Moolavar: Sri Oondreeswarar
Amman: Sri Minnoliyammai
A padal petra Shiva Sthalams and 17th Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu out of the total 276 padal petra sthalam.Sundarar has sung hymns in this temple, from his pathigam at this temple, it is evident that Sundarar was heartbroken when the Lord Shiva refused to restore his vision.
The history has it that that Saint Sundarar left Thiruvotriyur to proceed to Thiruvarur after abandoning his wife Sangili Nachiyar and breaching the promise that he had made to her. On his way to this temple, it is believed that he lost his eye sight due to his failure of keep his promise to Sangili Naachiyar. While entering the temple, he asked the lord in annoyance whether he was inside (Koilul ullayo?) and further argued that if the lord cannot solve his devotees’ problems, then what is the reason for his being there?
He further pleaded to the lord to restore his vision for which Lord Shiva politely replied “yes I’m inside” (Ulom Pokeer), but instead of restoring his vision, he gave Sundarar a walking stick and asked him to leave. Angered and dejected, Sundarar threw the stick back which hit the Nandhi’s right horn and broke it. You can see the idol of Saint Sundarar with closed eyes and a sad expression on his face and holding a stick in his left hand. The idol of Nandhi can be seen with its right horn broken. Both these idols are in front of Lord Shiva’s shrine.
As the lord gave Sundarar the walking stick known as oondrukol in tamil, the moolavar here is named ever since as Oondreeswarar. Also post this incident Ambal the goddess Parvathy helped Sundarar reach Kancheepuram by providing him light by the way of flashes of lightning. Hence, she is praised here as “Minnoliyammai” (Minnal in Tamil means lightning). It is further said that Goddess Parvathy consoled Sundarar by saying that life goes in accordance with one’s good or evil deeds and assured him that he would get back his vision in the due course of time. Hence, she is also praised as “Kanivai Mozhi Nayaki” – the goddess who gave assurance with her sweet words.
Since at this place, Lord Shiva replied to Saint Sundarar by saying “Ulom Pokeer”for his question Koilul ullayo? . It is believed that this could be the reason why this place got its name “Thiru vulam-pudur”. It is pertinent to mention here that even after the Lord Shiva’s refusal to see Sundarar and restore his vision, Sundarar did not give up his affection and devotion towards Lord Shiva.
Earlier this Shiva temple was situated on the banks of river Kusashthalai in a village called Thiruvulampudur. During the year 1942, Tamil Nadu Government acquired and took over many villages including Thiruvulampudur for construction of the Poondi water dam. The Government provided alternative land at Thiruvenpakkam (Poondi) for construction of a new temple in place of the old one at Thiruvalampudur. The idols of deities except the moolavar, pillars and sculptures were removed from the old temple of Thiruvulampudur and reinstated at the new location. For this new temple, the consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 5th July, 1968.
It is said that the idol of the main deity is newly created as the original one had already been installed at Sri Gangadareswarar temple at Purasapakkam, Chennai.
It is further said that some portion of the old temple’s main tower can still be seen from the banks of the Poondi Lake.
Devotees facing obstacles in marriage proposals can worship Lord Oondreeswarar and seek his blessings.
Also, people with eye sight related problems can worship Goddess Minnoli Ammai for remedy.
Contact: Daily one kala pujai is performed and you can reach Sri Subramaniam Kurukal on 9080505542
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