This
place Maduramangalam was called Mazhaimangalam during ancient times. Also Maduramangalam can be split as Maduram + Mangalam, Maduram - sweet and mangalam - a holy place/Oor (மதுரமங்கலம் - மதுரம் + மங்கலம், மதுரம் - இனிமை, & மங்கலம் - புனிதமான ஊர்). This is the Avatar Sthalam of Sri Embar
one of the disciple and cousin brothers of Saint Sri Ramanajacharya. It is
believed that Embar brought the Shiva Lingam from the River Ganga and installed it in
this temple when he was a Saivite for a brief period. This temple is about a
KM away from the Village of Maduramangalam.
Moolavar : Sri Ullangai Konarntha Nayanar
Sri Gangadhara Eeswarar,
Sri Ullangai Kulirntha Nayanar
Consort : Sri Madura Kamakshi Amman
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…
The
temple faces east with balipeedam and Rishabam. Stucco images of Shiva,
Parvati, Vinayagar, and Murugan are on the top of the mukha mandapam. Moolavar
in the sanctum is on a square peedam and round avudayar. There are no images in
the Koshtam. Stucco images of Embar and Vallalar are in the Mukha mandapam.
Ambal
is in the Mukha mandapam facing South. Bairavar and Chandikeswarar are in the
praharam.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam/Mukha
mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam. An Eka tala
Nagara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in
the Greeva koshtams.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
The
original temple belongs to the Chozha period, maybe be 10th to 11th
Centuries. The original temple was constructed with brick. The same was
reconstructed in recent years. An old brick temple photograph is uploaded in this post. The detail of the inscription is recorded in SII Volume 26 - Nos 339 (SII Volume -III, 189). Shiva was called Thiruchitrambalathalwar. As per the inscription this place was called Mazhaimangalam, in Manayir kottam.
The inscription recorded from this temple belongs to Parthivendradipativarman's 9th reign year (964 - 65 CE - Mentioned in Tholliyal Nokkil Kanchipuram Mavattam as 973 CE ...?). The inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp, by Lokamaharayar. For the same 90 saava moova sheep/goat were gifted. The Sheep/Goats are received by Manradi Mottai Angadi and Ilamaman Siraiyadikki's son Nambi) and agreed to supply ghee for burning the lamps.
The
present temple was constructed by Siddhar Ka Appadurai, who went to Thirukailayam.
Ref:
South Indian Inscriptions Volume 26, - 339 and
South Indian Inscriptions Volume -III, -189.
An old Photo of the temple
LEGENDS
Embar
was born in 1026 CE, to an ardent devotee of Maha Vishnu, Kamalanayana Bhattar, and Sridevi Ammal at Mazhalaimangalam, presently called Maduramangalam. He
was named Govinda Bhattar by his maternal uncle Thirumalai Nambi. He and his
cousin brother Sri Ramanujar studied at Thiruputkuzi, Yadhavaprakasa’s
gurukul. When Ramanujar differs from the opinion of Yadhavaprakasha’s meanings of
Vedas and Sutras, they become enemies. Yadhaprakasha, due to enmity went to the
maximum extent of Killing Ramanujar. So he made a plan to kill him during the
Ganga Yathra. When this was known to Govinda Bhattar, saved Ramanujar by
diverting him to Kanchipuram.
While
Govinda Bhattar was taking a bath in the Ganga River, he took a Shiva Lingam from the
river and installed it at Kalahasti. He had become a Devotee of Shiva and was
called Ullangai Konarntha Nayanar. But this Shiva temple authorities
believe that the Shiva Lingam at this temple was installed by Ullangai
Konarntha Nayanar alias Govinda Bhattar when he was a Saivite.
Later
he was converted back to Srivaishnavism through Thirmalai Nambigaal. After
completing the learning of epic Ramayan for the second time, from Thirumalai Nambigal,
Ramajunar returned to Srirangam along with Govinda Bhattar. Since Govinda
Bhattar considers Ramanujar as “Emperumanar”, devotees in short called him an
“Embar”.
Embar and Vallalar
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from Oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham and Maha Shivaratri
days.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
G
K A Koteeswaran may be contacted for further details on his mobile
+919994578908.
HOW TO REACH
The
temple is about a KM away from the Village at Maduramangalam.
Maduramangalam
is about 9.3 KM from Sunguvarchatram, 18.6 KM from Sriperumbudur, 26.4 KM from
Kanchipuram and 52 KM from Chennai
Koyambedu bus terminus.
The Nearest
Railway station is Kanchipuram and Junction is Arakkonam 29 KM.
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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