Magaral

Magaral

Paadal Petra Sthalams - Kancheepuram Taluk

God

Thirumagaraleeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Thirubhuvana Nayaki, facing south

Other Deities

Ganesha, Murugan, Arumuga, Naalvar, 63 Nayanmar, Vinayaka, Subramanya, Nataraja, Navagraha, Muruga on an elephant, Bhairava. Sanctum Niches – Ganesha, dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma Durga, Chandikeswara

Magaral is a large east facing temple with two Prakarams. A beautiful tree-lined avenue is followed by a large 5 tiered east facing Rajagopuram. The outer Prakaram is large and spacious. The holy water tank is in the southeast corner of this Prakaram. The inner Prakaram is entered after crossing the Balipeedam, Flagstaff, Nandi Mantapam and the Mahamantapam. Below the flagstaff is Vinayaka. At the entrance are Vinayaka and Muruga as Dwarapalakas. The inner prakaram has an elevated and covered corridor where the 63 Nayanmars are installed followed by other shrines. The Sanctum Sanctorum is in the form of Gajaprashtam (back of a reclining elephant). The main deity is small and slender like the tail of a lizard and mounted on a square base (Aavudayar). The space between the corridor and the sanctum sanctorum is sunken and the shrine of Dakshinamurthy is reached by a small flight of steps.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Agni Theertham (Temple Pond)

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Lemon (Citrus aurantiifolia)

History

Thirugnanasambandar (7th Century CE) has rendered Thevaram Hymns here for the Lord. This temple is mentioned as ‘Sayankonda Chozhamandalathu Porkottathu Magaral’ in one of the stone inscriptions. Inscriptions belonging to Kulothunga Chola, Sundarapandian, Vijayakandagopala Thevar are found here.

Legend

Indra is believed to have worshiped the Lord here at Magaral. The lord is believed to have appeared as a Golden Lizard in front of Rajendra Chola, disappeared underground and reappeared as a Shiva Lingam. Another story heard is that a jackfruit tree from which the fruit used to be sent to Rajendra Chola after offering to the Lord at Chidambaram was burnt down by the temple administrators. Hearing this an angered Rajendra Chola, unwilling to punish devotees serving the Lord, ordered their extradition from there and were told to be taken overnight and dropped off wherever they reached at dawn. This place is said to be Vidimagaral, in between Thiruvallur and Thiruttani.

Directions

Magaral is 16 kilometers south of Kancheepuram on the road going to Uthiramerur. The temple is walking distance from the main road and well connected by public transport.

Stay and Food

None locally. Kancheepuram is the closest for food and stay.

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