Thirumalpur Manikandeswara temple

Thirumalpur Manikandeswara  temple

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

   This is a  famous  temple of Lord Shiva which  is 14 km from Kanchipuram on the Kancipuram Arkonam route. It is 40km from Thiruvallore and there is electric train to this temple from Chennai It is believed  that Lord Parvathi  made this Shiva LInga here  with  sand .It is also believed that Lord Vishnu worshipped  Lord Shiva  in this temple. The  linga is never touched by  human hands including that  of the priest  and is kept covered by metal  and the Lord is  supposed to have  “THeenda Thirumeni.  The God of the temple is also called Dhyanitheswarar  and also Maal vangeswarar(God saluted by Vishnu)  and the Goddess  is called  Anchanathchi  Amman   and also Karunai nayagi. Lord Shiva iis seen here  being worshipped by  Lord Vishnu  in this temple . * As Lord Vishnu got back His Sudharsana Chakra in this temple, it is believed that devotees who pray here would have no threats, whatsoever!

The temple  is in the Banks of Palaru  and is believed  to be 1500   years old and believed  to be built by Paranathaka Chozha-1

There  are some interesting legends  about the temple.

It seems Goddess Parvathi playfully closed the  eyes of Lord Shiva and  was cursed  to come to earth. She came and installed a  Shiva Linga   with sand , below a Vilwa  tree on the shore of Palar and when she  was worshipping it , the waters  of the river rose up.She hugged the Lingam to protect it and prayesd to  her brother Lord Vishnu.Lord Vishnu came here and in his reclining pose acted as a dam  and saved   the Linga. The place where  he did this is called  THiruparkadal   and  there is a temple of Lord Vishnu there.

There  is also another story that wanting to have a powerful weapon back( the previous one was destroyed when he sent it against saint Dadheechi) , Lord Vishnu came here and worshipped Lord Shiva  daily by offering  one thousand lotus flowers.One day he found one flower was short and for  that purpose he plucked his one eye  and offered it to Lord Shiva .Lord Shiva was pleased   and gave him Sudarshana  Chakra and also blessed  him to have lotus like eyes.Because of this, the place was called  Harichakrapuram in Sanskrit  and Thirumalpuram in Tamil.Lord Vishnu it seems requested Lord Shiva that a  devotee worshipping Lord Shiva here  should get equal benefit of worshipping in all  Shiva   temples in the world. “ He also prayed that the devotees who visit the lord here may be granted salvation. Acceeding to Lord Mahavishnu’s request, Lord Shiva informed him that whoever chants his 1000 names or at least chants his eight names (Theentachivanthar, Sadarubar, Manikandar, Dayanithiyar, Pavalamalaiyar, Vattanthavirthar and Sakisanar- சாந்தரூபர், மணிகண்டர், தயாநிதியார், பவளமலையார், வாட்டந்தவிர்த்தார், பாசப்பிணி விண்ட சாகிசனார்,  ), would be granted salvation.”Because  of this the Uthsava murthy of Lord Vishnu in this temple holds a lotus flower in one hand and one of his eyes on the other hand.

   Another story is that Lord Ravana came to worship Lord Shiva in this temple and entered the sanctum without  permission of Lord Nandi.Lord Ravana  who was a great devotee told him that he being a  great devotee  need not take any body’s ermission and cursed  that Lord Nandi should have a monkey face  and in turn Lord Nandi cursed  him that  his city would be destroyed by monkeys.Because i of this the Nandi in this temple is in a standing position and has a  face  of a monkey. It is also believed that Lord Moon worshipped Lord Shiva here  and got the boon to grow again.

There is also a belief that it was in this temple   that Lord Vishnu as Vamana asked for three  feet of land   from king Mahhabali.

There are temples   of Lords Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Chidambareswarar, Somaskandar, Choleeswarar, Chandikeswarar, Natarajar, Veerabathrar, Bairavar, Suryan, Chandran, the four nayanmars , Goddess Gajalakshmi, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai  around the main temple

   Though Shiva temple , since Lord  Vishnu also is with him, Theertha is offered and Chadari is kept on the heads  of devotees,Vilwa is the Sthala  Vriksha of this temple 

Temple Timings

 06.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and 04.00 PM to 09.00 PM

Temple Address

Sri Manikandeeswarar Temple
Thirumalperu Post
Arakkonam Taluk
Vellore District
Tamil Nadu – 631 053.
Tele: +91 4177 - 248 220, 093454 49339.

The priest, Sri Shanmugam Gurukkal can be contacted at 09444386442.