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OTHANDEESHWARAR(MANO ANUKULESHWAR) TEMPLE - TIRUMAZHISAI

 OTHANDEESHWARAR(MANO ANUKULESHWAR) TEMPLE - TIRUMAZHISAI - TAMILNADU.

TIRUMAZHISAI - FOREST OF AZHINJAL TREES

LEGEND
The Chola King Karikal Peruvalathan was roaming in the forest of Thondai Nadu (Chennai) mounted on his elephant, in search of Kurumbars,who were troubling his subjects. His elephant got stuck in wild creepers and was not able to move forward. He got down from the elephant and struck the creepers with his sword to cut them off. He was shocked to see blood flow out from the place where he had struck. He found the old beautiful lingam worshipped by Sage Agastya at the place. In realisation of the sin committed of stricking the Idol of Lord Shiva he took his sword and cut his own arm. Lord Shiva was pleased with the Kings devotion and restored his arm. After vanquishing his enemies, he returned to the spot to build a temple in the place. Because lord Shiva restored the hands of the King, he is also reffered to as KAI (HAND) THANDA (GAVE) PIRAAN ( LORD) or the lord who restored the hand. Goddess Parvati consoled the king by telling him stories of the Shiva Bhaktas, pacifying him of his grief and hence is known as Kulirnthanayaki.



Sage Agastya was asked to travel to South to counter balance the weight of earth, which was tilting due to the presence of everybody in kailasa to witness the wedding of Shiva & Parvathi.
On Sage Agastya's request to witness the marriage, the lord asked him to pray under the Azhinjal tree( ALANGIUM SALVIFOLIUM) for 108 days,and he could see the marriage from wherever he was. Sage Agastya prayed to Shiva from under the Azhinjal tree at three places Azhagiya Cheyyur (Azhisoor),( Arulaleeswarar Temple)Chinnakavanam(Nootrietteshwarar Temple) and here in Tirumazhisai (Onthandeeshwarar Temple).
HISTORY
During the reign of Kulothunga Chola II (1133-1150 CE), 108 Temples were built for Lord Shiva in Thondai Mandalam with Gajaprishtha (Back of an elephant)Vimanam ( Thoonganai Mandapam or Apsidal) this Temple is one of them. Though the temple including the Somaskanda panel in the Garbhgriha seems to be from the period of the Pallava's. The Vijayanagara Kings and Nayaks have also left their impressions on the temple. The Sengunda Mudaliar clan have built some shrines in the temple and are part of the current administration.
THE TEMPLE
The entrance to the temple is from the south side with a five storied Rajagopuram. Entering through the Rajagopuram you come in to a large courtyard, on circumambulating the court yard you come to the entrance on the eastern side.
The Dhwajasthambam, Nandi Mandapam & Bali Pitham are lined up facing the Lord and lead to the Mukha Mandapam.
Lined against the wall inside is Surya and Adhikara Nandi facing the lord. Towards the right facing south is the Sanctum of Devi Parvathi also known as Kulirnthanayaki in tamil and Shitalambal in Sanskrit. From the Mukhamandapam, you come to a rectangular Ardhamandapam, which leads to the Apsidal Garbhgriha where sits the lord in the form of a Lingam. In the outer precinct, there is a shrine for Gangadhareeshwar enshrined by Rishi Pulastya, deciple of sage Agastya.
GARBHGRIHA
The Lingam has a Chaturanga Avudayar or Pindika as installed by Rishi Agastya and behind the Lingam, sits lord Shiva with his consort Parvati to his left in the posture of their wedding. Rare is this phenomenon of the anthropomorphic figurines of the lord with his consort in the Garbhgriha.
KOSHTHA
Coming out of the Garbhgriha, in the inner precinct on the Koshtha walls of the Garbhgriha are the figures of Ganapathy, a beautiful Dakshinamurthy and a Nagalingam on a raised pedestal.. On the back Koshtha is Mahavishnu. Just opposite to the Mahavishnu idol, I was surprised to see a Nandi, the gurukkal told me the same was for the Lingothbhavar on the Vimana, which is getting renovated. Apart from this Brahma and Vishnu Durga adorn the Koshtha with Chandikeshwarar facing the wall in the open. In the left and right corner of the inner precinct is the shrines of Vinayaka & Subramania with his consorts. On the astern side of the temple is a large tank or theertham.
The temple has five Adhikara Nandi idols including one in Kalyana Kolam( Marriage posture).
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