Thazhuva Kuzhaindeeswarar Melpadappai

God

Thazhuva Kuzhaindeeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Kamakshi Amman, facing south

Other Deities

Balavinayaka, Balamuruga at entrance, Tiruvilakkinadar, Nallinakanayaki, Veerabadreswara, Naalvar, Sarabeswarar, Sidhi Vinayaka, Muruga with consorts, Nataraja, Saneeswarar, Bhairava, Navagraha, Surya, Chandran. Sanctum Niches – Narthana Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Chandikeswara, Durga

Thazhuva Kuzhaindeeswarar Melpadappai is a small east facing temple with a single Prakaram. The entrance is through a small 3 tiered east facing Rajagopuram. There are 3 temple cars at the entrance and a Selva Vinayaka temple opposite facing Thazhuva Kuzhaindeeswarar Melpadappai. This place, Padappai is said to be where flower gardens used to exist and flowers were regularly exported in the olden days.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Temple tank

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vilwam (Aegle marmelos) and Mango (Mangifera indica)

History

Thazhuva Kuzhaindeeswarar Melpadappai is one of the 108 temples renovated and consecrated by Nandi Varma Pallava simultaneously on the same day. Thirugnanasambandar (7th Century CE) has mentioned this temple in one of his Hymns, thus this is one of the Vaippu Sthalams.

Legend

The Lingam here at Thazhuva Kuzhaindeeswarar Melpadappai is believed to have been worshiped by Chandran to get relief from Daksha who gave his 27 daughters (considered celestial stars) in marriage to him whereas he paid attention only to one, Rohini. The Lingam here is believed to have been created by the goddess and upon her embrace (Thazhuvi, in Tamil), he was pleased and happy (Kuzhaindhu, in Tamil). Thazhuva Kuzhaindeeswarar Melpadappai is said to have connections with the Kamakshi Amman Temple at Kancheepuram and the Lingam is said to have been discovered in the surrounding forests in the olden days.

Directions

Thazhuva Kuzhaindeeswarar Melpadappai is 7 kilometers west of Vandalur in the Oragadam Road. The temple is inside on the left of this road, the approach being narrow. Refer our map below for exact location.

Stay and Food

None locally except tea shops. Vandalaur, Tambaram and the GST Road have a few restaurants.