Aadaleeswarar Munnur

Aadaleeswarar, Munnur

Saivite Temples, Villupuram District

God

Aadaleeswarar, facing south

Goddess

Brahanayagi, facing west

Other Deities

Siddhi Vinayaka, Sivasubramanian, Easwaran, Viswanadar, 63 Nayanmars, Nataraja, Vijayaanjaneyar, Surya, Bhairava, Kamakshiamman, Palani Andavar, Navagraha, Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara

Aadaleeswarar Munnur is a south facing temple from the Chola era with a temple tank in front. South facing Shiva is not common. Kanchi Periyavar and Kirubhananda Variar are among those who have visited and spent time in this temple. The Vinayaka here is huge. The idol of Muruga and his Peacock Vahana is created from a single stone. Rajaraja Chola, Sambuvarayar, Thirubhuvana Veeran, Nandivarman, Pulikesi II, Adhiyaman, Koperunchingan, Pangalarayan and other kings have worshiped here at Aadaleeswarar Munnur.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple Tank

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vanni (Prosopis cineraria)

History

Aadaleeswarar Munnur is over 1300 years as per stone inscriptions found here. Kulothunga Chola has contributed to the development of this already famous temple then. Later Kulothunga Chola II did more contributions and made this temple grand and huge. He named this village ‘Munnootru Mangalam’ which over time got corrupted to today’s Munnur.

Legend

A cursed Brahaspathi, on the advise of Brahma, came here took bath in the Aadaleeswarar Munnur pond and prayed to the lord to rid himself of the curse and regain his lost glory and name. On the request of Kulothunga Chola the lord and consort are believed to have danced here and hence the name of the Lord. Lord Muruga here is said to have blessed King Nalliakodan of the Sangam Age country called Oimanadu, which was a strip of land between the Chola and Thondai areas, extending from the Bay of Bengal upto Thirukoviloor. Once 300 Brahmins are said to have performed Yaga here at Aadaleeswarar Munnur and hence the name of the village is ‘Munnootru Mangalam’, ‘Munnur’.

Directions

Aadaleeswarar Munnur is about 22 kms on the Tindivanam – Marakkanam Road. Take a right after Brammadesam (different from the other Brahmadesam with the ASI temples) to reach Munnur. Visit the nearby perumal temple also.

Stay and Food

None locally, nearest is Tindivanam

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples