Thirumarperu

Thirumarperu திருமால்பூர்
Thirumarperu திருமால்பூர் Location in Tamil Nadu
Geography
Coordinates	12°57′24″N 79°40′25″E / 12.95667°N 79.67361°ECoordinates: 12°57′24″N 79°40′25″E / 12.95667°N 79.67361°E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Kanchipuram
Location	Tirumalpur
Culture
Primary deity	Maal Vanangia Eesar, Manikandeswarar (Shiva)
Consort	Karunai Nayaki, Anjanakshi (Parvathi)
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture

Thirumarperu Manikandeswarar Temple (Tamil: திருமால்பூர்) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Tirumalpur in Ocheri -Tirumalpur road, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is revered by the Tevaram hymns of 7th century Saiva nayanars - Tamil saint poets and is also classified as a Paadal Petra Sthalam (temple revered by the nayanars).

The Temple

Vishnu (called Tirumal) is believed to have worshipped Shiva in this temple and hence the name Thirumalpur.^[1] The temple has a four-tiered rajagopuram (temple tower). The temple has set of inscriptions from Chola period of Rajaraja Chola I (985 – 1014 CE).^[2] Appar, the 7th-century saint poet glorified the deity in Tevaram in one verse.^[3][4][5] The temple is also referred as Hari-chakrapuram. The Nandi (sacred bull of Shiva) is in standing portion in this temple unlike other Shiva temple where Nandi is in sitting posture.^[5] The temple tree is Bilva.^[5]

Reaching the Temple: The temple is situated on the Kancheepuram to Arrakonam route. It is approximately 13 Kilometres from Arrakonam. From Kancheepuram it is approximately 17 Kilometres. There is a railway station in Thirumalpur, but it is a smaller one. The nearest railway junction is Arrakonam. The temple is also easily accessible from Govindavadi temple (App. 5 Kilometres).

Temple Timings: The temple is closed between 1 PM to 4 PM.

Legend

Some of the local tradition indicates Tirumalpur as the place where Vishnu asked Mahabali Chakravarthy to give him land of the extent measured by three steps of Vishnu.^[6]

Notes

1. Ayyar 1991, p. 257
2. Prentiss 1999, p.101
3. Prentiss 1999, p.182
4. Khanna 2007, p. 68
5. Soundara Rajan 2001, p. 60
6. Anand 2004, p. 52

References

• Ayyar, P. V. Jagadisa (1991), South Indian shrines: illustrated, New Delhi: Asian Educational Services, ISBN 81-206-0151-3
• Prentiss, Karen Pechilis (1999), The embodiment of bhakti, New York: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-512813-3
• Khanna, Meenakshi (2007), Cultural History of Medieval India, New Delhi: Social Science Press, ISBN 978-81-87358-30-5
• Anand, Swami P.; Parmeshwaranand, Swami (2004), Encyclopaedia of the Śaivism, New Delhi: Sarup & Sons, ISBN 81-7625-427-4
• Soundara Rajan, Kodayanallur Vanamamalai (2001), Concise classified dictionary of Hinduism By Kodayanallur Vanamamalai Soundara Rajan, New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company, ISBN 81-7022-857-3.