Thonda Nadu Temple. 25 Thiruvanmiyur

SIVAYA NAMA

 

 

 

THIRUVANMIYUR 

 

Raja Gopuram

 

Marundeeswarar Temple is a Padal Petra ( Gnana Sambanthar and Thirunavukkarasar were sung about this temple in their Thevara Pathigam).  Marundeeswarar temple belongs to the Chola period and occupies an area of about 1-acre. The temple is believed to be built somewhere in the 7th century A.D.Tirugnanasambandar and Tirunavukkarasar the Saint Saivite Poets have visited and sung the praises of this temple, testifying its existence during their life time – about a 1200 years ago. Arunagirinathar has visited this temple and has sung praises of Subramanyar here.

It is located in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai adjacent to the beach in south Chennai on the way to Mahabalipuram in the ECR. This is the biggest temple in Thiruvanmiyur. This is a magnificent temple built for Lord Siva, in his incarnation of Lord Marundeeswarar. Lord Marundeeswarar is said to have the power to heal all kind of illness. This is one of the great Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu. There are lot of buses from all parts of Chennai. This temple is adjacent to the Thiruvanmiyur bus terminus.

•  Swamy: Maruntheesar / Oushatheeswarar/ Palvannanathar
• Ambal: Thirupurasundari / Sokkanayagi/ Sundaranayaki
• Sthala Viruksham:  Vanni (Prosopis cineraria)
• Theertham: Papanasini Theertham

The divine cow Kamadhenu is believed to be delivering milk to the lingam daily and the lingam is white. For this reason, the lingam here is also called ‘Paalvannanathar’ (in Tamil, ‘Paal’ means milk, ‘Vanna’ means colour). Other names of the Lord here are Oushadheeswarar, Marundheesar, Vedapureeswarar. The Goddess is also known as Thirupurasundari, Chokkanayagi and Sundaranayagi

 

 

 

 

 About the Temple:

 

The temple has two entrances, one from East Coast Road (ECR) and the other from West. The Entrance from the West Tank Street has got three gates whereas the entrance from the East Coast Road has only one gate. The west Raja Kopuram has five tiers. The Temple had renovation and the Kumbabishkam done in 17th March 1985.

 

The temple has smaller Shrines for Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan. Lord Theyagaraja has separate shrine before entering in to Moolavar sannithi. While entering the Swamy Sannathi from south entrance, adjacent to Thyagarajar shrine one can see straight Lord Natarajar and Sivakami Ambal facing south. Natarajar and Sivakami statues are big and beautiful.  Lord Maruntheeswarar is in Linga roopam and he is suyambu ( Formed naturally and has not been sculpted by anyone ).  Kamadenu the devine cow from devalogam poured the milk on the Lord everyday and worshipped to get relieved of the curse from sage Vashishtar. Hence, the Lord has the name Paalvanna Nather. Paal in Tamil means milk. When Sage Valmiki came there to worship Lord Shiva, Kamadhenu ran in fear pressing its feet on the head of the Shivalinga, the scar of which is still visible on the presiding deity. Due to this for the Lingam they will do only milk abishekam. Other abishekams like Pancamirtham, Honey, Tender coconut water etc will be done only for the Avudaiyar ( ஆவுடையார் ), the base of the Lingam. He is facing the west. Suyambu lingams facing west are rare and very special also. The Vimana (tower above the sanctum) of the Moolavar Marundeeswarar is of Chaturvastam design. While entering through the eastern entrance straight we can see Lord Vinayakar and Lord Murugar adjacent to each other facing east. On the right side Goddess Thirupurasundari facing south in a separate shrine.  Ambal is in standing poisture. There is a pragaram in the Ambal's shrine without any koshta murthys. Sukravara Amaan is there in the Ambal shrine. 

In the Swamy sannithi Vinayakar Murugar, Natarajar, 63 Nayanmars, Sandeswarar (Two), Bairavar, Dakshnamurthy and Durga Devi are there. In addition the Lingams worshiped by Hanuman, Indiran, Barathwaj and 108 lingams are there. Sthala Viruksham Vanni maram is there on the west pragaram.




Thirupurasundari


Sthala Puranam:

Lord Marundeeswarar taught sage Agastyar about some devine medicine and herbals. Since then The Marundeeswarar temple has been a place of worship for people with diseases and various problems with their health. It is said that even The Sage Valmiki, who wrote the Ramayanam, came here to worship the Lord Marundeeswarar. Sage Valmiki was said to be blessed here. After this incident, this place was to be known as Thiruvalmikiyur, after a long period of time, the name gradually changed to Thiruvanmiyur. There is a place present in Thiruvanmiyur called Valmiki Nagar in his honour. There is also a temple built for Sage Valmiki in the middle of the East Coast Road. The temple is built very close to the Marundeeswarar temple west entrance.
Lord Brahma is believed to have conducted a festival here for Lord Siva. Appaya Dikshitar stayed in Vedaserini (Velachery)  and visited Tiruvanmiyur daily and worshipped Marundeeswarar. It is believed that since Appaya Dikshitar wanted to worship the deity, Lord Marundeeshwarar faces west.
Vedas, Sun, Sage Bringi were also worshipped Marundeeswarar.
 

 

 

Information on Sthala Viruksham

Gold Chariot

 Pathigam:

 

 Thirugnanasambanthar, Thirunavukkarasar, Sekilar, Arunagirinathar, Ramalinga swamigal, Pamban Swamy and Vannasarabam Dandabani swamigal were sung about this temple. Poovai Kalyana Sundara Mudaliar sung the Sthala Puranam for this temple

 

 

கரையு லாங்கட லிற்பொலி சங்கம்வெள் ளிப்பிவன்
திரையு லாங்கழி மீனுக ளுந்திரு வான்மியூர்
உரையெ லாம்பொரு ளாயுல காளுடை யீர்சொலீர்
வரையு லாமட மாதுட னாகிய மாண்பதே.

 

 

மாதொர் கூறுடை நற்றவ னைத்திரு வான்மியூர்
ஆதி யெம்பெரு மானருள் செய்ய வினாவுரை
ஓதி யன்றெழு காழியுள் ஞானசம் பந்தன்சொல்
நீதி யால்நினை வார்நெடு வானுல காள்வரே

 

                              Thirugnanasambanthar ----- 2nd Thirumurai

 

 

விரையார் கொன்றையினாய் விடமுண்ட மிடற்றினனே
உரையார் பல்புகழாய் உமைநங்கையோர் பங்குடையாய்
திரையார் தெண்கடல்சூழ் திருவான்மி யூருறையும்
அரையா வுன்னையல்லா லடையாதென தாதரவே.

 

 

கன்றா ருங்கமுகின் வயல்சூழ்தரு காழிதனில்
நன்றா னபுகழான் மிகுஞானசம் பந்தனுரை
சென்றார் தம்மிடர்தீர் திருவான்மி யூரதன்மேற்
குன்றா தேத்தவல்லார் கொடுவல்வினை போயறுமே.

 

                              Thirugnanasambanthar ----- 3rd Thirumurai

 

 

 

Western Kopuram (ECR)

 



Tank where Theppa Uthsavam conducted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Festivals:

Panguni Brahmmotsavam conducted every year for ten days in March- April. 7th day car festival, 9th day Vanni mara sevai, 10th day the dance festival for the sake of Sage Vanmiki, 11th day float festival ( தெப்பத்திருவிழா ).  Maha Shivrathri in February-March, Vinayaka Chaturti, Skanda Sashti in October-November, full moon days Kruthika star days. Margazhi Thiruvadirai Dec-Jan

 Timings:  06.00 AM to 12.30 PM
                          04.00 PM to 09.00 PM


 Contact:   Sri Marundeeswarar Temple, Tiruvanmiyur, Chennai - 600041
                           +91 - 44 - 2441 0477.

       

.THIRUCHITRAMBALAM