My Spiritual Travelogue - Visit to Arulmigu Sri Ranganatha Perumal Temple in Thiruneermalai, near Chennai, Tamilnadu.

THIRUNEER MALAI is a city suburb, in the outskirts of Chennai, located between Pallavaram and Tambaram railway route, just about 4 KM from Pallavaram/Chromepet railway station and is famous for its hill top temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu - Arulmigu Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple. Good transport facilities viz. public transport, taxi or auto etc. are available to reach this place.   Chennai International Airport is just 6 K.M. away from this temple. The uphill temple presents a beautiful panoramic view of the Pallavaram area surrounding the hill, with scenic greenery vegetation; the cool breeze laced with herbal aromatic fragrance when braces us rejuvenates our body and soul both divinely and spiritually.  Other names by which this Thiruneermalai Kshethram is called are "Thoyagiri Kshetram" and "Thothadri".  Thoya means "Water" and Adhiri means "Mountain" (malai). Since the mountain is surrounded by water, this sthalam is named as "Thiru Neermalai.  Apart from the above, this location also presents as a beautiful tourist spot.

A view of the hill top temple 

Panoramic view of the Pallavarama area surrounding the Hill top

This temple is one of the 108 Vaishnavite shrines under 'Divya Desam' and belongs to a period more than 2000 years old, as mentioned in a Tamil culvert found inside the temple

A Tamil culvert inside the temple

Divya Desams are temples where Azhwars worshipped Lord Vishnu, as the presiding deity.  The Azhwars during the early medieval period of Tamil history (between the 7th and 10th centuries CE) worshipped Vishnu and his avatars through their hymns. This collection of their hymns is known as Divya Prabhandham. These Azhwars when worshipped a temple through their hymn, then these temples become Mangalasasanam temples which means "praying that the holy shrines be happy all the time".  Their divine hymns are popularly known as Nalayira Divya Prabantham (நாலாயிர திவ்யப்  பிரபந்தம் ) The Divya Prabandham is in the form of adoration of the deities of 108 temples (Divya Desams). The hymns verses in simple Tamil explain what the Vedas, Upanishads and Vyasa's Brahmasutras say.

A Divya Desam (Tamil: திவ்ய தேசம்) is one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the works of the Tamil Azhwars (saints). Divya means "premium" and Desam indicates "place" (temple). Of the 108 temples, 105 are in India, one is in Nepal, and last two are outside the Earthly realms.  The last two are Thirupalkadal and Paramapadam.  Tirupalkaddal is the ocean of milk and paramapadam is the Srivaikuntam where lord Narayana resides. Only holy souls are blessed to worship these two Divya Desams after death and surrender under the lotus feet of Narayana. The Divya Desams are revered by the 12 Azhvars in the Divya Prabandha, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses.

The presiding deities Lord Vishnu/Perumal in these Divya Desams are found in various Thirukkolams (postures) - Kidantha Thirukkolam (Sleeping posture) in 27 Divyadesams, Veetrirundha Thirukkolam (Sitting posture) in 21 Divyadesams, Nindra Thirukkolam (Standing posture) in 60 Divyadesams.

The presiding deity Lord Vishnu gives darshan to His devotees from different direction in different Divys Desam shrines.   In these 108 Divya Desams, which are as follows:

Towards East direction 79 Divyadesams
Towards West direction 19 Divyadesams
Towards North direction 3 Divyadesams
Towards South direction 7 Divyadesams

Tamil Azhwars Thirumangai Azhwar, Peyyazhwar, Thirumazhisai Azhwar, and Boothaththazhwar  mentioned about this temple in their Pasurams ' Naalayira Divya Prabhandham' - 4000 Tamil verses.

To mention a few - - Tirumangai Azhwar in his  Tamil Pasuram – 1068-77, Peyaazhwar in his Pasuram – 2297, Tirumazhisaiazhwar in his Pasuram – 2416 ( as found in Naalaayira Divya Prabhandam) worshipped the Lord Vishnu here in this temple through their hymns.

A great Tamil Scholar Sri Pillai Perumal Iyengar who sang 108 Tirupathi Anthathi also sang about the location of the 108 Divya Desam in a very clear understanding way chronologically  - 

"ஈரிருபதாம் சோழம் ஈரொன்பதாம் பாண்டி,

ஓர் பதின் மூன்றாம் மலைநாடு, ஓரிரண்டாம் சீர்நடு நாடு

ஆறோடீரெட்டு தொண்டை அவ்வடநாடு ஆறிரண்டு

கூறுதிரு நாடு ஒன்றாக் கொள்" !

The  temple complex is consisting  of  two parts - one temple at the foothill and another temple at the hilltop.  In these two temples, Lord Perumal gives darshan to devotees in four postures - standing as Sri Neervanna Perumal - (நின்ற கோலம்), walking as Sri Ulagalanda Perumal (நடந்த கோலம்), sitting - as calm Sri Narasimha (இருந்த கோலம் ​), and lying as Sri Ranganatha Perumal (கிடந்த கோலம்).  

  

Two views of the base temple

Temple Gopura

At the base temple, the Lord appears in standing posture - 'Neervanna Perumal'.  As per the legendary details  Saint Valmiki after worshipping Lord Vishnu as Sri Ranganatha Perumal in Kidantha kolam, Sri Narasimhar in Iruntha kolam, Sri Thiruvikraman in Nadanthankolam, he came to worship Lord Rama at the base temple.  Here the Lord gave darshan as Sri Rama with his consort Sita Devi as Lakshmi Pirati, Aadishesha as Lakshman, Sangu and Chakram as Baratha and Satrukna, Lord Vigneshwar as Sugreeva and Garuda as Hanuman. 

It is that significance this temple has got blesses those whose marriage has been delayed or not happened for long time will get their wish fulfilled when they come to this temple and pray to the Lord.  

Another significance to this kshethram is  that Lord Thirumal (Vishnu) has eight 'Sayanams' - "Ashtavidha Sayanams"  lying postures in different places.  Those are - Vadapathra Sayanam in Sri Villiputhur, Veera Sayanam in Trivellore, Thala Sayanam in Thirukkadal Mallai, Utthana Sayanam in Thirukudanthai, Tharpa Sayanam in Thirupullani, Bhujanga Sayanam in Sri Rangam, Boga Sayanam in Chidambaram and here in Thiruneermalai - Manicka Sayanam.   

Yet another significance attached to this temple is that this kshethram is known as 'Swayamvakta Kshethram - that is this place manifested by its own without any manly efforts, to bestow Their gracefulness and serve all kinds of livings, non livings etc. in the universe.  There are eight kshethrams in this category - they are  Sri Rangam, Sri Mushnam, Tirupati, Salakgramam, Naimicharanyam, Pushkaram, Badri and Thothari (alias) Thiruneermalai.  

Yet another importance as found in the temple record is that the Empress of Carnatic Music Bharath Rathna Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi - Sri Sadasivam got married in this temple only.  

One more significance this temple bears is - Lord Perumal gives darshan to devotees only in one posture in other kshethrams,  but here in Thiruneermalai, the Lord gives darshan in four postures - standing, walking, sitting and lying.   More so, there are separate sannadhies in this temple for Sri Ramar, Sri Andal, Sri Anima Malar Devi, Sri Anjaneya.  

Sri Anjaneya Sannadhi

Sri Anima Malar Devi sannadhi

Sri Ramar sannadhi

The temple in the hilltop is one of the famous and very significance attached   hill top temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu.  The hill is spread to a wide span of 15 acre area.  There are 200 steps to climb for one to reach the temple.  The main Gopura faces the south direction.  The main deity Sri Ranganathar in lying posture south, facing eastern side Sri Thrivikrama in walking posture, and Sri Santha (calm) Narasimha in eastern side in sitting posture are giving darshan to devotees. Opposite to the Perumal sannadhi, His consort Thayar sannadhi is located facing east.  

 

Entranace to the uphill temple

Steps to the uphill temple and a way to Sri Hanuman temple 

View of the uphill temple 

About 2000 years back, Saint Thirumangai Alwar came to this place to worship the Lord Perumal.  At that time, the hill was surrounded by water and he could not reach the temple to worship the Lord.  He stayed in a place Manthragiri (Thirumangaipuram), opposite to the temple, waited there for six months and when the water receeded, he reached the temple and happily worshipped the Lord.

In this kshethram, four Devine water sources (Pushkarani) are located viz. Sheera Pushkarani, Karunya Pushkarani, Swarna Pushkarani and Siddha Pushkarani.  As per Lord Krishna's saying  in Brahmanda Puranam, Arjun bathed in these Pushkaranies and got rid of his sins.  

Important festivals being celebrated in this temple are Vaikunta Ekadasi and the annual Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month Chittirai, Panguni Utthiram are some to mention during when very large pilgrim crowd gathers here to worship the Lord.

Foremost place of prayer:  As seen in the legendary tales, in the literary evidences and in available culverts, this kshethram is considered to be one among the foremost places of prayer.  It is believed that a day of holy deeds done in this kshethram is equivalent to several years of holy deeds done in other kshetherams.  With these significances, this kshethram attracts lots of devotees from different parts of the country to worship Lord Vishnu here.  

Prayers being offered at this temple are -  those who are married but don't have a child when they come out of the hilltop temple after offering their prayers for a child, tie in the sthala virutcham tree 'veppalai' (ஸ்தல விருட்ச மரம் - வெப்பாலை)  a cloth containing a small black stone (கருங்கல்) along with  1 Rupee and when their prayers are answered by the Lrod (after the child birth) they come to this kshethram and  

Temple Open timings:  Daily in the morning from 7.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon

                                            in the evening from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. 

The above timings are  subject to change during festival and important days.  

வணக்கம் 

My Spiritual Travelogue - Visit to Arulmigu Sri Thenugambal udanuraiSri Tenupureswarar Temple, Madambakkam, Chennai, Tamilnadu

அருள்மிகு ஶ்ரீதேனுகாம்பாள் உடனுறை ஶ்ரீதேனுபுரீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோவில் is located in Madambakkam, Chennai district, Tamilnadu, which is situated in between Tambaram and Rajakilpakkam on Tambaram - Velacherry main road, 6 KM from Tambaram Railway station and 3 KM from Rajakilpakkam.  Public transport buses, mini buses are available to reach this temple.  Originally, this place was called by the name  'Thiru Madampathi' by the then Tamil Saints in their works and later on over period of time the name 'Thiru Madambakkam ' emerged into existence.  

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.  The main deity is in the form of a Shiva Linga, a Suyambu Linga (manifested on its own), is facing the east.  The Sthala Virutcham is Vilwa tree, (Sthala virutcham means the place/tree where the Lord appeared or manifested in the first instance).  This has got great significance in worshipping the Lord which is considered to be equally worshipping the Lord Himself after His manifestation.  The Theertham is Kapila Theertham.

Main Entrance

This temple is more than 1000 years old, built by a Chola King by name Paranthga Cholan II during the tenth century A.C. 954 - 971, later on additions were made by Pandya, Cheran, Pallava and Vijayanagara Kings who ruled South India / Tamilnadu.  This temple is being protected by Archelogical Survey of India from 04-05-1996.

The history of the temple legend narrates the event or story behind the manifestation of the Lord as thus - 

Once, Emperor Sagara, for the well being of his kingdom and his subjects conducted the great Aswamedha Yagna and sent a white horse (Royal horse) to go round, followed by King's army, to the neighboring kingdoms to find out is there any enemy against him (his fame).   It is a customary in those days that great Kings /Emperors who wish to gauge the acceptance level of their supremacy popularity or fame with other rulers, they perform Ashwametha Yagna.  When the horse enters  another   kingdom, that king either to fight or accept the supremacy of the King performing the Ashwamedha Yagna.  Indra being jealous of Sagara's fame, conspicuously tied the Royal horse near sage Kabila Maharishi ashram and disappeared.   Sagara's son who came that way, on seeing the horse tied near sage Kapila Maharishi construed that he only captured the horse and began to torture him fiercely.  Disturbed in his penance by the unruly misdeed behaviour of Sagara's son, sage Kapila opened his eyes and cursed him.   This curse had the very bad impact for Sagara's generations and affected them miserably for generations after generations.  King Bagheeratha who came under Sagara's subsequent generation took the advise of Guru Sage Vasishta performed severe penance, pujas to Lord Shiva, brought river Ganga to earth and cleansed and got rid of all sins and curses of his ancestors.

Sage Kapila too felt bad about his curse to the Sagara dynasty.   He worshipped Lord Shiva fiercely to attain  salvation to Sagara family.  While performing Puja to Shivlinga, he kept the Shivlinga in his left hand and offered flowers through his right hand.  Lord Shiva appeared before him and pointed out his misdeed.  But,  sage Kapila opined that he did not want to place the Linga on top of the impure earth. The Lord contended that there is no impure earth and everywhere earth was loved by him and what  he did was not right.  He ordained him to born as a cow, worship Him as a Swayambhu Linga and then to attain salvation.  So born as a cow,  sage Kabila worshipped the Lord by pouring milk by itself on its own on the small Shivalinga (Swayambhu Linga) in a hidden place.  The Shepard who was the owner of the cow on seeing this scene of the cow wasting the milk,  came to know about its deceitful nature in milking, pinned its teats with a long rod.  Unable to bear the pain, the cow while moving from there hit the Shivlinga with its rear leg  from where blood started oozing out.  The Shepard fainted on seeing this miracle.  Lord Shiva appeared before sage Kabila who is in the form of cow, blessed him and merged him with the Linga.  Thus, sage Kabila who was in the form of cow (cow is also known as Thenu - Kamathenu in Sanskrit) worshipped Lord Shiva (Lord Eshwar).  Thus, the Lord Shiva in this place is called as 'Thenupureeswarar.'   Later a temple was erected here.

     

    

Another Sthala puranam narrates like this - Once Lord Devendran was very hungry and while wandering in the sky saw a beautiful nandavanam (garden) in the earth and there saw a mango fruit in an attractive tree.  He plucked that fruit and ate it.  One of the guards in that garden saw this and informed sage Agasthiyar who nurtures this garden.  The sage was very furious and cursed the eater to get severe incurable stomach pain.  The significance of this mango tree is that the tree will bear only one mango fruit in a year and the sage will very devotedly offer that fruit to Lord Shiva on the Chitra  Pournami day (full moon day in the Tamil month of Chitrai) and worship Him.  As the fruit was stolen by Lord Devendran, the sage Agasthiyar got wild and given the curse to the eater.  When Lord Devendran  came to know about the root cause of his suffering through  Naradha Muni, He came to sage Agasthiyar and pleaded mercy on him and to save him from his curse.   The sage instructed Lord Devendran to go to Thiru Madampathi  and worship there Lord Shiva daily early morning when the sun rises in the east continuously for 45 days and on the last day should be in such a way to coincide with that of Chitra Pournami day.  Accordingly, Lord Devendran worshipped Lord Shiva for 45 days and then Lord Shiva took the form of a Brahmin and offered him honey to drink.  Lord Devendran drank the honey and got His ailment completely cured.      Lord Devendran came to know that Brahmin was none else than Lord Shiva only and worshipped Him in that place. Since the honey which is known as 'தேன்' in Tamil  was offered by Lord Eshwar - 'ஈஸ்வரன்' that deity was called as 'Thenupureeswarar'.

 

  

The  speciality of this temple Linga is that it is a small Linga self manifested, measuring about just 2 inches placed on a pedestal which is about 8-9 inches. Another aspect of the significance of this Linga is that it still bore the brunt of the scar stamped by the cow's rear leg while moving in pain. During special Pooja occasions a silvery head cover in the form of a snake holding like an umbrella to the Linga is being bedecked.  Worshipping the Lord in this temple is considered astrologically to be very powerful which will cleanse all the adverse planetary effects.

                                                   

                                                              ஶ்ரீதேனுபுரீஸ்வர்

                                                                      

                                                                 ஶ்ரீதேனுகாம்பாள்

Lord Shiva's consort Goddess Thenukambal graces from a separate shrine facing the south.  We can see sage Kapila in the form of a sculpture on a pillar in the front hall, holding the Linga in his left hand and a garland on the right hand.  There is a separate shrine for Lord Muruga with His consorts Valli and Deivanai. Great Tamil poet Arunagirinathar praised in his hymns beautifully about The Lord of this temple  - 

அருணகிரிநாதர் அருளிய திருமாடம்பாக்கம் திருப்புகழ் -

வேண்டுதல் நிலை

வஞ்சம்  மில்லா மனம் வேண்டும்

உன்னை வாழ்த்திப்பாட தினம் வேண்டும்

எண்ணமெல்லாம் நல்லெண்ணம் வேண்டும்

கரம் இரண்டும் உனை கூப்பி வணங்கிட வேண்டும்

இரு விழியாவும் நின் எழில் காட்சியை கண்டிட வேண்டும்

நித்தம் நின் நினைவே நிலை பெற வேண்டும்

மாடம் பதி பெருமானே.

மேலும் ஶ்ரீதேனுபுரீஸ்வர்ரை நோக்கித் தொழுகிறார் -

கால் இடறி நின்றாலும் 

      கை தளர்ந்து நின்றாலும்

உடல் மெலிந்து நின்றாலும் 

      கண் இரண்டும் இருள் சூழ நின்றாலும்

நாலும் பேசும் நாவடங்கி நின்றாலும் 

     என்றும் உனை நினைக்கும்

மனம் மாறாமல் வேண்டும்

     சிறந்தோங்கிடும் திருமாடம்பதி 

உறையும் சிவபெருமானே...

We can see the paintings of Ashtathikpalakas – the authorities of the eight directions on the upper wall on top of Sri Nandeeswarar.  The beautiful sculptures sculpted by the artisans on the pillar show the skillful talents  which will bear testimony to the matchless, unparalleled skill of those sculptors.  the imaginary creativity of the artisans of those days whose devotion and the Devine power they have in themselves are praiseworthy.  Some of the worth mentioning sculptures are -  for  Lord Sarabeswara, veena Vinayaka, Lord Muruga on elephant holding a cock, Shiva being worshipped by  Lord Vishnu along with Brahmma, Shiva with Ganga and Parvathi, Shiva on Vasuki snake, Lord Dakshinamurthy with His consort, Bhairava, Sri Hanuman worshipping Lord Rama with Mother Sita on his lap, Brhamma with five faces etc.. - one  should not miss to see the creativity and the imaginary skills of the artisans.  These are really an enjoyable feast to the eyes of those who love stone sculptures.

Regular Pujas are being performed to Lord Sarabeswara on Sunday evenings during Raghu Kalam timings..  Those facing problems due to planetary transitions pray to Lord Sarabeswara.  Separate sannadhies are there for Sri Vinayaka, Goddess Durga, Lord Dakshinamurthi, Lord Vishnu, Lord Varadharaja with His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi, Lord Budhan.  This shrine is considered to be a remedial sthalam for those suffering with stammering speech if the pray and offer green pulses as neivedhya. They can also offer Tulsi garland and lit lamps with  ghee.  There is a sannadhy for Lord Bhairava (Vaduga  Bairava) and those who worship him earnestly gets their problems which are unsolved for a longer period of time resolved or eradicated very soon.   Such a powerful Lord keeps His worshippers manage their time effectively. They lit lamps in coconut shell and pumpkin on specific days Ashtami days.  Special garlands made of cashew tree flower and red arali  flower tied alternatively in 12 sets are offered.  

Important festivals being celebrated in this temple are - Chitra Pournami day, Panguni Uthram, ten days of annual brahmotsavam, regular Pradosham days etc.   Inspite of these celebrations, separate festivals are being celebrated on Sri Narasimha Jayanthi, Thai Krithigai, Adi Krithigai, Maha Shivrathri, Navrathri, Skanda Shasti,  Magalir Puja, Karthigai Somavaram days etc. 

Temple timings:  Morning - 6.00 a.m. To 12.00 noon and evening 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Address: Arulmigu Thenugambal Thenupureeswarar Thirukoil,

               Thirumadambakkam, Chennai - 600 126, Tamilnadu.

                                                      

                                                                      வணக்கம்