Manikandeeswarar Temple

Overview

The temple is a Shivastalam and is located near Kancheepuram, on the Arakkonam Kanchi railway line. Takkolam is a Shivastalam in its vicinity. The temple is from the 11th of the 32 Tevara Stalams in the Tondai region of South India.In his Thevaram hymn, Saint Tirunavukkarasar questions the wisdom of those speaking loudly vain philosophy and dynasty pride without knowing that Lord Shiva in Tirumalpur holds the bowl of inexhaustible blessings which would pour on them within seconds of prayers. This is the 11th Shiva temple in Thondaimandalam region praised in the hymns of Gnanasambandar and Tirunavukkarasar. Worship services are offered four times a day, and the camphor lamp service is offered both to Shiva and Vishnu.

About the Temple

The temple is said dates back to the period of Parantaka Chola I, and it was renovated in 1937. The 70 feet high Rajagopuram and the Chakra Theertham adorn this temple. There is an image of Chaturbhuja Vishnu, engaged in worship to Shiva, holding a lotus flower. There are more than 80 inscriptions in this temple, some of which speak of endowments made to recite Nammalvar's Tiruvaimozhi at the Ninrarulia Perumaal Temple nearby (now in ruins) .The temple covers an area of 1.20 acre with compound walls, two prakaras-corridors and a Rajagopuram facing east. Chakkara Theertham is before the temple. Lord’s shrine is facing east and that of Mother the south. There are shrines of Lords Vinayaka, Chidambareswarar, Somaskandar, Muruga, Chandikeswara, Nataraja and Mother Gajalakshmi in the prakara.

About the deity

The presiding deity is the Moola Linga, and is made of sand by Mother Parvathi on the banks of Virudaseera River. To avoid dissolution of the sand Linga during abishek, it is covered by a copper pot. Lord Vishnu as Senthamarai Kanna Perumal is near Lord Shiva in a worshipping form. Adhikara Nandhi is in standing form before Lord. Though a Shiva temple, as Lord Vishnu worshipped here, Garuda Seva is celebrated during the Brahmmotsavam festival.As Lord Vishnu got back His discuss in this temple, Lord Choleeswarar installed in the temple in memory of Paranthaka Chola is facing west. Mother Durga appears with Her eight hands with a merciful look.

Legend and Stories

Lord Vishnu applied His discuss on Sage Thatheesi for a king named Kuban. When the discus touched the divine body of the sage, it lost is sharpness. Worried Lord Vishnu consulted with Devas and came to know that Lord Shiva has the Sudharsana discus which he created to destroy demon Chalandarasura. Lord Vishnu came to this place and worshipped Lord Shiva with thousand flowers a day. To test the determination of Vishnu, Lord Shiva caused shortage of one flower. To make up the shortage, Lord Vishnu immediately plucked his eye and offered it in the puja. Pleased with his determination, Lord Shiva restored His eye saying that “as you offered your eye for a lotus flower, you will have the eye with lotus beauty and you will be known as Padmashan. Lord Shiva also gave His discus to Vishnu. Lord Shiva further added that those who chanted his 1000 names or a few of them chanted by Lord Vishnu would be blessed with salvation. Lord Vishnu prayed to Lord Shiva that the benefit of praying in many temples should be granted to the devotees who pray here. Lord Shiva assured the boon to Lord Vishnu.

Festivals

Navaratri and Skandasashti are observed here. The festival deities are taken out on several of the vahanams and the temple chariot during the Bhramotsavam in Maasi (Aquarius). Theerthavari is important on the Maga star day during the 10 day Masi Brahmmotsavam in February-March when Garuda Seva dedicated to Lord Vishnu also takes place. Aadi Fridays and Pooram in July-August, Aani Tirumanjanam in June-July, Tirukarthikai in November-December and Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January are the other festivals celebrated in the temple.

Offerings

Devotees perform abishek to Lord and offer Vastras.

Significance

It is believed that devotees would have no threats from enemies. Also they succeed in litigation cases.

Temple Address

Sri Manikandeeswarar Temple,
Tirumalpur,
Tirumarperu,
Vellore district,
Pincode - 631 05.