Pitcheeswarar Mamandur

God

Pitcheeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Nagavalli, facing south

Other Deities

Manicka Vinayagar, Selva Vinayagar, Naalvar, Muruga with Consorts, Dakshinamurthy, Vinayaka, Vishnu, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara, Kala Bhairava, Navagraha, Chandran, Suryan, Naga Kannigal

Pitcheeswarar Mamandur is a beautiful temple adjoining a lotus pond and lush green fields around. A large Peepal tree with Ganesha and Naga Kannigal below is seen here. The sanctum sanctorum is in the form of Gajaprashtam.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Gnanatheertham (also called Thavalaganga Theertham)

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Betel, Bauhinia

History

Though the structure and the style of the vimaanam look ancient, reliable historical information is not available as of now.

Mythology

Sage Mandooga was cursed by Sage Durvasa to become a frog after he found him in yoga under water here without a concern of the world. He was also given the path to get relieved of the curse by going and worshiping Lord Vishnu in Azhagarmalai, near Madurai. Because of the legend of Sage Mandooga the place received its name as Mamandoor. Frogs are believed to visit this temple to pay obeisance to their guru, sage Mandooga. The lord was named as Pitcheeswarar by Goddess Saraswathi who worshiped him with Pitchi flowers (a jasmine). Both Betel and Bauhinia, the holy flora here also have a mythological connection.

Directions

Pitcheeswarar Mamandur is a kilometer on the right inside Mamandur Village after you cross the Palar bridge after Chengalpet.

Stay and Food

None locally. The TNSTC Motel nearby has a restaurant and there are a lot of coffee houses on the highway.