Thadagapureeswarar Madam

Thadagapureeswarar, Madam

Saivite Temples, Thiruvannamalai District

God

Thadagapureeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Sornambikai, facing east

Other Deities

Varasidhdhi Vinayaka, Muruga with consorts, Navagraha, 108 Lingams, Sahasra Lingam, Sapta Madar, Siva Suryan. Sanctum Niches – Narthana Ganapathi, Veena Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, Vishnu Durga, Chandikeswara

Thadagapureeswarar Madam is a large east facing temple that is entered through a large 5 tiered Rajagopuram at the South. Facing you as you enter is a large Vasanta Mantapam with many pillars. These pillars are cubicle in the bottom, center and top and with multifaceted circular portions in between. Some of them have some nice carvings on them. A very beautiful Nandi faces the Lord from the outer Prakaram. The sanctum sanctorum is reached through the Mahamantapam and Artha Mantapam. Goddess is in a separate east facing shrine in the outer Prakaram. There are two Prakarams here. The inner Prakaram houses the Sanctum Sanctorum.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple Tank (Thadagam)

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Thadagapureeswarar Madam was built by Kulothunga Chola (1070 – 1120 CE) as per inscriptions here. There are other inscriptions belonging to the times of Rajaraja II, Sundara Pandyan and Vijayanagar Kings mentioning the donation of Villages and additions to the temple. There are also some mentions of justice including one asking two hunters who accidentally killed a man to donate sheep for burning three quarters of a Lamp in the temple (24 sheep for a quarter of a lamp, 48 sheep half a lamp, 72 sheep for three quarters of a lamp, 96 sheep for a lamp are measured). In 1381 CE one Uttamanambi of Tirupugalur made the Sapta Madhar carvings and gifted for lands to the temple. In 1363 CE one Kandar Kuli Marayan built the outer Kalyanamandapa.

Legend

Thadagapureeswarar Madam was built by Kulothunga Chola after he discovered the Shiva Lingam while digging a pond (Thadagam) here.

Directions

Thadagapureeswarar Madam is 15 kilometers east of Chetpet via Nedungunam. Thadagapureeswarar Madam is 26 kilometers west of Vandavasi via Mazhaiyur and taking a left before Nedungunam. If you are visiting Seeyamangalam, drive onwards for another 4 kilometers to reach Thadagapureeswarar Madam.

Stay and Food

None locally. Closest for food would be Vandavasi or Chetpet.

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples