Sunday, December 30, 2007

Sri Chandrasekara swami Temple, Tiruchendurai




Arulmigu Mrugatharambiga samedha Sri Chandrasekara swami, Tiruchendurai .


This temple in Tiruchendurai village has several unique aspects and abounds in legends. This temple has the five tier Rajagopuram and the vimanam over the garba-griha of swami and gave a facelift to the temple complex. This temple was built by the queen and daughter Poodhi Adhitha Pidaariyal of Paranthagha Cholan before 1000 years.
During the chola king’s hunting over this area, he shot an arrow towards a jack fruit tree surrounded by bushes while he was aiming at a deer. The deer escaped. Suddenly he noticed blood oozing out of that tree. And he heard a heavenly voice asking him to build a temple on that place immediately. The king died eventually. But he recorded the matter in the sabha to build a temple at that specific spot.
Then he passed away. After that, his daughter as per his father’s wish, She constructed the temple and named the swayambu Lingam as Sri. Chandrasekara Swami. And the ambal was named aptly as Manendhiyavalli (carrying deer on her shoulder). This is unique of its kind in the whole of asian temple architecture. This is the folklore surrounding the origination of this historic temple.
Sthala vricsham (Temple’s sacred tree): Jack fruit
Theertham (divine water): Cauvery
Moorthi : Swayambu
Keerthi of this god: Relieving devotees from king Yama (based on the palm scripts found in the temple).
Six years back this temple was renovated by the village people
and a Maha Kumbabhishegam was performed on 27th May 2001 with contributions obtained from the local villagers and well wishers of this temple, though this temple is coming under the control of state Government and having property of more than 30 lakhs as on date. Even today the villagers are contributing and doing all sort of functions and other maintenance works. ‘Prathosham’ is a famous event here for Swami and the functions are carried out by the local people which falls every 15 days. Simultaneously the krithigai abhishegam and aradhana for Lord Muruga are also performed with grandeur. Adi kirthigai uthsavam is celebrated in a very grand scale for the past 37 years by the Ever Friends Association (EFA- a voluntary association of local youngsters meant for the betterment of this village and its welfare) of this village.

4 comments:

Sethu Raman said...

this photo of the rajagopuram is taken from inside the temple - there used to be a school building on the left side, as well as the 'jambunathaswami mandapam' -now i see only tall strees and foliage - what happened to the buildings? on the right used to be a badminton playground and that also has disappeared now.. from what I see all other three prakaras outside the temple must be full of trees and shrubs - correct me if I am wrong -

Vijay said...

Hi,

Congratulations on your lovely work, especially with the inscriptions. However, i would suggest you alter the date you have given in your initial post

"This temple was built by the queen and daughter Poodhi Adhitha Pidaariyal of Paranthagha Cholan before 2000 years. "

You know the exact dates of Parantaka from the inscriptions you have already featured.

rgds
vj

Sethu Raman said...

Thank you Sri Vijay for pointing out the error. The sentence should read 'more than 1000 years old' - am requesting Mahesh to correct this immediately. Thanks again

Vijay said...

Hi sir,

Thanks for your prompt response,. My friend Sriram visited the temple last weekend and i got the sites ref through him. Great work.

I have a blogsite on sculpture ( targeting new readers) - please have a look when you have time

www.poetryinstone.in

rgds
vj