Marundeeswarar Temple, Thirukachur

Marundeeswarar Temple
Marundeeswarar Temple Location in Tamil Nadu
Geography
Coordinates	12°46′39″N 79°59′29″E / 12.77750°N 79.99139°ECoordinates: 12°46′39″N 79°59′29″E / 12.77750°N 79.99139°E
Country	India
State/province	Tamil Nadu
District	Kanchipuram
Culture
Primary deity	Marundeeswarar(Shiva)
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture

Marundeeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Thirukachur, a village in Kanchipuram district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Shiva is worshipped as Marundeeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Balambigai. The presiding deity is associated with the 7th century Tamil Saiva Nayanars Sundarar. The temple is counted as a twin temple along with Kachabeswarar temple located in the same village.

The temple complex covers an area of one acre and all its shrines are enclosed with a granite concentric rectangular walls. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Marundeeswarar and his consort Irulneeki Thayar being the most prominent.

The temple has three daily rituals at various times from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and four yearly festivals on its calendar. The Brahmotsavam festival is celebrated during the day of the Magam (February - March) is the most prominent festival.

The original complex is believed to have been built by Cholas, while the present masonry structure was built during the 16th century. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Legend and history

As per Hindu legend, Devas, the celestial deities, got cured off their illness by worshiping Shiva at this place. The Devas were treated by Aswani Devata, the divine doctor at the behest of Shiva. Shiva thus obtained the name Marundeeswarar, Marundu literally means a curative.^[1] The temple has a recorded history from the 10th century, but scholar attribute the presence of the temple at least from the 8th century, pertaining to the period of Sundarar, the famous Saiva Nayanar. Sundarar has glorified the temple in his verses in 11th Thirumurai of Thevaram.^[1]

Architecture

The temple has a flat gateway tower and all the shrines of the temple are enclosed in concentric rectangular granite walls. There is a sixteen pillar hall in front the gateway that has sculpted pillars dating back to the 16th century. The temple occcupies an area of around 1 acre (0.40 ha). The central shrine houses the image of Marundeeswarar in the form of Lingam. The shrine of Irulneeki Thayar (also called Anthaga Nivarini]], facing Easat is located in a shrine behind sanctum. The central shrine is approached through a Mahamandapam and Arthamandapam. As in other Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, the shrines of Vinayaka, Murugan, Navagraha, Chandekeswara and Durga are located around the precinct of the main shrine. There is a shrine depicting Shiva offering food to Sundarar on the Western side. Sundarar has made a mention of the event, calling the deity as Marundeeswarar, Virundeeswarar and Iranthittai Eswarar. The image of Chandesa is depcited with four heads.^[1]

Festivals

A shrine within the temple

The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed three times a day; Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 a.m. and Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for Marundeeswarar and Irulneeki Thayar. There are weekly rituals like somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham, and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi. The nine-day Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Masi and Chitra Pournami are the most important festivals of the temple. During the nine-day Brahmotsavam, the event of Shiva feeding Sundarar is enacted.^[2][3]

See also

• Kachabeswarar temple, Thirukachur
• Padalathri Temple

References

1. C., Chandramouli (2003). Temples of Tamil Nadu Kancheepuram District. Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu.
2. "Sri Kachabeswarar, Marundeeswarar temple". Dinamalar. 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
3. R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 174–5.

External links