Temple Visits of Parantharami Mani

 Dharmeshwar Temple, Manimangalam. This  Temple is situated at  a distance of 10 km from TAMBARAM on the western side. This is a Chola period temple  more than 1000 years old.  Manimangalam was one of the Chaturvedhi Mangalam in Chola Era wherein  Lands and temples were given to Vedic scholars by the  kings for performing  rituals for the well being of the country.  Manimangalam  is the place where the Pallavas led by Mahendra Varman and his son Narasimha Varman  defeated the forces of  Pulikesin II in 7th century. The place  is mentioned in "Siva kamiyin  Sabatham" by Kalki.         The  Sannadhi of Dharmeshwar  is facing  East under   a Gajaprashta  Vimanam.  Only  'Oru Kala ' Pooja is performed  in the  temple  and the Gurukkal who lives  nearby has to be called for Deeparadhana. The  Moolavar  Sannidhi is cool and divine.  On the  outer  walls of Sannidhi  there are Koshta  idols of Vinayaka, Dakshinamoorthi, Vishnu, Durgai like  any other  siva temple. There is a

 Rajagopalaswami Perumal Temple, Manimangalam . This is a nearly  1000 year old chola era temple situated 10km from Tambaram in Manimangalam a Chaturvedi Mangalam. It is said that it is a Parikara sthalam for getting back one’s eyesight. The  Moolavar  Rajagopalaswami is in a standing posture with Shangu and Chakara in both hands. The Thayar here is Shengamalavalli  having a separate shrine.  The temple has a rich source of epigraphical inscriptions on its walls  both in Tamil and Sanskrit relating to the period of chola kings from 11th to 13th century.  Ramanuja is said to have visited this temple.  Manimangalam was once a Chaturvedhi Mangalam  a village donated by kings to Vedic scholars. The  temple which was once endowed by kings with properties is now crying for attention and the only festival conducted is Garda Sevai in Purattasi month. The huge bell outside the Sannadhi must be more than 400 years old and a treasure.

 Eri Katha Ramar Temple, Maduranthakam         This temple situated on the Chennai-Tindivanam national Highway. The presiding deity is Kothanda Ramar  and the Perumal here is Karunakara Perumal as Utsavamurthy worshipped by Ramar. Thayar here is called Janakavalli Thayar. The temple is situated on the entrance to Maduranthakam town which was a Chaturvedi Mangalam during the time of Cholas. The temple has a real-time story during the rule of East India Company. There is a big lake extending upto 2400 acres near to the temple. During monsoon time every year the lake used to overflow breaching the tank bunds. Mr Lionel Blaze was the Collector of Chingleput district during the years 1795-99. During one of these years during monsoon the tank was overflowing due to heavy rains. At that time Thayar Sannidhi in the Temple was being reconstructed and big granite boulders and pillars were being used.        On seeing this the Collector who was camping near the lake wanted to use the granite boul

  Dhenupureeswarar Temple, Madambakkam        This is a 1000 year old Temple situated in Madambakkam on the Velachery - Tambaram road  3 kms inside from main road. The Temple is believed to have been built by Chola King Sundara Chola (954- 971) father of the great Raja Raja Chola and his minister Anirudha Brahmadhirajan. Madambakkam was called Anirudhamangalam and Ulakuyavanda Chaturvedi Mangalam in olden days.         The presiding deities here were earlier called Sittreri Aludaiya Nayanar and Nambirattiyar and change in name  could have happened during Vijayanagar period. The main deity called Dhenupureeswarar is a Swayambhu Lingam. The main sanctum is facing East and Amman here called Dhenukambal faces south in the Maha Mandapam.  The sanctum of the temple is in the shape of Gajaprishta Vimanam (தூங்கானை மாடம்)as was the system prevailing in the Chola era. The granite pillars on the Ardha and Mukha Mandapam are full of intricately carved sculptures of various Gods showing the richne

 Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, South Arcot district. It is a more than 1000 year old temple where the lord of dance Nataraja is the presiding deity with his consort Sivagama  Sundari. The temple has also in its premises Govindaraja Perumal Sannadhi one of the 108 Divyadesam sung in his hymns by Kulasekara Alwar. The temple has four lofty towers and was extensively renovated during the reign of Kulothunga Chola II (1133-1150). The king liked Chidambaram very much that he had his coronation here and lived a major part of his life here. He was also a hard core Saivite and could not digest the presence of Vaishnavite Shrine inside the premises. He removed the statue of Govindarajan Perumal  in Sayana Kolam and thrown it into the sea. The Perumal has to wait for another 400 years till Krishnappa Nayak of Thanjavur Nayak dynasty restored the Perumal inside the sanctum in 16th century. The Golden roof of Nataraja Sannidhi was laid by Parantaka Chola in 10th century.  A grand Chola era Temple.