Marundeeswarar Temple, Chennai

About Marundeeswarar Temple

Marundeshwara Temple, dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva, is located in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, near the Bay of Bengal. This temple was expanded by the Chola kings in the 11th century AD. Marundeshwarar is known because he told sage Agastya about the healing properties of various herbs and plants. Since then the Marundeshwara Temple has been a place of worship for people with ailments and various problems with their health.

The origin and antiquity of this temple is confirmed by inscriptions found in other temples of the city such as Kapaleeswarar Temple, Virupakshiswara Temple and Thiruvidandai which testify to the existence of Thiruvanmiyur. A new life has been poured into this ancient place of worship, first in 1903 and again in the 1970s. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Architecture of Marundeeswarar Temple

The temple is spread over an area of about 1 acre. Many paintings adorn the pillars of the temple, while stucco figures adorn the gopurams. The temple is partly characteristic of the Pallava dynasty and partly with Chola art. The temple has two entrances, one from East Coast Road and the other from West Tank Street, both of which are decorated with a 5-level gopuram on West Tank Street.

Interesting facts about Marundeeswarar Temple

1. The Somaskanda form of Shiva is housed in a mandapam (hall), which has 36 huge pillars decorated with carvings. Every day between 7 pm and 8.30 pm, the Devasariyan Mandapam of the temple hosts Shaiva Siddhanta lectures.
2. For the past 11 years, a Thirumurai Mandapam has been established in which Tirumura is sung daily. Idols of Shiva in three forms of Shiva, Thiagaraja, Marundeshwara and Nataraja can be found in the temple of Shiva. The last temple is dedicated to Goddess Thirupurasundari, who is actually Goddess Parvati and wife of Marundeshwara. The Samadhi of Pamban Swamigal is also located near the temple.
3. The Marundeshwara temple has two seven-tiered entrances, along with an elaborate tank and a total temple area of one acre. For the sick, the Marundeshwara temple has been a place of medical worship.
4. It is one of the 275 Padal Petra Sthalams, which have no Navagraha, and is the place where two of the most revered Nayanars (Saivai saints), Appar and Thirugnana Sambandar composed their verses during the 7th and 8th centuries glorified the temple. During the 11th century, the Chola kings greatly expanded the temple.

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