Oondreeswarar Temple / Shri Oondreeswarar Shiva Temple / ஸ்ரீ ஆதார தண்டேஸ்வரர் சுவாமி கோயில், Poondi, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The present place Poondi was called Thiruvenpakkam during the 6-7^th Century, Thevara period. Before the construction of the Poondi Reservoir also known as Satyamurti Reservoir, the temple was at Thiruvalampudur ( a village submerged in the reservoir), and a new temple was reconstructed in the present place during the 20^th Century. This is the 17^th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. Sekkizhar has sung Sundarar’s entry to Thiruvenpakkam in Periyapuranam after  Eyarkon Kalikama Nayanars puranam.

      

      தொண்டைமானுக்கு அன்று அருள் கொடுத்தருளும்

            தொல்லை வண்புகழ் முல்லை நாயகரை

      கொண்ட வெந்துயர் களைஎனப் பரவிக்

            குறித்தகாதலின் நெறிக்கொள் வருவார்

      வண்டு உலாமலர்ச் சோலைகள் சூழ்ந்து

            மாடமாளிகை நீடு வெண்பக்கம்

      கண்ட தொண்டர்கள் எதிர்கொள வணங்கிக்

            காயும் நாகத்தார் கோயிலை அடைந்தார்

After reaching Thiruvenpakkam, Sundarar sang hymns in praise of Lord Shiva and requested his eyesight back, which he lost on the way to  Thiruvarur from Thiruvotriyur. When Sundarar asked whether Iraivan was in the temple ( “கோயில் உளாயோ” ), Lord Shiva answered “Yes” and asked him to proceed ( “யாம் உளோம் போகீர்”). After hearing, Sundarar has sung the hymns starts with “பிழை உளன பொறுத்திடுவீர்...”

      

     பிழை உளன பொறுத்திடுவர் என்று எடுத்துப் பெண்பாகம்

    விழைவடிவின் பெருமானை வெண்பாக்கம் மகிழ்ந்தானை

      இழை என மாகணம் அளித்த இறைவனைப் பாடினார்

      மழை தவழும் நெடும்பரிசை நாவலூர் மன்னவனார்

Moolavar  : Sri  Aadharadhandeswarar, Sri  Oondreeswarar.

Consort    : Sri Minnoliammai, Sri Dhathgowri Ambal.

Some of the important features of this temple are….

The Temple faces east with an entrance arch on the south side.  Rishabam, Balipeedam, and Dwajasthambam are on the east side. Constructed like a mada koil with steps. Rishabam is original and the old moolavar was shifted to Purasawalkam Shiva Temple, in Chennai (For details CLICK HERE) during the reservoir construction the same was installed back and a new Moolavar was installed. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

Maha Ganapathi and Subramaniyar are at the entrance of Moolavar Sannadhi. Rishabam in the artha mandapam is without one horn and the Sundarar image is opposite to moolavar.

In the inner praharam sannadhi for Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Mahalakshmi (no elephants), and Chandikeswarar. In mandapam  sannadhi for Suryan, Chandran, Navagrahas, Naalvar, Bhairavar, Arunagirinathar.

Ambal sannadhi is on the right side of moolavar and faces south. It was believed that Ambal had shown the way  from Kanchipuram to Sundarar after he lost his eyesight in the form of lightning. Hence Ambal is called Minnoliammai.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was once in Thiruvalampudur, a new temple was constructed in the present location during the construction of  Poondi reservoir, also known as Satyamurti Dam in 1944. ( The old temple photos taken when the level came down are enclosed at the end of this article ). The old inscriptions are recorded  and the temple was submerged in the reservoir, the old inscriptions are written on the back side wall of Ambal sannadhi. The inscriptions mainly record the endowments of perpetual lamps, poojas, and celebrations for which donations made to this temple. Lord Shiva was called Thirumbogi Ulom. Totally 22 inscriptions are recorded.

The Rajarajan-I, 19^th year reign inscription this place was mentioned as Jayangondachozha mandalathu, Eekattu Kottathu, Udayar Thiru Ulom bogi Udaya Nayanar. From the same mandalam Perumoor nattu, Manavir Kottathu, Vidaiyur Nemi Kozhan Ezuvandai’s wife Thiruvandal placed Sandhi vilakku/Lamp for which she had paid 4 Pazhangkasu. Another 16th-year reign inscription records the endowment of a sandhi lamp for which 4 kasu were gifted by, Kayilayamudaiyan Uyyavanthan.

Out of 22 inscriptions, the rest of the inscriptions belong to Rajaraja-I’s 7^th, 9^th, 10^th, 17^th, 28^th, 29^th, 30th-year reign, Kulothunga Chozhas 49^th,  year reign, Vikrama Chozhas 5^th, 6^th,  year reign and Sundara Pandyan’s 16th-year reign inscriptions records the gift of money, Land towards burning of Sandhi lamps, Naivedyam, etc,.

LEGENDS

Sundarar left from Thiruvotriyur to Thiruvarur against his words, with Lord Shiva and his wife Sangili Nachiyar. After worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirumullaivoyal lost his eyesight. When he prayed, Lord Shiva gave him a walking stick/an oondrukol. Sundarar got angry and threw it away, which hit the right side horn of Rishabam and got broken.

People with depression, no hold in life, suffering from lack of developments in the profession, etc may pray to Lord Shiva of this temple to overcome the above problems. 

Sundarar

right horn broken 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, Maha Shivaratri in Masi (Feb – March), Aippasi Annabhishekam (Oct- November), and pradosam are celebrated in a grand manner.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple kept open between 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Sivachariyar Subramania Gurukkal may be reached  through his mobile 99432 09387

HOW TO  REACH 

From Tiruvallur, Town bus T52 is available on 06.00 Hrs, 07.00 Hrs, 07.15 Hr, 08.30 Hrs and 10.30 Hrs in the morning.

Also, there is another town bus No T41 from Tiruvallur to Ponnur Pettai passing through this village.

11 KM from Tiruvallur, 67 KM from Kanchipuram, and 54 KM from Chennai.

The nearest Railway station is Tiruvallur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Right Horn broken

The original moolavar, Rishabam, Ambal Minnoli Ammai, Vinayagar, and Arumugar (Shanmugar), were brought to Chennai Purasawalkam Sri Gangadeeswarar Temple and were not moved back to the reconstructed temple at Poondi (Thiruvenpakkam).

 

THE ORIGINAL TEMPLE AT THIRUVENBAKKAM - திருவெண்பாக்கம் ( திருவிளமூதூர் ) IN THE SATYAMURTI RESEVOIR, POONDI. ( PC : SK ( Epigraphy Group )

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---