Sri Muruganatheswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ முருக நாதேஸ்வரர் கோயில், மாம்பாக்கம் / Mambakkam, Sri Veera Anjaneyar, Pudupakkam & Sri Pasupatheeswarar Temple at Velichi, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

This post was updated with History and Inscriptions,  Photographs on Maha Kumbhabhishekam day and after removing of scaffoldings erected for Kumbhabhishekam. 

24, February 2015 

On 21st Saturday I had visited the less known Shiva Temple at Mambakkam. Originally my plan was to have the darshan of Sri Anjaneyar at Pudupakkam. Since Mambakkam is at the junction of Kelambakkam to Vandalur road. The Shiva Temple is at the beginning of the Village and Gurukkal is living nearby in a typical Agraharam house. The temple is on the road curve and pose danger of demolition when the road is expanded. The details of the temple are as follows.

 

Rishabam mandapam with balipeedam

SRI MURUGA NATHEESWARAR TEMPLE, MAMBAKKAM. 

Moolavar : Sri Muruganatheswarar 

Consort   : Sri Deivanayaki. 

Some of the important features of this temple are... 

The temple is facing east with a temple tank on the east side. Balipeedam and Rishabam are on the east side. The entrance arch with stucco image of Lord Shiva & Parvathi in rishabaroodar is on the south side. In Koshtam Dakshinamurthy ( in Vinayagar’s place) and Durgai. 

In prakaram Sri Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Sametha Sri Subramaniar, Navagrahas, Anjaneyar and Chandikeswarar. Ambal is facing south in standing posture with abhaya and varada hastam. 

HISTORY & INSCRIPTION 

As per the inscription this place was called as Jayamgonda Chozhamandalathu, Puliyur Kottathu kalvoy nattu Mambakkam alias Murugesvaram. Shiva was called as Murugesar.

Rajaraja Chola I’s 26^th reign year ( 1011 CE ) inscription starts with his meikeerthi records the endowment of burning perpetual lamp at Murugesvarattalvar for which 90 Sheep was gifted, by a certain Murugan Kaliyan of Mambakkam in Kalvoy-nadu, a subdivision of Puliyurk-kottam. The Village sabha had agreed to supply ulakku ghee / oil. Some stones are missing and misplaced and rest of the portions are severely damaged. ( ARE  923 No 413, 1944 -45 No 19 ). 

முதலாம் இராஜராஜனுடைய இருபத்தாறாவது ஆட்சியாண்டுக் கல்வெட்டு இது. அவனுடைய மெய்க் கீர்த்தியுடன் தொடங்குகிறது. புலியூர்க் கோட்டத்துக் கால்வாய் நாட்டு மாம்பாக்கத்துக் கோயிலுக்கு முருகன் (காலையன்) என்பவன் விளக்கு எரிக்க 90 ஆடுகளைக் கொடுத்ததாகத் தெரிகிறது. கிராமத்தார் அதைப்பெற்றுக்கொண்டு உழக்கு நெய் தினம்தோறும் கோயிலுக்கு அளிப்பதாக உறுதி கூறினர். 

Ref

1. Kanchipuram Mavatta kalvettukal Volume - 2

2. Tholliyal nokkil kanchipuram mavattam. 

To carry out Maha Kumbhabhishekam, palalayam was conducted on 04th August 2022 and Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 03rd September 2023.

HOW TO REACH : 

Mambakkam is on the way to Kelambakkam to Vandalur main road. 

The temple is on the Mambakkam to Medavakkam road. At the beginning of the Village from Medavakkam. 

CONTACT DETAILS : 

Gurukkal  and Trustee may be contacted on his mobile number +919884581931 and +919994675988. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE    :CLICK HERE

 

 Moolavar Vimanam with Ambal Sannidhi entrance 

Vinayagar sannidhi

Ambal Gopuram on the left and Sri Subramaniar Sannadhi 

Damaged portion of Sri Subramaniar Sannadhi

Navagrahas

A sudhai relief on the Vinayagar sannidhi wall

Kumbhabhishekam on 3rd September 2023

The paintings on the adhistanam was removed for inscriptions to be visible

Photographs taken after Kumbhabhishekam 

The old post of Sri Veera Anjaneyar Temple, Pudupakkam and Sri Pasupatheeswarar Temple at Velichi was separated from this post and written as a separate post. For Updated post details please click the respective links. 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Somanatheswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ சோமநாதீஸ்வரர் கோயில், கொளத்தூர் / Kolathur ( Mambakkam ), Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

13^th April 2019.

When I was searching for Sri Somanatheswarar Temple at Kolathur near Villivakkam & Perambur on the net, the details of this Shiva Temple at Kolathur near Mambakkam on Vandalur to Kelambakkam route appeared. It was planned to Visit Sri Pozhichaleswarar Temple at Agaramthen after visiting Sri Chenganmal Shiva Temple Via Mambakkam. Since Kolathur is about 2 KM from Mambakkam, decided to cover the Shiva and Vishnu temples also.

Moolavar  : Sri Somanatheswarar

Consort    : Sri Amudhambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with balipeedam and Rishaba mandapam are in front. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and open mukha mandapam. A recently built two tier Vimana is on the sanctum. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, and Durgai.

Ambal Sri Amudhambigai is in a separate sannadhi facing south abutting the open mukha mandapam. In the prakaram and mandapam sannadhi for Sri Selva Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, Bhairavar, Suryan, Chandran and Chandran in worshiping posture with Shiva Linga. In the mandapam there is also an old Ayyanar worshiped as Iyappan ( This Ayyanar is the only proof that the original temple may belongs to 10th to 12th Century ).  Nagars are under a peepal tree before the South side entrance.

 Ayyanar worshipped as Iyyappan

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the known history, in 1917 CE one Mr Gangadhara Chettiar’s Son Raju Chettiar who came from Kaliya Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars lineage,  found out a Shiva Linga with Ambal, when he tried to remove the bush at Kolathur. He conducted daily poojas to Ambal and the Shiva Linga. Raju Chettiar decided to clean and deepen the well for Abhishek water. During the process of cleaning the well, they found out, Rishabam, Ayyannar, Durgai, Vinayagar, Valli Deivasena and Chandikeswarar. The statues were installed and Kumbhabhishekam was also conducted may be during 1917-18 CE. 

Again Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1957 CE after installing Navagrahas. After Raju Chettiar, his son Jayavel Chettiar took over the temple’s reconstruction and Kumbhabhishekam was also performed in recent years 2018-19 CE.

Mr Ki.Va. Jaganathan and Mrs Visalakshi both has sung hymn in praise of Sri Amudhambigai of this temple. Mr Mayilam Sivasubramanian had written a book called “Amudhambigai Pathigam”. Apart from regular poojas, pournami poojas and Somavara poojas are also conducted.

LEGENDS

The legend of this temple is associated with the Chandran who married 27 daughters of Prajapati Daksha ( Aswini to Revathi ). But he was very much affectionate with Rohini and Kiruthigai. When the other daughters complained, Prajapati Daksha cursed Chandran to looses his light slowly. As per the advise of Devas, Chandran worshipped Lord Shiva and he gave him to gain and loose of power for every 15 days. Hence Shiva is called as Sri Somanatheswarar.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs.

 

HOW TO REACH

Kolathur may be reached through town bus No M51V from T Nagar via Saidapet- Medavakkam.

About 2 KM from Mambakkam, which is on the Kelambakkam Vandalur Road.

Kolathur is about 18 KM from Vandalur and 8 KM from Kelambakkam through Mambakkam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  :CLICK HERE

Enthirakal ( Found at the east side entrance )

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Agastheeswarar Temple, Vembedu, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

 24^th November 2019.

The visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar temple at Vembedu near Thiruporur was a part of  Pallava  and Chozha period temples Visit scheduled on 24^th November 2019. After Sri Varadharaja  Perumal temple of Kayar, on the way to Thiruporur happened to see this temple on the right side of the Road and an Anjaneyar statue is before the Shiva Temple.  Looking at the structure we that the temple may belongs to Vijayanagara period.

This temple is believed to be one of the Thevara vaippu sthalam sung by  Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal. It is believed that, this is one of the 108 Shiva Lingas installed by  Sage Agasthiyar in Thondai Nadu and a Thevara Vaippu sthalam. Thirunavukkarau Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of Agatheechuram along with Nandhikechuram, Mahalaechuram, Nagechuram, Kodeechuram, Kondeechuram, Kukkudechuram, Akkeechuram, Adakechuram, Ayaneechuram Aththeechuram, Siddheechuram and Ramechuram.

நாடகமா டிடநந்தி கேச்சுரமா காளேச்

        சுரநாகேச் சுரநாக ளேச்சுரநன் கான

கோடீச் சுரங் கொண்டீச் சுரந்திண் டீச் சுரங்

        குக்குடேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரங்கூறுங்கால்

ஆடகேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரமய னீச்சுர

        மத்தீக்சுரஞ் சித்தீக்சுர மந்தண் கானல்

ஈடுதிரை யிராமேசசுர மென்றென் றேத்தி

        யிறைவனுறை சுரம்பலவு மியம்பு வோமே.

….. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் ( 6-71-8 )

 

Moolavar : Sri Agastheeswarar

Consort   : Sri Vedavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple facing east without any Rajagopuram or Dwajasthambam. Balipeedam and Nandhi are in the mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum antarala, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. Mukha mandapam was supported by 20 pillars of Vijayanagara period. Ambal Sri Vedavalli is in mukha mandapam facing south. Mukha Mandapa ceiling has the fish carving, solar and Lunar eclipse reliefs.

In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai.  In Prakaram Vinayagar, Balamurugan and Padithurai Vinayagar. The temple tank is on the west side of the temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The adhisthana is of pada bandha adhisthana with threepatta kumuda. The sanctum sanctorum is of two talas.

   

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Looking at the style of pillars the temple may belongs to 17^th to 18^th Century, ie Post Vijayanagaras or Nayaka period. There is no inscriptions found in this temple.

      

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

Since oru kala pooja is conducted, closing and opening are unpredictable.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Mr Velu may be contacted on his mobile 94440 07963 and Mr Veeraraghavan  9677007842 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

City bus route no 555M from Tambaram to Thiruporur passes through this Village Vembedu and Mambakkam.     

Vembedu is about 15.6 KM from Mambakkam, 7.5 KM from Thiruporur and 33 KM from Tambaram.

Share auto and autos are available from Mambakkam Junction and Thiruporur.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

An Anjaneyar stucco image in an adjacent Vishnu Temple 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---