct a temple for Lord Shiva there and the God was then known as Sitrerinadhar and Goddess, Nampirattiyar.

The place where people met the king downside the lake is today’s Rajakizhpakkam. And the village Sitreri (means small lake) is now called as Madambakkam.

The presiding deity is called Lord Dhenupureeswarar (facing the east) and the Goddess, Dhenukambal. Unlike most temples, where the sanctum is either square or rectangle, this is apsidal in shape which is called as Gaja Brishta Vimana (Shaped like elephant’s back) in Sanskrit. This type of feature is found in few other Chola temples in and around Chennai.

Even today we can see a scar on the Shiva Lingam, caused by the Cow (Kapila) while it kicked the ground because of the pain when it was beaten up by its master.

Lot of contributions have been made to this temple by Vijayanagara rulers. Many sculptures in the walls of this temple, stand testimony to the subsidies given to this temple in the form of lands, livestock, jewels etc.,

There is a large tank adjacent to this temple filled with water. This also serves as water source for the people living around the temple.

Saint Arunagirinathar (15th Century A.D.), has composed a hymn on this temple.

This ancient village, now called Madambakkam, was also known as Ulaguyyavanda Chola Chaturvedimangalam in the past.

Festivals like Pradhosham and Panguni Uthiram are celebrated with pomp here.

Another rare feature of this temple is, it houses Lord Sarabeswarar on one of the pillars in it. Lord Sarabeswarar is another form of Lord Shiva who took form to bring down the anger and furiousness of Lord Narasimha. Lord Sarabeswarar took the form of Yazhi bird with human body and eagle's wings having Godess Durga and Godess Maha Prathyangira Devi each of his wings.

Poojas are performed here to Sri Sarabeswarar on Sundays during Rahu Kalam timings, which attracts hundreds of devotees here.

Both Saiva and Vaishnava sculptures and carvings on the pillars and walls, beautify this temple.

The temple now is under the control of Archeological Society of India.

The temple is situated between Tambaram and Medawakkam near Rajakizhpakkam.

CHENNAI TEMPLES - Tambaram - Nandivaram

Nandivaram Nandeeswarar Temple 

Nandeeswarar temple in Nandivaram, Guduvanchery near Chennai city in India is an ancient temple for Lord Shiva.

Nandivaram is a small settlement in Guduvanchery town. Guduvanchery is located at a distance of around 5 km from Tambaram, Chennai. The main attraction of Nandivaram is the ancient Nandeeswarar temple. The temple is located at a distance of around half a km from Guduvanchery bus stand. 

Nandeeswarar temple is big and should be at least 1000 years old. 

It should have been built during Pallava period. Unfortunately nothing much about the history of this temple is known. In fact, the information about this temple cannot be found in detail anywhere else on the net. The temple still remains unknown not only to most of the people of Chennai, but even to those who live in Guduvanchery.

The main deity of Nandeeswarar temple is Nandeeswarar (a name for Lord Shiva). The idol of Nandeeswarar (Shiv linga) is big and attractive. 

The name of the Goddess is Soundara Nayaki who is present in a standing posture at a separate shrine. There are also other idols in the prakara (corridor surround the main deities) such as Ganesh, Shanmuga, another Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswarar, Surya, Bhairav, and Veerabhadra. There are separate shrines for Lord Ganesha and Lord Subramanya with his consorst Valli and Devasena. 

There is a separate shrine for Navagraha. You can also find the beautiful statue of Maha Vishnu lying separately and an ancient idol of Nandi (bull) near the sthala vruksham (the holy tree of the temple).

As per the legend, Lord Brahma advised to churn the celestial sea to obtain “Amruth” which would help devas to become immortal. Devas, unable to churn the sea alone with Manthara Mountain and vasuki sought the help of Asuras. 

In the beginning, poison came out of the sea. Lord Shiva took the poison himself and saved this universe. At the end of the churning, Danwanthari appeared with Amruth pot in his hand. 

After the brief quarrel with Asuras, devas were able to retrieve the pot and consume the Amruth. The devas started singing, dancing and enjoying after having Amruth, and they totally forgot Lord Shiva due to who they were alive. 

After some time, they realized their mistake and apologized to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva forgave them and danced in the middle of his vahan (vehicle) Nandi’s (bull) horns, and hence he got the name Nandeeswarar.

Even though the temple is old, it should have been rebuilt multiple times as there are no antique signs in the temple except for the idols.

CHENNAI TEMPLES - Tambaram - Kattankulathur

Kattankulathur Sri Kalatheeswarar Temple 

Kattangulathur is a small village on GST Road (the highway connecting Chennai and Trichy) located near Neyveli (outskirts of Chennai). 

The village has a small but ancient unknown temple named Kalatheeswarar temple. 

This temple is considered equivalent to that of Kalahasti Temple and the belief is that it can cure problems caused due to snake (sarpa dosham).

The best way to reach this place is either by taxi or on your own vehicle. The other option is local train. The village is at a distance of 5 km from Tambaram, Chennai. 

Once you enter into the Kattangulathur village from GST Road, you can reach the temple within 300 meters in a lane.

Kalatheeswar (Lord Shiva) is the main deity of the temple. The goddess is Gnanambikai. There are idols of other Gods and Goddesses such as Ganesha, Subramanya with Valli and Devasena, Bhairav, Vishnu, Durga, Chandikeshwara, Brahma, Dakshinamurthy, and others. 

The highlight of the temple is it doesn’t have Navagraha (nine planets). Instead, it has two idols of Raghu and Kethu alone (for those who do not know, Raghu and Kethu are two planets among Navagraha).
 

You should be lucky to find this temple open. The temple remains closed almost for the entire day as hardly anyone visits this temple.