Bhoomeeshwarar Temple, Marakanam







 Bhoomeeshwarar Temple, Marakanam:
       This thousand year old Temple is situated in Marakanam  a little more than 100kms from  Madras abetting  the  East  Coast  Road  on the  junction of  ECR and Marakanam - Tindivanam  Road. The  temple is supposed to have been built during the  reign of Raja Raja Cholan.  There are plenty of inscriptions on the  walls outside the  inner sanctorum of the temple  mentioning about the gift of  money  for lighting of the  temple lamp and also gift of salt  pans to the temple. The  presiding  deity  is Bhoomeeshwarar in a big Linga form facing  East. Amman  here is called Girijambigai in a separate Sannidhi with a Nandi  in the front  unusual for a Amman  Sannidhi. There are separate niches for Brahma in the  North, Vishnu in the West and Dakshinamoorthi in the  South on the  outer walls of Ardha  mandapam.  On the South west corner of the Verandah  there are beautiful bronze statues of Somaskandar and Tani Amman with exquisite workmanship.

        In the good olden days Marakanam has been called by various  names like  Raja Raja Peralam,  Pattinam,  Eyirppattinam,  and Vikrama Chozha  Chaturvedhimangalam.  The  Mahamandapam  surrounding the  sanctum has pillars with  beautiful stone carvings evidencing the antiquity of the temple.   The  more than 1000 year old temple is worth a visit.  It is open from  6 am to12 noon and 4 pm to  8 pm.

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