Dharmasamvardhani Samedha Muktheeswarar (அறம் வளர்த்த நாயகி உடனுறை முக்தீஸ்வரர்) Temple

 Dharmasamvardhani Samedha Muktheeswarar Temple

Athur, Chengalpattu-Kanchipuram Road, Chengalpattu District

Blessings of 9th October 2020 include the opportunity to pray at this temple said to be between 300 and 400 years in the present form.

அறம்  வளர்த்த நாயகி உடனுறை முக்தீஸ்வரர்  is the Tamil name for the temple, which is located on the State Highway connecting Chengalpattu with Kanchipuram. Closer to Chengalpattu, the village of Athur is a fertile place, in view of its location on the banks of Ksheera Nadhi, which was the original name of Paalaru (பாலாறு) , with Agriculture being the core activity.

A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Jaganmatha Parvathi, this temple originally housed eight Shivalingams for eight directions, of which only three are to be found (some of them found buried and others to emerge soon, as and when God wills). 

The temple seems to have been developed during the Chola rule in this part, even if the temple existed earlier.  Many of the walls of the temple are dominated with mid-ancient Tamil scripts, talking about the temple's contribution to the construction of one of the Towers of Chidambaram, as well as some donations by devotees.

A fairly large compound with well maintained garden and infrastructure. The temple management has done well to fence the property to make sure Shiva's properties are not swallowed by goons as "Prasadam", as is happening in many other places. 

Hundi Collection at the temple at this temple seems meagre and that is enough to keep the Government Department for Hindu Religious Endowments away. Blessing !

Barring Pradosham and festive occasions, devotees could be in small numbers and that is all the more reason for people to visit this temple during these days when "Social Distancing" is the norm.

A good article on the temple could be found at : http://www.dharsanam.com/2008/05/aathur-sri-muktheeswarar.html

Google Map Coordinates:  https://goo.gl/maps/RhPddNLQKUEebpRz7

If you thought there is nothing to this village than this temple, you are absolutely wrong. There are two other temples in the same village

Kalyana Varadharaja Perumal Temple: https://goo.gl/maps/UQvzukPor1bGZeni6  

and

Adhilingeswara Temple: https://goo.gl/maps/JsEbRDpQp5FQAEd37

When you walk or drive through the village you get to see scores of houses of various vintage, some of which are atleast 300  years old, implying that the village at some point of time was a popular town with a big population, culture and activities. 

A well meaning Individual (Kudos to him ! ) has set up a Veda Patashala not far from this temple, accommodating 140 students for a Gurukula style Vedic Learning experience but with all modern comforts.From a distance this can easily be mistaken for an office complex in view of a four storied structure in the middle of nowhere. A Goshala with Healthy and Smiling Cows is also part of the set up. I can't resist carrying the picture of a three day old calf; afterall he/she is the son/daughter of the soil of Muktheeswara. 

Sri Chaturveda Vidhya Ganapati Vedashram   : https://goo.gl/maps/TrU5TDBZuVxHqWjZ7

Om Namah Shivaya !  Om Namo Naaryanaya ! 

அழகாம்பிகை உடனுறை ஜம்புகேஸ்வரர் கோவில் (Azhagambikai Udanurai Jambukeswarar temple)

 அழகாம்பிகை உடனுறை ஜம்புகேஸ்வரர் கோவில்

( Azhagambikai Samedha Jambukeswarar temple)

On the Thirupporur- Chingleput road, Sembakkam is located approximately 10km on the southern side of the road. The town is easily identiable by a big arch on the left side, as you drive from Thirupporur. The temple is located approximately a kilometre from the main road. A Vinayaka mini-temple is the entrance to the temple complex. With his permission we are to cleanse ourselves in the temple tank, located just outside the temple. Fairly big one, in reasonable shape. We see a fairly large complex with compound walls, granite floors (partially at the outer praharams and fully inside the temple). Azhagambikai Udanurai Jambukeswarar temple constructed by the Chola King Ko Chengannan. According to legends, when Lord Muruga killed Soorapadhman (Soora Samhaaram) the head of the demon is believed to have fallen here and hence the place was known as Sirampakkam (Siram means Head in Tamil) சிரம்பாக்கம் Even today, the flag hoisting ceremony of Thirupporur Sri Kandhaswamy temple (for Lord Muruga) is done by the people of Sembakkam. It is said that Sri Aadhiseshan along with Vasuki and other Naga Kanyas worshipped Lord Shiva to get relieved of their sin as Sri Aadhiseshan spit Poison while churning the mighty ocean. Another story has it that Sage Naradha was explaining the sanctity of Sri Uthara Jambugeswarar to Lord Indra who didn’t pay much attention in listening to the sage. Indra apparently got into difficulties and worshipped Lord Shiva here. As per Sthalapuraanam, the king Ko Chengannan who was childless was traveling across the country worshipping Lord Shiva at various places. When he reached Sembakkam the axle of his Chariot broke down here and he was resting at this place. Lord Shiva appeared in his dreams and directed him to build a temple here, where He would be called Sri Jambugeswarar along with Goddess Sri Azhagaambigai. The king built this temple for Lord Shiva and was blessed with a child.

The temple is midsized, as is typical of most of the temples in the Chennai-Kanchipuram-Tiruvallur belt. What strikes us most is, that even in a remote location as this, we saw atleast twenty volunteers from the village were helping the priests in making arrangements for the Panguni Uthram Wedding ceremony to be performed later in the evening today. Hell or Heaven, service to God does not stop and we saw that with our own eyes today.

Being a Sunday and a festival, we could see some devotees from nearby towns or from Chennai, but it is very unlikely that the temple may receive more two or three devotees in a day. Notwithstanding this (assumed) low attendance, the temple is extremely clean and beautifully maintained. The temple priest Nagarajan Gurukkal mentioned that the temple has poojas thrice a day. Temple is open between 730 am to 930 am; 11 am to 1230 pm and later 530pm to 800 pm. A lovely Vimanam each for Swamy and Ambal, Dwajasthambam (shining in sunlight), a big presiding Linga Jambukeswara, a true-to-life Ambal Azhagambikai, Nandi Ganesha, Murugha, Goshtamurthis, Surya, Bhairava and Navagrahas bless the devotees. The temple is said to be 1500 years old and the divinity commensurate with this vintage and Sthala’s greatness are visible. Navagraha shrine, understandably, seems to be a recent addition. The temple receives meagre grant from the Government. As one of the boards indicate, the Tamil Nadu Government has placed a princely sum of 1 lakh in FD, from the interest of which one kaala pooja has to be performed. That translates to approximately a contribution of 33 Rupees per pooja . I must (gratefully) appreciate the will of the devotees and the temple staff. Not only are they maintaining the temple well, but are in the process of constructing the Raja Gopuram on the eastern side. Amazing temple in all its glory & tranquillity. Must-visit temple, if you are the one looking for a non-commercial temple, where you would like to be all alone in the shrines of this vintage temple.

Om Namah Shivaya

Maragadhambika Samedha Murugeshwarar temple, Thaiyur, Near Kelambakkam

 

Maragadhambika Samedha Murugeshwarar temple in Thaiyur is tucked deep inside a tiny village that it is bound to miss our attention.

A temple with Shiva & Shakti in the form of Meenakshi & Chokkanatha of Madurai. They are called  Murugeshwara & Maragadhamba at this temple. Very similar to the tradition in Madurai we get to see a form of Sakthi in the main sanctorum itself (Priyavidai… meaning one who will always be with the Lord).

A mid sized  temple but well maintained by the Priest in charge and the temple management ably supported by the people of the village.

First attraction in this temple is the  Vinayaka Idol  who is said to have been atleast two millennia old. He is called “ Urumetru Ganapathy”. He does not have the normal looks of a  Vinayaka of this generation or of South India. He does not have the ponch and is in the  war attire, with weapon in one hand and Raddish (vegetable ?) in another.  Apparently a reference of him is found in a museum in Japan.  There are also Tamil Brahmi inscriptions at the foot of the Vinayaka Idol.

Lord Murugha is in two forms at this temple, one as Thiruporur Murughan (Swayambhu and with striking resemblance to Thiruporur Murughan whose Idol does not have clear features as Nose and eyes in view of that not being chiselled)  and one as Shanmukha (Installed by Vijayanagara kings).

As said in Skanda Purana, Gajamukhasura Samhara (killing) was at Thiruporur. Lord at THiruporur visits Thaiyur Shiva temple, performs puja to Shiva Linga (as in Thiruchendur) and takes blessings from Shakthi prior to Gajamukhasura Samharam.  Lord at this temple gets the name Murugeshwara in view of this event.

A temple pond is now being restored and is likely to be in good shape in the coming months. Other than festive occasions, foot fall is between negligible and nil at this temple and that is all the more reason why people should be visiting this temple more often.

Being an unpolluted village, I had the blessing of sighting atleast  five hundred cows sitting on the road to the temple. I have not seen such a big flock in my life, all in one location.

 

 

A nice video of this temple is available at : 

Link:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2GzLE36hg4

 

Location of the temple : Thaiyur Village, off OMR, Kelambakkam

Google Map Coordinates: https://goo.gl/maps/jTHjYVeXkLAYkQPs8