Marundeeswarar Temple is a legendary temple located in the breezy area of Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai. This may be the biggest temple in Thiruvanmiyur. This is a magnificent temple built for Lord Shiva, in his incarnation of Lord Marundeeswarar. Lord Marundeeswarar is said to have the power to heal.
About Marundeeswarar Temple :
Marundeeswarar Temple is a legendary temple located in the breezy area of Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai adjacent to the beach of Bay of Bengal. This is the biggest temple in Thiruvanmiyur. This is a magnificent temple built for Lord Shiva, in his incarnation of Lord Marundeeswarar. Lord Marundeeswarar is said to have the power to heal. This is one of the great Shiva Temples of Tamilnadu.
Lord Marundeeswarar is known so because he taught sage Agastya about some magical medicine. 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 Ramayana, came here to The Marundeeswarar temple to worship The Lord. 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.
Attraction Of Marundeeswarar Temple In Chennai :
Marundeeswarar Temple, God of Medicines, in Tiruvanmiyur has the temple deity Shiva in the form of Marundeeswar or Aushadeeswarar. Mythology says that it was Agastya, great saint, who named the deity “Aushadeeswarar”. The Sun and the Moon, it is said, perform puja at this temple every evening. Unlike other Siva temples, this temple does not have a shrine to the Navagrahas because the Sun and Moon are in prayer mode here. The main “lingam” is described as Swayambu. He is also called “Palvannanathan” because Kamadhenu, the divine cow, used to shower him with milk constantly.
During the festival period the deity will be taken on procession in the middle of the day. The chariot, a high one, with the deity and the priests standing at least 6 or 7 feet above the crowd, and devotees use two long ropes pulls the deity around the temple. Lots of devotees visit this holy temple and get the blessing of Lord Shiva. Those who visit this temple sincerely believe, as do the priests, that the mixture of sacred ash, milk and water offered at the temple and consumed thereafter can cure any ailment. A steady crowd is observed in this temple now a day.
Features of Marundeeswarar Temple in Chennai :
- The temple spreads over an area of about one acre.
- Two beautiful five tiered towers or Raja Gopurams grace the Eastern and the Western entrances to the temple.
- The main temple contains two separate spacious chambers, the Thyagaraja Mandapam and the Marundeeswarar Mandapam.
- Thirty six huge pillars embellished with refined carvings beautify the Thyagaraja Mandapam which houses the Somaskanda Swaroopam of Shiva.
- Tripurasundari, the consort of the presiding deity is housed in a separate mandapam in the temple complex.
- Other images decorate the pillars of the temple while beautiful stucco figures adorn the Gopurams or the entrance towers.
- The Vanni tree is the sacred tree or Vruksham here.
- Five sacred tanks here are associated with this temple, Janmanasini, Kamanasini, Papanasini, Gnanadhayini and Mokshadhayini.
- The annual Bhramotsavam is celebrated in March-April.
- A unique feature of this temple is the eighteen types of dances involving the festival image of Thyagaraja.
- The image is placed on a specially designed device called Thyagarkanai and taken out on the 10th and 11th days of the Bhramotsavam and on Tiruvadirai in the December-January months.
Antiquity :
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 Subramanya here. Stone inscriptions dating back to the 11th century AD are found in abundance in this temple. Stone inscriptions in other temples in Chennai namely Kapaleeswarar Temple, Virupaksheeswarar Temple etc. refer to Tiruvanmiyur. This temple held an exalted position for centuries and it gradually fell in repair. Renovative work was carried on earlier in this century culminating in a consecration ceremony in 1913. Further renovative work was done in the late 70s.
Worship :
Four services are offered each day (Kalasandhi 7:30 AM, Uchi Kaalam, 11:30, Sayaratchai 5 PM, and Ardhajamam 9 pm. The shrine is open from 6 am until 1130 AM and from 4 PM until 9 PM.
Festivals :
The annual Bhramotsavam is celebrated in March – April. Eighteen types of dances involving the festival image of Thyagaraja is a noteworthy unique feature of this temple. The image is placed on a speciallly designed device called Thyagarkanai and taken out on the 10th , and 11th days of the Bhramotsavam and on Tiruvadirai in the December January months and the 18 dances are enacted.
How to Reach Marundeeswarar Temple in Chennai :
By Air : The Kamaraj Domestic Airport and the Anna International Airport are located at Tirusulam at a distance of 20 km from the city.
By Rail : Chennai is also well connected to all the major cities in India through a wide network of railways. The rail service connects to all the main cities of the neighboring state and the country.
By Road : The excellent road network of Chennai makes it easily accessible from other important cities of Tamil Nadu and the neighboring states.
