Dhenupureeswarar Temple , Madambakkam
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