Sri Marutheeswarar Temple / Marudeeswarar Temple, Neyyadupakkam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

15th March 2020.

The visit to this Marutheeswarar temple, at Neyyadupakkam was a part of Shiva, Vishnu, and Amman Temples Visit on the banks of river Palar, scheduled on 15th  March 2020. After Villivalam, Muchanthi Amman’s temple visit, our next destination was the Shiva temple. The place Neyyadupakkam is on the south side of river Cheyyar a tributary to river Palar. There are two Shiva temples in this village one is on the east and the other is on the west side of which one belongs to the Pallava Period and the other belongs to the Chozha period. This Marutheeswarar Temple is on the east side of the Village. The Madras University Vice Chancellor  N. D. Sundaravadivelu ( 1912 – 1993 ), who was responsible for the “educational revolution” in Tamil Nadu under the leadership of then Chief Minister K Kamaraj, belongs to this place Neyyadupakkam.

   

Moolavar : Sri Marutheeswarar

Consort   : Sri Maragathavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are...

The temple faces east  with a balipeedam and Nandhi. The entrance to the temple is from the back side, ie on the west and the entrance to the sanctum is on the south side. Urchavars, Vinayagar and Suryan are in the artha mandapam. There is a hole behind Suryan ( to sun's rays fall on Moolavar ). It is believed that the sun's rays will fall on Moolavar and the month and date are not known. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu and Durgai. In Praharam Chandikeswarar and Bairavar ( constructed during recent years ). 

The Chandikeswarar belongs to the 9th Century Pallava period and the Koshta murtis belongs to the Chozha period. Hence this temple was built during the Pallava period and reconstructed with stone during the Chozha Period.  

ARCHITECTURE:

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The artha mandapa is supported with Vettu pothiyal on Vrutha/cylindrical pillars. The adhisthana is of simple padabandha adhisthana with Tripatta kumuda. The floor level has been raised over the years and the jagathy is not visible.  

The sanctum walls and Kostas are supported with square/Brahma kantha pilasters. The prastaram is of kapotha style with Nasikudus. Lotus petals are shown in the valapi and Viyyalavari / Yazhi vari is in the Bhumi Desam. Eka thala vesara vimana is above the prastaram, The stucco images of Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, Rishis, and Vimanam thankis are on the Vimana.  Maha nasis are on all 4 sides of sikaram.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTION

As per the inscriptions, during the Chozha period, this place was under Jayankonda Chozhamandalathu Kaliyur Kottaththu Thodu Paluvur Nattu Neyyatrupakkam.  Lord Shiva was called Maruda Gangeswarar.

The inscription on the adhisthana Kumuda belongs to Chozha King Rajaraja-III ( 1243 CE ) and the same was not readable. The two inscriptions on the wall belong to Sayana Udayar, an adviser to Bukka Raya-I ( 1362 CE ), of the Vijayanagara empire.

As per the Vijayanagara period inscription this place was called Neyyadarpakkam and Lord Shiva was called Marunthesuramudaya Nayanar. The inscription on the east wall, of the (.. )Sayana Udayar’s 16th-year rule records the donation of land by Chekilan Somanathevan Visayarayan measuring 374 Kuzhi land with its 4 periphery limits. The same was signed by Visayarayan, Chekilan Thiru Kalathi Udayan, Chekilan Kalathi Nathan, and Chekilan Visayan.

The inscription on the south wall of the central shrine belongs to (..) Sayana Udayar’s 16th-year rule donation of Land by Thinayan Thiruvudaipillai Samandapillai,  measuring     370 minus 3 Kuzhli land ie 357. signed by Pethi, and  Thinayan Samandar.

 Chozha period inscription on Kumuda

Vijayanagara period inscription

LEGENDS

The Chozha period Dakshinamurthy is the masterpiece of Chozha sculpture and more powerful too. It is believed that one who worships Dakshinamurthy will flourish in the educational field. There are many persons in this village who reached the highest levels like N D Sundaravadivelu.  

As per the legend, Suryan / Sun / Soman worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since Oru kala pooja is conducted the opening and closing times are unpredictable.

CONTACT PERSON:

Gurukkal Karthikeyan 9442772975 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is on the east side of the Village.

Bus numbers T34B and T55, from Kancheepuram to Vayalakavur pass through this place Neyyadupakkam.

Palanivel Murugan, a private bus service that runs between  Kanchipuram and Vayalakavur, passes through this place.

Neyyadupakkam is 16 KM from Walajabad via Palayaseevaram  & 13 KM through Avalur, Thammanur, and Kambarajapuram, 24 KM from Kanchipuram, 38 KM from Chengalpattu and 76 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway junction is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

  Dakshinamurthy and Ardha mandapa Pillar and Suryan

 Durga

 Bhairava

  Chandikeshwara (Pallava Period)

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---