| Description:
This is a Shivastalam in the vicinity of Tiruvennainallur
in Nadu Nadu. It is located 3 km west of the Chennai Tiruchirappalli highway, on the
branch leading to Tirukkovilur and Tiruvannamalai. The image above is that of the
Tiruvennainallur temple.Gramam was referred to as Mouli-Gramam in the days of Parantaka
Cholan. Tirumundeeswaram is described as having been located on the southern bank of the
Pennaar river; the river flowing near the village is now known as Malattaar. Tirunavalur is located close by.
This is the 19th of the 22 Tevara Stalams in the Nadu Naadu
region of Tamilnadu. Legends:
Bhrama and Indra and said to have worshipped at this shrine. Legend has it that a ruler,
wonderstruck by a mysterious red lotus in the tank, reached out to it; unable to grab the
flower that dodged his advances he is said to have struck at it with his sword and then
realized the presence of a Sivalingam in the tank.
The Temple: The present stone structure built by Parantaka Chola I,
is about a thousand years old. Gramam is said to have been a military station of
Parantaka Chola I, when the security of the kingdom was threatened by the Rashtrakootas
from the north. Rajaditya, the son of Parantaka was placed in charge of the army
here, and the neighboring town of Tirunavalur
(the birthplace of Sundarar) was also named Rajadityapuram. Inscriptions recording gifts
by Rajaditya as well as those by Parantaka are seen in this temple.
Festivals: Appar Vizha is celebrated in the month of Chittirai and
Arudra Darisanam is celebrated in Margazhi. |
