Dharmanadeswarar Mandakolathur

Dharmanadeswarar, Mandakolathur

Saivite Temples, Thiruvannamalai District

God

Dharmanadeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Ambal, facing east

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Muruga with consorts, Navagraha

Dharmanadeswarar Mandakolathur is a small east-facing temple with a 3 tiered Rajagopuram in the east. A temple car is present and kept outside the Gopuram in a tall shed. A single prakaram houses all the shrines and the Sanctum Sanctorum. This is one of the Saptha (seven) Kailasha temples of Lord Shiva on the southern banks of Cheyyar River. The others are Shiva temples at Thamaraipakkam, Vasudevampattu, Thenpandripattu, Pazhangovil, Narthampoondi, and Karaipoondi.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Cheyyar River

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Dharmanadeswarar Mandakolathur is an ancient temple, but historical information is not available as of now.

Legend

Dharmanadeswarar Mandakolathur is one of the Saptha Kailasha temples in this area. Lord Muruga is believed to have built the Saptha Kailasha temples in the southern banks of Cheyyar River to counter the sin of injuring seven Sages (Puthirandan, Puruhudan, Pandurangan, Bodhavan, Bodhan, Koman, and Vaman) performing penance in the hills in the region with his spear (Vel). This event happened in a quest to create a Theertham for his Mother Parvati to perform ablutions for the Shiva Lingam she created out of the earth at Vazhapandal. According to the same legend Muruga is also believed to have created seven temples in the northern banks of the river which are called Saptha Kandams.

Directions

Dharmanadeswarar Mandakolathur is 10 kilometers east of Polur on the road going to Chetpet. After crossing the bridge across Cheyyar River and Karaipoondi (where there is another Saptha Kailash Temple), take a left at Mattapiriyur junction to reach Dharmanadeswarar Mandakolathur. There is a small Perumal temple also nearby.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest for food would be Polur.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples