Sri Picheeswarar Temple at Mamandur Thenpathi
was part of the “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples Visit” on 10th October 2026.
This place, Mamandur, is on the banks of the River Palar and comprises two small villages
called Thenpathi and Vadapathi. This Sri Picheeswarar Temple is in the midst of
the paddy fields in the village of Mamandur Thenpathi.
Moolavar : Sri Picheesvarar
Consort : Sri Nagavalli Amman
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with an entrance arch, and the temple tank is on the left side of
the temple. Stucco images of Vinayagar, Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar, and
Vinayagar are on the top of the entrance arch. A Vinayagar Sannidhi is on the
left side of the entrance arch. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the entrance
arch. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In the koshtam: Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.
In
the praharam: Nalvar, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, two Shiva
Lingas and a Rishabam, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Vinayagar with
Nagars, Chandran, and Suryan.
Ambal
Sri Nagavalli is in a separate Sannidhi that faces south. Ambal is in a
standing posture with Abhaya Varada hastam.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple was constructed as a Gajaprishta
Vimanam with bricks and cement concrete on a stone pedestal. The sanctum
sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistan with Jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and a
pattikai. The bhitti starts with pattikai. The pilasters are Brahma kantha
pilasters with kalasm, kudam, and vettu pothyal. The prastram consists of valapi and kapotam. An eka tala Gajaprishta sigaram with three kalasams is over the
bhumi desam. Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva koshtams.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
It
is believed that the original temple with Gajaprishta Vimanam belongs to the Pallava period, built with bricks and later received contributions from the Cholas
and Vijayanagaras.
Ashta bandhana maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 07th September 2005 and 1st February 2013.
The
temple is under the control of the Tamil Nadu HR & CE Department, under the Oru Kala Pooja scheme.
LEGENDS
It is believed that Sage Mandooga Maharishi did penance to Shiva and worshipped him. Hence, this place obtained the name of Mamandur.
Saraswati worshipped Shiva with Pichi poo (a kind
of jasmine flower) to get his darshan. Hence Shiva is called Sri
Picheeswarar.
As per another legend, during one of the Girivalam,
Sathguru Venkatrama Swamigal pointed out two frogs worshipping Shiva, standing
on their back legs. They came all the way to Thiruvannamalai from Mamandur. (In
Sanskrit, Mandooga/ Mandukha means Frogs).
In another legend, Saraswati worshipped Shiva of
this temple, playing Veena/ Yazhl. Hence, it is believed that worshipping
Shiva of this temple will get rid of mental challenges and help excel in studies.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha
Shivaratri, Amavasya days, etc.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will open from 07.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
Gurukkal
Karthik may be contacted on his mobile number +919894026983 for further
details.
HOW
TO REACH
The
Mamandur Thenpathi is on the GST Road, just after Chengalpattu Palar Bridge,
and the temple is 1 km from the GST Road.
The
temple is 11 km from Chengalpattu, 25 km from Madurantakam, and 40 km from Tambaram
and Melmaruvathur.
The
nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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