Purandeeswarar Marudadu

Saivite Temples, Thiruvannamalai District

God

Purandeeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Indraprasadavalli, facing south

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Muruga with consorts, Swarna Akarshana Bhairava, Navagraha, Nagalingam, 63 Nayanmar, Surya. Sanctum Niches – Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Chandikeswara, Durga

Purandeeswarar Marudadu is a beautiful small temple situated adjacent to its small temple pond. The temple entrance gopuram is 3 tiered and faces west. Two processional idols of the goddess are present here which are taken on procession around the Prakaram on festive days. The Lord is seen by the Nandi through a grilled window (Saalaram). The single Prakaram houses all the shrines and sanctum.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple Pond

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vilwam (Aegle marmelos) and Vanni (Prosopis cineraria)

History

Purandeeswarar Marudadu has many stone inscriptions around the sanctum walls. They mention the contribution of Rajaraja Chola towards perpetual burning of the Lamps. His confidante Shenbagarakiya Uthama Neeli raja Raja Anukku Pallavarayan contributed 70 Goats to the temple. A nearby lake used to be filled with birds called Andril in Tamil (Ibis) and was called Andril Lake. Mention is made of this lake being given as a gift to the Purandeeswarar Marudadu temple. The lake is still present today and called Andal Eri. The inscriptions also reveal that during the period of Kulothunga Chola I this village used to be called Marudhadana Vikrama Cholanallur and later as Vikrama Cholapuram. During the period of Rajaraja Chola I the temple used to be called as Perun Thirukoil and the lord as Perunthirukoil Udaya Udayar.

Legend

Lord Indra (also called Prandran) is believed to have undertaken severe penance and worshiped the Lord here upon the advise of Sage Agastya who brought him here. Moved by his penance the goddess also blessed him and gave Indra and Sage Agastya the Prasadam of Kumkum and thus she is named Indra Prasada Valli.

Directions

Purandeeswarar Marudadu is 7 kilometers before Vandavasi when you go from Melmaruvathur.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest for food would be Vandavasi.

Saivite Temples

Purandeeswarar, Marudadu