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Sri Marundeeswarar Temple at Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai
Significance: This ancient temple located in the southern fringe of the sprawling city of Chennai dates back to the past millennium when it was visited and sung by two of the Saivite Saints – Nayanmars Appar and Sambandar . Marundeeswarar or the The Divine Physician Shiva is the presiding deity here. Tiruvanmyur is said to abound in medicinal herbs. This deity is said to have been worshipped by Valmiki the author of the epic Ramayanam. The place itself owes its name to this sage poet. This shrine also enshrines Tyagarajar as in Tiruvotriyur.
Architecture: The temple itself occupies an area of about one acre. The presiding deity faces the west. Two beautiful five tiered towers or Raja Gopurams grace the Eastern and the Western entrances to the temple. The main temple consists of two separate spacious chambers, the Thyagaraja Mandapam and the Marundeeswarar Mandapam. Thirty six massive pillars endowed with elegant carvings adorn 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. Numerous images adorn the pillars of the temple, while stucco figures grace the Gopurams or the entrance towers.
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.
Deities: Marundeeswara is worshipped in the form of a 1 and a half feet high Shiva Lingam said to have manifested by itself. This deity is referred to as Marundeeswara or Aushadeeswara for having performed the act of introducing the mythological sage Agastyar into the mysteries of herbal medicine. Shiva is said to have blessed the Poet Sage Valmiki here and hence the name Valmikanathar. There is also a grand mandapam enshrining Tyagarajar – the festival image here. The Goddess Tripurasundari or Chokkanayaki is housed in a separate temple. Vijayaganapati and Subramanya have separate Mandapams smaller in size within the temple complex. Inside the Mahamandapam (enclosing the shrine to Marundeeswarar) are found images of the 63 Saivite Saints – the Nayanmars, images of Ganapati and Muthukumaraswamy (Kartikeya) and an iposing image of Nataraja with Sivakamasundari and Manikkavachakar. Also in this temple are found 108 Sivalingams and five massive Sivalingams representing the elements.
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.
Tyagaraja of Tiruvarur is said to have been worshipped by Mahavishnu and Indra the King of Gods. Seven shrines associated with Tyagarajar in Tamilnadu are known as the Sapta Vitanka stalams. Three replicas of Tyagarajar are found at Tiruvanmyur, Tiruvotriyur and Tirukachur.
Other interesting facts: The Vanni tree is the sacred tree or Vruksham here.Five sacred tanks or theerthams are associated with this temple – Janmanasini, Kamanasini, Papanasini, Gnanadhayini and Mokshadhayini. Gnanadhyayini is said to have ceased to exist. Kamanasini and Mokshadhayini are in the form of wells. Janmanasini is in the form of the Chitrakulam tank in front of the Eastern tower entrance, whilethe Papanasini is the massive tank situated a little away from the same tower.
Access and Accomodation: Tiruvanmyur is located in Chennai the capital of Tamilnadu.