Ancient Chola temple at Madambakkam
The Siva temple near Tambaram... an example of architectural excellence.
THE SMALL and little-known suburb of Madambakkam, situated close to
Tambaram, is home to a very ancient temple dedicated to Lord Siva, known
here as Lord Dhenupureeswarar.
This temple, dating back to more than a thousand years, was built during
the reign of the Chola king, Parantaka II, also known as Sundara Chola
(956-973 A.D.), father of Rajaraja Chola I, who constructed the famous
Brihadeeswara temple in Thanjavur. This temple was probably rebuilt of
stone during the reign of Kulottunga Chola I.
The main sanctum of this temple, which houses the presiding deity Lord
Dhenupureeswarar in linga form, faces east. Unlike most shrines, which are
square or rectangular in plan, this one is apsidal in shape (called
gajaprishta vimana in Sanskrit), a feature found in some Chola temples in
and around Chennai.
There are beautiful sculptures of Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma
and Goddess Durga in the niches of the outer walls of the sanctum. Also
seen nearby are shrines for Lord Ganesha, Sri Varadaraja Perumal with Sri
Devi and Bhu Devi, Sri Kapilanathar and Annapurani and Sivasubrahmanya with
Valli and Deivanai.
The sanctum of Goddess Dhenukambal, situated close to the main shrine,
faces south and has a separate entrance in front. There are a number of
cylindrical pillars in front of this shrine with beautifully carved bases.
Beautifully carved deities of a bygone era...
The walls of the main shrine and the Ambal shrine have numerous ancient
epigraphs neatly etched in ancient Tamil script belonging to the reign of
the Chola kings like Kulottunga III and Rajaraja III. There are also some
epigraphs of Jatavarman Sundara Pandya and rulers of the Vijayanagara age
like Kampana Udaiyar, Devaraya II and Sadasiva Raya.
These epigraphs record the gifts of land, lamps and livestock to this
temple and also various other services rendered for conducting festivals
and daily worship. The inscriptions reveal that the original name of Lord
Dhenupureeswarar was Sittreri Udaiya Nayanar and that of Goddess
Dhenukambal was Nampirattiyar.
The Vijayanagara rulers also contributed to the architectural expansion of
this temple. The front mandapa, through which visitors pass to reach the
shrine of Lord Dhenupureeswara belongs to this age. The exquisite
sculptures found on the pillars here are a treasure house of Vaishnavite
and Saivite iconography and reveal the talent of the sculptors of this
period.
Noteworthy among these sculptures are a four-armed Vishnu, Narasimha in a
standing posture, Garuda, Siva and Parvathi, and Muruga.
There is an unfinished gopuram over the main entrance. Adjacent to it is a
large temple tank now brimming with water. Saint Arunagirinathar of the
15th Century A.D., author of the `Tirupugazh,' has composed a hymn on this
temple.
This ancient village, now called Madambakkam, was once known as
Ulaguyyavanda-Chola Chaturvedimangalam. It was part of the ancient
territorial subdivision called Nedugunra Nadu in Puliyur-Kottam situated in
Jayamkonda-Cholamandalam.
Many important festivals like Pradosham and Panguni Uttiram are celebrated
in this temple. During Navarathri, which begins from September 26, many
devotees visit this shrine to offer special pujas. This beautifully
maintained temple-complex, situated in serene surroundings, is a protected
monument under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India.
The Karuvarai is of the Gajabirustam type, and Koshta murtis are Narthana
Vinayagar, Mouna Dhakshinamoorthy, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai. Moolavar is
too small with a cow’s leg scar on the head.
Renowned saint Arunagirinathar of the 15th century composed a hymn of this
temple, Sri Subramaniar, in his "Thirupugazh".
நால்வி தந்தரு வேதா வேதமு
நாடி நின்றதொர் மாயா தீதம
னோல யந்தரு நாதா ஆறிரு ................. புயவேளே
வாட யங்கியவேலா லேபொரு
சூர்த டிந்தருள் வீரா மாமயி
லேறு கந்தவி நோதா கூறென .............. அரனார்முன்
வாச கம்பிற வாதோர் ஞானசு
கோத யம்புகல் வாசா தேசிக
மாடை யம்பதி வாழ்வே தேவர்கள் ...... பெருமாளே.
The sanctum or Garbhagriha of this temple is in the shape of Gajaprishata
(The back of an elephant), which is a special feature of this temple. The
Sanctum Sanctorum is on a pada baandha adhistanam with three patta Kumudam.
The temple from adhistanam to prastaram was built with stone in Gajaprishta
style. Eka tala Gajaprishta Vimanam, built with bricks, is on the prastaram.
https://youtu.be/BGhsknZFGps
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K Rajaram IRS 3226
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