Dhenupureeswarar Madambakkam

Dhenupureeswarar, Madambakkam

Saivite Temples, Tambaram Taluk

God

Dhenupureeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Dhenugambal, facing south

Other Deities

Bala Vinayakar, Mahaganapathy, Varadaraja Perumal, Subramanya, Sage Kapila, Natarajar, Rishabaroodar, Meenakshi Sundareswarar, Thirupurandagar, Kaalasamha Moorthy, Thambathya Dakshinamurthy, Lingotnavar, Bhairava, Surya, Navagraha, Sarabeswara, Uchishta Ganapathy, Gangapureeswarar Sanctum Niches – Nritha Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara

Dhenupureeswarar Madambakkam is a large east facing temple with a huge stone entrance gateway. The temple has two Prakarams. The outer Prakaram has the Nandavanam (Garden), Maadapalli and Yagasalai. The inner Prakaram houses all the deities and the sanctum sanctorum, Mahamantapam, Ardha Mantapam, Mukha Mantapam, Vaahana Mantapam, Alankara Mantapam. The Mantapas have some beautiful carvings. The sanctum sanctorum is in the form of a Gajaprastam (reclining elephant). The unique Shiva Lingam here is very small and slender said to resemble the horns of a Cow. There is a temple tank to the south of the temple. The temple is under the maintenance of Archaeological Survey of India.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Kapila Theertham

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Dhenupureeswarar Madambakkam was built by Sundara Cholan (Paranthaga Chola II) between 954-971 CE along with his Minister Anirudha Brahmadhirajan. The temple could have been converted to stone by Ulakuyavanda Kulothunga Chola I as the place was also called as Anirudhamangalam and Ulakuyavanda Chola Chaturvedimangalam. The ancient names of the presiding deity and his consort were Sitteri Aavudaya Nayanar and Nambirattiyar. The change in names could have happened during the Vijayanagar Period in the 14th Century CE. Saint Arunagirinadar (15th Century CE) has visited and sung the praise of Lord Muruga here at Dhenupureeswarar Madambakkam.

Legend

Sage Kapila did the mistake of performing rituals to the lord with his left hand and was born as a Cow (Dhenu). To get relieved of the sin he, as a cow, was worshiping the Lord by shedding milk on the Shivalingam. The pleased Lord appeared and gave his original form back. This Lingam was discovered by the Chola King who saw the vision in his dream and built the temple at Dhenupureeswarar Madambakkam. Indra who was cursed by Sage Agastya is also believed to have worshiped the Lord here at Dhenupureeswarar Madambakkam.

Directions

Take the left before Shell petrol bunk after Rajakilpakkam while going from Medavakkam to Tambaram and drive for about 3 kilometers to reach Dhenupureeswarar Madambakkam.

Stay and Food

Local snack shops are available. Place of stay is Chennai.

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