Sri Kurungaleeswarar Temple, Koyambedu

Moolavar:Sri Kurungaleeswarar
Amman:Sri Aram Valartha Nayagi
Place: Koyambedu, Chennai

Kurungaleeswarar Temple is a historically important Hindu temple in the neighbourhood of Koyambedu (the name coming from ‘ko(horse)+ambu(arrow)+pedu(fence)’ when lava & Kucha caught the horse sent by Rama in a fence made of arrows) Chennai, India. The temple encloses a large tank and dates from the Medieval Chola period.

Kurungaleeswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the neighbourhood of Koyambedu in Chennai City of Tamil Nadu. This temple is situated on the banks of river Cooum at Koyambedu. The presiding deity is called as Kurungaleeswarar / Kuchalavapureeswarar and Mother is called as Dharmasamvardhini / Aram Valartha Nayagi. Sthalavriksham (the divine tree of the temple) is a jack tree.

This temple was believed to be developed by Valmiki while Sita has come down with heavy heart after separating from Lord Rama. She had been worshipping Siva and she gave birth for Lava and Kusha. Both have been growing well with the support of Valmiki. One day the Aswamedha Yagna was conducted by Lord Rama at Ayodhya and the horse was running away and reached this place, which is presently called Koyembedu. Earlier it was called Kosai. The horse has to be traced and brought back to the place where Yagna was started. But these two children of Rama kept the horse and firmly resisted Lord Rama's battalion. Finally Lakshman also came and he was also defeated. Finally Lord Rama had to enter into the battle and his sons were preparing. Fortunately, Saint Valmiki made the children realise that they are going to fight against their own father and vice versa. After this the Ram family was united and from then on, this temple is known for family unity and togetherness as Shiva was the cause for the re-uniting of Lord Ram's family

Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurungaleeswarar_Temple

Location:
Sri Kurungaleeswarar Temple, Koyambedu

 

Sri Dhenupureeswarar Temple, Madambakkam

Legend:

Dhenupureeswarar got his name because he gave moksha to a cow (Sanskrit: Dhenu).Sage Kapila is said to have been reborn as a cow for his sin of having improperly worshiped a Shiva lingam using his left hand. The cow continued to worship Shiva by pouring milk on a Shiva lingam buried in the ground. The cowherd initially punished the cow for wasting the milk, but when the villagers unearthed the Shiva lingam, Shiva appeared and granted moksha (liberation) to Kapila and forgave the cowherd who had mistreated him. Legend has it that the king had a dream of this occurrence at this site and had the temple built to commemorate it.

Dhenupureeswarar's consort here is Dhenukambal. The main building of the temple, which contains the statue of Dhenupureeswara in linga form, faces east and his consort faces south in a separate sanctum.The Shiva lingam is Swayambhu Lingam or Self Manifested Lingam.

The temple was built during the reign of the Chola king, Parantaka Chola II, father of Raja Raja Chola I, who constructed the famous Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur. The main sanctum (Sanskrit: garbha griha), like some other Chola temples in and around Chennai, is apsidal in shape (Sanskrit: gajaprishta vimana) (also described as shaped like the back of a sleeping elephant), unlike most Hindu shrines, which are square or rectangular.

The temple is thought to have been consolidated with stones during the reign of Kulothunga Chola I.

Well-preserved Chola sculptures and carved pillar bases are present in and around both sanctums.

A number of fine inscriptions and sculptures dating to the Vijayanagara Empire are also preserved.

Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhenupureeswarar_Temple_(Madambakkam)

Location:
Sri Dhenupureeswarar Temple, Madambakkam

Sri Nandeeswarar Temple, Guduvanchery

Moolavar: Sri Nandeeswarar
Amman: Sri Soundara Nayagi
Place: Guduvanchery, Chennai

Legend:
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.

The temple is half a km away from the Guduvanchery bus terminus.This temple is believed to be built by Nandivarma Pallava in 715 CE.

Nandeeswarar Temple have seperate shrines for Lord Brahma, Lord Mahavishnu , Lord Dakshinamurthy , Lord Bhairavar , Lord Durgai , Lord Valampuri Vinayagar, Lord Arumugar.

The temple is open from 6 AM to 11 AM and 4 PM to 7 PM

Reference:
http://temples-chennai.blogspot.com/2011/06/nandeeswarar-temple-nandivaram.html

Location:
Sri Nandeeswarar Temple, Guduvanchery