Irudhayabaleeswarar Thirunindravur

Irudhayabaleeswarar Thirunindravur

Saivite Temples, Thiruvallur District

God

Irudayabaleeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Maragathambal, facing south

Other Deities

Lakshmi Vinayagar, Suryan, Navagrahas, Dakshinamurthy, Durga, Chandikeswarar, 63 Nayanmar

Irudhayabaleeswarar Thirunindravur faces east and has been recently nicely renovated. The inner roof of the temple is fashioned like that of a heart divided into four compartments probably displaying Poosalaar’s (one of the 63 Nayanmars) mental conception. The ancient architecture of the Pallavas is evident here, particularly in the sanctum sanctorum which is in the form pf Gajaprastam (Sitting Elephant). Poosalar’s idol is seen in front of the Shiva Lingam.

Holy Water – No information

Holy Tree – Iluppai (Madhuca longifolia)

History

As per legend the temple was constructed by Narasimha Pallava II who constructed the famous Kailasanadha Temple in Kancheepuram.

Legend

Poosalar (one of the Nayanmars), a Shiva devotee and a poor man visualized the lord and his temple in his heart, but did not have the wealth to build the temple. He used to sit under an Iluppai tree in Thirunindravur and meditate all day conceptualizing this temple and building it stone by stone in his mind. Finally it was ready and he invited Lord Shiva himself for the consecration. Parallely King Narasimha Pallava II (also called Rajasimha Pallava) of Kanchi built another temple and wanted to perform the consecration ceremony. The Lord appeared in his dream and said he cannot be present for the ceremony as another temple and devotee required his presence on the said day. Intrigued the king inquired about this to his ministers to no avail. He came to Thirunindravur area and met with the same answer –  no one knew of this temple. But they told him about Poosalar. The king visited poosalar, understood his desire and built Irudhayabaleeswarar Thirunindravur.

Directions

Adjacent to the 108 Divya Desam Vishnu temple in Thirunindravur, which is before Thiruvallur and is well connected with Chennai by rail and road.

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