Thenupureeshwarar Temple Madambakkam
Madambakkam Thenupureeshwar temple was built by the Hoysala kings. The land was full of bovines and is famous for the temple.
About madampakkam
Before even knowing the history of Thenupureeshwarar temple there is a big history behind the place Madambakkan, near Tambaram. It is meant to be a place where multi-storied buildings abounded. This place is mentioned in Thevaram hyms in the 7th century AD. About Thenupureeshwarar temple
Most interestingly a temple which was built by the Hoysala kings was bought out by the archaeological survey of India. This helps us to know that Madampakkam and tambaram were once urban in early days. During the 14th century Telugu speaking yadavas migrated here. This was the period where Madampakkam was referred to a place where one can find lot of bovines. And also the temple which is ancient is known as Thenupureeshwar Temple. The word Thenu means Khamadhenu or cow. The place where cows were in abundant was known as Thenupureeshwar. The place Madampakkam was long back known as "Ulaguyyavanda-Chola Chaturvedimangalam" wwhich was supposed to be the part of Nedungra Nadu. This was situated in Puliyur – Kottam in Jayamkonda-Cholamandalam. Parantaka II, known as Sundara Chola, father of Raja Raja Chola ruled this place. Deities in Thenupureeshwarar temple
The holy place here is Lord Thenupureeshwarar temple built in the chola style which faces towards east. Generally the place where the deity housed should be rectangular but here you will find it semi-circular. Outside this is the place which houses "Goddess Thenukaambaal" which faces south and has a separate way to enter. There are lots of epigraphs etched those belonging to the period of Chola kings Rajaraja III and Kulottunga III. The deity's orginal name is "Sitteri Udaya Nayanar" and the goddess is " Nambirettiar".Notable things in Thenupureeshwarar temple
There are other deities like ganesha, Varadharaja Perumal, Dhakshinamoorthy, Bhairavar, Durga , Subramanya swami and Navagraham. Lord Sarabheswarar is housed on the main sanctum pillar which is outside. This god is said to be in the furious form of the Lord shiva who assassinates the demons. The temple has tank and theppam festival is celebrated once in the year.
