Friday 16 February 2024

Sri Athiri Eswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ அத்திரிமகரீஸ்வரர் கோயில், சித்தர்கள் வாழும் சிவன் மலை,/ பச்சைமலை /Mummurti Nagar, Tambaram Sanatorium / Chromepet, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Athiri Eswarar Temple at Tambaram Sanatorium / Chromepet was a part of “Shiva and Rama Anjaneyar Temple’s Visit” on 21st January 2024.  It was a long wish to Visit this place, Siddhars Hill also called as Pachaimalai. After Visiting Sri Vaidyanatha Swamy Temple on GST Road, at Tambaram sanatorium, Visited to this Siddhars hill. Didn’t know that this Athiri Eswarar Temple was constructed and maha Kumbhabhishekam was scheduled, during my visit, till I reached on 21st January 2024.  


Moolavar  : Sri Athiri Eswarar
Consort    : Sri Anusuya Eswari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with an entrance. Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati with Vinayaka and Murugan are on the top of the entrance. Dwarapalakas are on both sides of the entrance. Balipeedam & Rishabam  and balipeedam & Simham are in the mandapam. Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and  Durgai are in the Deva Koshtam.  Nalvars are in the Mandapam.

Ambal Sri Anusuya Eswari is in a separate sannidhi facing south. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

In praharam Sri Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar and Navagrahas.

On the top of the hill, sannidhi for Vallalar, Athiri Maharishi, Agasthiyar with nagars and Vinayagar and a Shiva Lingam kept open to sky.



ARCHITECTURE
The Total temple was built with brick and cement concrete. The Temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and a maha mandapam common for both moolavar and Ambal shrines. The Sanctum sanctorum is on a Upanam built in Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta style. The two tala vimanam above prastaram is of Gajaprishta style. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.




HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
This temple was built and Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 21st January 2024.


LEGENDS
As per the legend, Dattatreya is believed to be combined incarnation of Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva.  He is considered as an exceptional Rishi with extraordinary insights and knowledge. In Puranas he is considered as a Guru and avatar of Maha Vishnu. It was mentioned that Dattatreya renounced this worldly life and left home at an early age to attain gnana. Dattatreya is shown with 3 heads, in which centre is Vishnu’s head, Brahma and Shiva’s heads are on the right and left side. He is shown with 6 hands. The upper hands holds the shanka & chakra, the middle hands holds  Trishul with Damaru &  Lotus / gatha and Lower hands holds accamala and Kamandala, portraying Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva.

Dattatreya was the son of Atri Maharishi and Anusuya. Atri was born from Brahma and his wife Anusuya was the daughter of the sage Kardama and Devahuti. He did penance on Brahma to attain Brahma Gnana. Anusuya devoted her life sincerely to her husband Atri, as a Chastity  & Sacred and followed the path of Dharma. Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva wants to show Anusuya’s superiority and Chastity to this world, through testing her. All the three came to the ashram in the form of 3 saints, when Atri was away. All the three told her, they will have their food, only if Anusuya serve food in naked, since they practice different austerity. Anusuya readily accepted the saint’s request. Since She followed Dharma and superior in chastity, She turned all the three saints in to newborn infants. She fed all three with milk from her breasts. In the mean time Atri Maharishi returned home and found his wife feeds to the three children. Through his third Vision he came to know that all the three babies are none other than Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva, those came in the form of saints.

When Maha Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati came to know that their husbands are in Atri’s ashram as Children, they came pleaded Atri and Anusuya to change back to their original form.  All the three offered Anusuya a boon, whatever she wants. Anusuya asked a boon of, Trimurtis should born to her as her Children. All the three granted the boon to Anusuya. Hence Dattatreya was born to Anusuya with three heads and 6 hands, to signifies Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva.


 Nagar and Athiri Maharishi
Agasthiyar and nagar

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Amavasya days, Fridays, Pradosham days and Maha shivaratri days.




TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened during morning Hours.
CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH
This temple is on a Small Hill called Pachai malai on the back side of Tambaram Sanatorium / TB Hospital.
The temple is about 2.5 KM from Tambaram sanatorium Railway station, 4.5 KM from Tambaram Railway Station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :  CLICK HERE






Bairavar Sannidhi




A Shiva Lingam open to sky


Nalvar
A Cave Shrine 
A Cave Shrine 

Entrance at the start of steps
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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