Sri Margabandeeswarar Temple, Tiruvirinjipuram, Vellore

 

Moolavar: Sri Margabandeeswarar

Amman: Sri Maragadhambikai

A good 1000 plus years old temple in the town now called as Virinjipuram and the history of which rulers built it is not clearly known. Marga Bandhu Eeaswarar (a constant relation guiding us in the path of life) and in Tamil the name is Vazhithunai Eeswaran.

The history goes like this- Once Brahmma had to bear the effect of speaking a lie, though he did not really see the head of Lord Shiva in Tiruvannamalai, unwilling to admit the failure, he used a flower (Thazhamboo) that fell from the head of Shiva and said that it was evidence of his seeing the head of the Lord. So Lord Shiva did not want to give darshan to Brahmma in His real form and Brahamma was born to a priest in the temple named Shiva Sharman. After the death of the priest, he succeeded his father to serve the Lord.

After worshipping Swarna Ganapathi in the temple, Shiva Sharman came to the Lord for His abishek with the Tirumanjanam pot, but could not touch the head of the Lord as he was a boy. Merciful Lord bent His head to help the boy and acknowledged his services. Hence the Lord is found slightly bent towards esanya or northeast. is. 

The presiding deity is a swayambumurthi in a leaning form. The rays of Sun fall on the Lord in the month of Panguni (March- April). Palm tree is the sthala Vruksha of the temple which is in the inner corridor – prakara of the temple. This has a peculiar character of giving the fruits in black in a year and white the following year. The importance of the temple lies in the Rudraksha roof above the Sanctum sanctorum. Virinjipuram has also the reputation of being sung by renowned Vedic scholar and Shiva devotee, Sri Appayya Dikshithar.

There are 1008 shivalingams in this temple. It is said that off the main 108 shivalingams 18 of them are very special, and this shivalingam is one of the 18 and a must see.

The temple is an outstanding example of Tamil architectural skill. The temple is noted for child boon prayer. It is the staunch faith of the devotees that taking the first bath in Palaru river followed by dips in Brahmma and Simha theerthas (tanks) and going round the deity ensures child boon. People also pray for timely marriages. Devotees also throng the temple for relief from the effects of witchcrafts occupying the family or the individual.

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 and 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Location: Sri Margabandeeswarar, Tiruvirinjipuram, Vellore

Sri Sundareswarar temple, Vadamadurai, Dindigul

 

Moolavar: Sri Sundareswarar

Amman: Sri Meenakshi

200 year old temple installed and worshipped by a sithar called Kalladi sithar. Small but elegant sivalingam and Meenakshi ambal facing east. Temple was built using Suthai architecture.

Unusually Nandhi installed in front of Amman as well instead of lion which is rare and beautiful.

Maintained by locals. Daily 3 times pooja is done.

Location:

Sri Sundareswarar temple, Vadamadurai, Dindigul

Thiru Aavudayar Temple, Nanmangalam, Chennai

 

Very old temple, history unknown. Lord was found under a small tree inside the forest area. Later localities built a small temple with Gajaprishtam.

East facing sivalingam with square Aavudayar  which shows it was worshiped by saints and siddhars.

Powerful Sivan and Nandhi. Daily morning , Annabisekam, and pradhosa poojas are happening regularly.

Contact: Gurukkal Srinivasan  can be reached at 9940355514.

      Trustee Srinivasan can be reached at 8754470123

Location: Thiru Aavudayar Temple, Nanmangalam

Sri Someshwara Temple, Munnekkolal, Bengaluru

 

A beautiful small temple and as per the priest it is said to be around 1000 years old. It is interesting fact that the temple is exactly in the middle of the Munnekkolal village which is off marathalli.

The name Munnekkolal has come as in earlier day lot of Munnis (saints) have lived here and this place had a Kola (pond) which they used..  hence the name “Munigala Kola” (pond of the saints) Munnekkolal.

The Avudayar or the lower part of the moolavar is in square shape which clearly shows it’s been installed and worshipped by saints (Siddhas). 

There is no Ambal Sannidhi here and only Shivalingam, Nandhi, Dhwajasthanba along with a veereabadhra statue alone is left of what could have been a big temple. 

Currently a new temple is getting built behind the old temple by the efforts of the local villagers and needs to be completed and kumbhabhishekam to be completed soon. 

Contact: The priest Mr.Prashanth can be reached at 8618064228.

Sri Pushparatheswarar Temple, Gnayiru Village, Thiruvallur

Moolavar: Sri Pushparatheswarar

Amman: Sri Sornambigai

A vey old and beautiful temple in the village called Gnayiru named after the Sun God. It is one of the Pancha Bhaskara kshetram. “Pancha” means five, and this is one of the five temples where sun god prayed here for relief from the curse he got from lord brahma., 

The village has an interesting Sthalapuranam for the temple. Surya Bhagwan had been cursed by Lord Brahma. Because of this curse Sanjana Devi, the wife of Sun God who is the daughter of Vishwakarma, though was happy with her husband, at one stage she felt that she couldn’t bear his heat any longer. So, she left him after leaving her duplicate in her place whom she created from her own shadow (Chaya Devi). When Surya realized the truth, he prayed to Lord Siva at the Arunachaleswarar Temple to unite him again with his wife. 

While circumambulating the shrine he saw a light which fell on him by way of blessings and then moved away. Intrigued, he followed the light till it reached the village of Gnayiru. Here he came across a beautiful pond, filled with huge lotuses, some of which even had 1,000 petals. Fascinated, Surya got into the water to offer his prayers to lord Shiva. Touched by Surya's devotion, Lord Siva appeared as a Lingam on one of the lotuses and cured him. Filled with joy and gratitude Surya built a temple for the Lingam, in Gnayiru village. As the lord appeared here on a lotus in the form of a lingam he is called Pushparatheswarar. Surya was also bestowed with an Akshaya Paathram with which he fed thousands of devotees, who came to the temple every year, in search of remedies for their ailments. They believe the Lord here will relieve them of pain and shower prosperity on them.

This temple is one among the Navagraha temples of Chennai (or Thondai Mandalam) for Suryan (Sun). 

The Navagraha temples around Chennai are as follows:

Pushparatheswarar Temple, Gnayiru Gramam (Suryan Sthalam)

Bheemeshwarar Temple, Mudichur (Chandran Sthalam)

Agastheeswarar Temple, Villivakkam (Chevvai Sthalam)

Karaneeswarar Temple, Saidapet (Budhan Sthalam)

Tiruvalleeswarar Temple, Tiruvalidhaayam, Padi (Guru Sthalam)

Velleeswarar Temple, Mylapore (Sukran Sthalam)

Devi Karumariamman Temple, Thiruverkadu (Rahu & Kethu Sthalam)

This temple is associated with Sundaramurthy Nayanar and Sangili Nachiyar. It is a birth place of Sangili Nachiyar. Gnayiru village has been praised by Sekkizhar in Periya Puranam. Yet there is a debate whether this is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams or not. Also,this place is the final resting place of Shri Kanva maharishi (foster Father of Shakunthala)

Sage Agasthiyar, the author of Adityahrudayam is believed to have stayed here and worshipped Lord Shiva. Adityahrudayam is a sloka recited by Agasthiyar to Lord Rama in the battlefield before the fight with Ravana. The sage teaches Lord Rama the procedure of worshipping Suryan for strength and to gain victory over the enemy. Reciting this sloka of about 30 verses every day is said to be highly beneficial.

It is believed that every Tamil new year Lord Suriya in the form rays fall on the shivalingam and Ambal during the first 7 days of the tamil New Year (April).

The temple has a four tiered small rajagopuram as the entrance. The praharam with garden and the trees are beautifully maintained and the place is very calm and serene.

The huge 'Thiruvodu ' tree is the sthala vriksham here.The sannidhi of Pushparatheswarar faces east.There is a separate sannidhi for mother Swarnambigai on the left side. There is a separate sannidhi for Lord Sun facing the sannidhi of Lord Pushparatheswarar.

Contact: The temple Kurukal Krishnaswamy can be reached at 9952224822

Location: Sri Pushparatheswarar Temple, Gnayiru Village, Thiruvallur