Saturday 18 July 2020

Thirumarperu Manikandeswarar Temple / Shri Manikandeswarar Siva Temple / Thirumalpur Shiva Temple Temple / Sri Manikandeswara Swamy Temple / Sri Manikandeswarar Temple, Thirumalpur, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu.

This place was called as Thirumarperu and the same is corrupted to the present Thirumalpur.  This is the 11th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu, about 8 KM from river Kusithalai / Kosasthalaiyar River. Since Mahavishnu is also called as Thirumal and he worshiped Lord Shiva of this place, this place might have obtained the name as Thirumalpur. Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

    ஊறி ஆர்தரு நஞ்சினை உண்டு உமை
    நீரு சேர்தரு மேனியர்
    சேறு சேர்வயல் தென்திரு மாற்பேற்றின்
    மாறி லாமணி கண்டரே.
    

    குருந்தவன் குருகவன் கூர்மையவன்
    பெருந்தகை பெண்ணவன் ஆணும் அவன்
    கருந்தட மலர்க்கண்ணி காதல் செய்யும்
    மருந்தவன் வளநகர் மாற்பேறே.
... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் தேவாரம்
    

    பெருமாற் றின்படை வேண்டிநற் பூம்புனல்
    வருமாற் றின்மலர் கொண்டு வழிபடும்
    கரு மாற்குஇன்னருள் செய்தவன் காண்தகு
    திரு மாற்பேரு தொழ வினை தேயுமே
... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் தேவாரம்,
( In this Thirunavukkarasar mentioned that, to get the Sudharsan Chakra, Thirumal worshiped Lord Shiva with Lotus flowers and Shiva blessed him. )

Since this place Thirumarperu was treated as a part of Kanchipuram, the 18th Century Sage Swagnana Swamikal, has sung the sthala purana of this temple in his Kanchipuranam.   

42. திருமாற்பேற்றுப்படலம் (1494 -1511)  
1494       வணங்குநர்க் கிருமைப் பேறும் மேன்மையின் வழங்கி யெங்கோன்
        இணங்கிய சலந்த ரேச வரவினை யெடுத்துச் சொற்றாம்
        அணங்கனா ராடல் பாடல் முழக்கறா அணிநீள் வீதிக்
        கணங்கெழு திருமாற்பேற்றுக் கடிநகர்ப் பெருமை சொல்வாம்

11495    திருமால்சக்கரம்பெறவழிபடுதல்
        குவலயம் காவல் பூண்ட குபனெனு மரசற் காகச்
        சிவநெறித்  ததீசியோடுஞ் செருச்செய்நாள் விடுத்த ஆழி
        தவமுனி வயிர யாக்கை தாக்கிவாய் மடித லோடும்
        கவலுறு மனத்த னாகிக் கடுஞ்சமர் துறந்த மாயொன்

Moolavar  : Sri Manikandeswarar, Sri Dhayanatheeswarar,
                Sri Pravaleswarar, Sri Saatharupar,
                Sri Pavalamalaiyar, Sri Vaattamthavirthar,
                Sri Malvanankesar.
                But called by the first name Sri Manikandeswarar.
Consort    : Sri AnjanAtchi Amman, Sri Karunambigai.

Some of the important features of this temple are …….
The temple is facing east with a 5 Tier Rajagopuram without stucco images. Balipeedem, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are in an elevated level under a kottagai / shed. Moolavar is swayambhu made out of Sand stone, a theenda thirumeni ( which means the priests will not touch the Shiva Linga banam ),  cone shape at the top and always covered with Kavasam. So Abhishekam will be done only to the avudayar and Punuku is applied on moolavar. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, and Ashta bhuja Durga. Urchava / procession murtis are in artha mandapam.

At the entrance of main sanctum sanctorum Ganapathy with 10 hands is on the left and Murugan is on the right. Maha Vishnu is in standing posture at the center of the passage and  worshiping Lord Shiva. Rishabam is also in standing posture in front of Maha Vishnu facing moolavar.

In the inner prakaram sannadhi for Suryan, Naalvar, Soleeswarar ( Shiva Linga was installed in memory of Parantaka Chozha ), Pancha matrikas, Balaganapathy, Uchishta Ganapathy, Chidambareswarar, Gajalakshmi, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Veerabhadra, Bhairavar and  Chandran.

In the saba mandapam, Natarajar with Ambal and Manickavasagar. Pancha murtis stucco images are on the top of the  entrance. In the mandapam bas-reliefs of Dakshinamurthy, Suryan, Mahavishnu, Balasubramaniar, Appar, Sundarar, Thirugnanasambandar,  Vinayagar, Murugan, Brahma / Nanmugan ( all the four faces are visible ), Ambal worshiping Lord Shiva, Kalinga narthanar, Kamadhenu, Bhairavar, Veerabhadra doing dhabas standing on one leg. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing south immediately after the Rajagopuram.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS
It was told that the original inscriptions are recorded in the year 1905 by the Archaeological  department.  During the renovations in 1936 all the inscription stones are not placed on their original places, instead they are used as floor slabs around, Rishabam, balipeedam and Dwajasthambam. With great difficult we could trace the name of Mathuranthakan Kandarathithan and the title of Rajaraja Chozha.

As per the inscriptions, this place  was in Jayangnda Chozha mandalathu, a part of Kamakottam, Valla Nadu, Thirumarperu. Lord shiva was called as Thirumarperudayar, Aludayar, Uthama Chozhiswaramudayar and Avimuktheeswaramudayar. It is believed that there might  have a shrine for agni as Agneeswarar in earlier years.    

As per the Kandarathitha Chozhan’s inscription ( 283 of 1906 ) records that, he created 5 groups to take care of the lands  and paddy to be given to Naivedyam.

Another inscription records ( 303 of 1906 ), that Thirumarperu The moolavar of the Vishnu temple was called as Kovindapathiyil Nintrauliya Perumal. Thos Dhamar kottathu valla nadu Govindapathy.  The another inscription 326 of 1906 also confirms the same. And the inscription 326 of 1906 records the Namalwar’s Thiruvaimozhi. The inscription 326 of 1906 records that existence of Govindapathy temple at Siriyarur of Manavil Kottam, Melpazhungoor Nadu. The inscription 333 of 1906, records that Thozhanar’s father has sung a Thirupathigam on Govindapathi alwar.

The inscription 267 of 1906, records the reconstruction of the Thirumalpur Temple along with the completion of prakara mandapas.For the ean endowment was created by Veerada King Anaiyaman alias Mandalathithyan. The same kings another inscription ( 323 of 1906 ) records the endowment of a mandapam.

The inscription 277 of 1906, records the donation of land for installation of Uthama Chozheeswaram, by one Sethirayan.

The inscription 284 of 1906 records that Chozha King Rajakesari Varman,  gifted a land for the image of Umapathragiriyar ( Athi Sundara  Thevatheviyar ).

Parakesari Varman Rajendra Chozha’s inscription ( 321 of 1906 ) records the  Manavala Perumal’s image and jewelry.

Chozha King Rajakesarivarman period inscription ( 322 of 1906 ) mentions 18 Nadus of Vaishnavas.It also mentions the Land filled with flood mud due to flood in the river Palar, 100 labourers were engaged for clearing the same and land of 12 Kol was gifted to them.    

LEGEND
Thirumal and Chandran worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Mahavishnu used his Sudarshana Chakra  / discus on Sage Thatheesi. The Chakra losts its sharpness as soon as it touches the Sage. Lord Shiva also had a Chakra, which he used to kill Jalandhara. So Maha Vishnu worshiped lord Shiva with 1000 lotus flowers to get the Chakra or Discus. To test Maha Vishnu’s devotion, Lord Shiva made to disappear the 1000th flower. When one more flower was required to complete 1000, Maha Vishnu immediately plucked out one of his eye and offered in the pooja. Satisfied by the devotion of Maha Vishnu, Lord Shiva gave the Chakra / discus, eye and called him as Padmashan or Kamalakannan. There is a Mahavishnu’s urchava murti / procession deity  is available with a Lotus in one hand.

It  is believed that the Shiva Linga was made out of sand by Ma Parvati, on the banks of river Virudaseera.

It is believed that devotees who pray Lord Shiva will be get relieved from the threats by the enemies and will won in litigation cases.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, 10 days Brahmotsavam  in Masi, Garuda seva to Vishnu, Aani Thirumanjanam, Margazhi Thiruvathirai, Thirukarthigai, Maha Shivaratri are celebrated in a grand manner. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple is kept open between 07.00 Hrs to to 12.00 Hrs. and 17.30 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
Sivachariyar Shanmugam Gurukkal, Mobile number 9444386442  may be contacted for more details and Pooja.

HOW TO REACH :
Buses are available from Kanchipuram. A Private bus KRC from Kanchipuram to  Panapakkam passes through this place. Another private bus  Bharathi from Arcot to Kanchipuram passes through this place.
Temple is about 5 KM from Thirumalpur Railway station, 21 KM from Kanchipuram, 22 KM from Arakkonam Junction and 83 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway station is Thirumalpur and nearest Railway Junction is Arakkonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :  CLICK HERE


Temple Chariot





63 var


Ambal sannadhi


Saptamatrikas

Mahavishnu and Rishabam in front of sanctum sanctorum 

Dwarapalakas

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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