Thirumalper, Tirumalpur
Padal Petra Sthalam - Vellore District
God
Manikandeswarar, facing east. Other names – Dayanideeswarar, Pravaleswarar, Sadharoopar
Goddess
Anjanaatchi, facing south. Other names – Karunai Nayagi, Karunambigai
Other Deities
Sanctum Niches – Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu Brahma, Chandikeswara, Ashtabuja Durga. Inner Prakaram – Surya, naalvar, Choleeswarar, Pancha Maadhar, Balaganapthi, Uchishta Ganapathi, Chidambareswarar, Gajalakshmi, Muruga with consorts, Veerabhadra, Bhairava, Chandran, Vallabha Vinayakar, Mahavishnu
Thirumalper is a large east facing temple with two Prakarams. A large 5 tiered Rajagopuram leads you into the outer prakaram where many trees, flowering plants and a Goshala present a serene picture. The goddess is in a separate south facing shrine in this Prakaram which can be entered through a Mantap with a small Gopuram. The inner Prakaram has a large Mantapa with pillars beautifully carved with Dakshinamurthy, Surya, Mahavishnu, Balasubramanian, Naalvar, Vinayaka, Muruga, Brahma, Goddess worshiping Shiva in the form of a bow, Kaalinganarthana, Kamadhenu, Veerabadra, Bhairava and various other motifs. A beautiful idol of Vallabha Vinayaka with 10 hands is seen at the entrance along with the Dwarapalakas of the main deity’s sanctum sanctorum. The goddess shrine is south facing and separate. There are fish and elephant carvings on the ceilings of the Mantap in the Goddess shrine. The processional deity of Lord Vishnu here at Thirumalper is seen with a lotus and his eye in each hand in accordance with the legend of the temple.
Holy water (Theertham) – Chakra Theertham
Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vilwam (Aegle marmelos)
History
Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasar (7th Century CE) have rendered Thevaram Hymns for the lord here at Thirumalper.
Legend
When Mahavishnu hurled his Chakra at Sage Dadheesi the blades got blunted. Vishnu was praying to Shiva for a new Chakra by an offering of 1000 Lotus flowers and he fell short by one. In its place he took out his eyes and offered. Shiva provided him with a new Chakra. Hence the holy water here is called Chakra Theertham and the name of the place is Thirumalper. Amman and Chandra are also believed to have worshiped the lord here at Thirumalper.
Directions
Thirumalpur is on the railway line between Kancheepuram and Arakonam. Suburban trains from Chennai Beach station reach Thirumalpur which is about 12 kms north west of Kancheepuram.
Stay and Food
Tea shops available locally
