Dhenupureeswarar Temple (Madambakkam) - Revision history

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	'''Dhenupureeswarar Temple''' (also "Dhenupurisvara" and "Thiripureeswarar"), is located in [[Madambakkam]] ~~near~~ [[~~Tambaram~~]], [[~~Chennai~~]]. Dhenupureeswarar is the local name for the [[Hinduism\|Hindu]] deity [[Shiva]].<ref name="chola">{{cite news \|author=Chitra Madhavan \|title=Ancient Chola temple at Madambakkam \|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/09/26/stories/2003092601940800.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206191220/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/09/26/stories/2003092601940800.htm \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=6 December 2003 \|date=26 September 2003 \|work=[[The Hindu]] \|access-date=2014-07-23 }}</ref>		'''Dhenupureeswarar Temple''' (also "Dhenupurisvara" and "Thiripureeswarar") is a [[Shiva]] temple located in [[Madambakkam]], a suburb of [[Chennai]], [[India]]. Dhenupureeswarar is the local name for the [[Hinduism\|Hindu]] deity [[Shiva]].<ref name="chola">{{cite news \|author=Chitra Madhavan \|title=Ancient Chola temple at Madambakkam \|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/09/26/stories/2003092601940800.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206191220/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/09/26/stories/2003092601940800.htm \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=6 December 2003 \|date=26 September 2003 \|work=[[The Hindu]] \|access-date=2014-07-23 }}</ref>

	==Religious significance==		==Religious significance==
	~~Dhenupureeswarar got his name because he gave~~ [[~~moksha]] to a cow ({{lang-sa~~\|~~Dhenu}}).{{citation needed~~\|~~date=July 2014}} Sage Kapila is said to have been reborn as a cow for his sin~~ of ~~having improperly worshiped a Shiva [[lingam]] using his left hand. The cow continued to worship Shiva by pouring milk on a Shiva lingam buried in~~ the ~~ground. The cowherd initially punished the cow for wasting the milk, but when the villagers unearthed the Shiva lingam, Shiva appeared and granted moksha (liberation)~~ to ~~Kapila and forgave~~ the ~~cowherd who had mistreated him~~.~~<ref name="legend">{{cite news~~ \|~~author=J. V. Siva Prasanna Kumar~~ \|~~title=1,000-year-old Chola legacy draws devotees~~ \|~~url=http~~:~~//archive.asianage~~.~~com/chennai/1000-year-old-chola-legacy-draws-devotees-412~~ \|~~work=The Asian Age~~ \|~~date=3 August 2012~~ \|~~access-date=2014-07-24 }}</ref> Legend has it that the king had a dream~~ of ~~this occurrence at this site and had~~ the temple ~~built to commemorate it.<ref name="kapila"/>~~		[[File:Thenubureeswarar_temple_madambakkam.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|View of the main entrance to the temple]]
			[[File:Interior view-Thenupureeswarar koil.jpg\|left\|thumb\|The sanctum sanctorum of the temple]]
			[[File:Thenupureeswarar koil kodimaram.jpg\|left\|thumb\|The kodimaram (sacred pole) of the temple]]

	Dhenupureeswarar's consort here is Dhenukambal. The main building of the temple, which contains the statue of Dhenupureeswara in linga form, faces east and his consort faces south in a separate sanctum.<ref name="chola"/> The Shiva lingam is [[Swayambhu]] Lingam or ~~Self Manifested~~ Lingam.{{citation needed\|date=July 2014}}		Dhenupureeswarar got his name because he gave [[moksha]] to a cow ({{langx\|sa\|Dhenu}}).{{citation needed\|date=July 2014}} Sage Kapila is said to have been reborn as a cow for his sin of having improperly worshiped a Shiva [[lingam]] using his left hand. The cow continued to worship Shiva by pouring milk on a Shiva lingam buried in the ground. The cowherd initially punished the cow for wasting the milk, but when the villagers unearthed the Shiva lingam, Shiva appeared and granted moksha (liberation) to Kapila and forgave the cowherd who had mistreated him.<ref name="legend">{{cite news \|author=J. V. Siva Prasanna Kumar \|title=1,000-year-old Chola legacy draws devotees \|url=http://archive.asianage.com/chennai/1000-year-old-chola-legacy-draws-devotees-412 \|work=The Asian Age \|date=3 August 2012 \|access-date=2014-07-24 }}</ref> Legend has it that the king had a dream of this occurrence at this site and had the temple built to commemorate it.<ref name="kapila"/>

			Dhenupureeswarar's consort here is Dhenukambal. The main building of the temple, which contains the statue of Dhenupureeswara in linga form, faces east and his consort faces south in a separate sanctum.<ref name="chola"/> The Shiva lingam is [[Swayambhu]] Lingam or self-manifested Lingam.{{citation needed\|date=July 2014}}

	It is an interesting story of how the temple was discovered from its ruins. One of the Bhakts approached Maha Periyava Sri Chandra Sekarendra Saraswathi Swamigal and sought His blessings for his new built home at Selaiyur. Maha Periyava blessed him, and told him that there is an old Siva temple lying in ruins at a nearby village called Madambakkam. In those days, even Selaiyur was a distant suburb, and no one had heard of Madambakkam, even in Selaiyur. The Bhakt gathered some more men, and went in search of the temple. They cleared the bushes near the agricultural fields, and found an astounding temple in Chola architecture. They renovated it, performed Kumbabhishekam, and commenced daily pujas. The temple is now attracting thousands of people from nearby locations.{{citation needed\|date=July 2020}}		It is an interesting story of how the temple was discovered from its ruins. One of the Bhakts approached Maha Periyava Sri Chandra Sekarendra Saraswathi Swamigal and sought His blessings for his new built home at Selaiyur. Maha Periyava blessed him, and told him that there is an old Siva temple lying in ruins at a nearby village called Madambakkam. In those days, even Selaiyur was a distant suburb, and no one had heard of Madambakkam, even in Selaiyur. The Bhakt gathered some more men, and went in search of the temple. They cleared the bushes near the agricultural fields, and found an astounding temple in Chola architecture. They renovated it, performed Kumbabhishekam, and commenced daily pujas. The temple is now attracting thousands of people from nearby locations.{{citation needed\|date=July 2020}}
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	==Construction==		==Construction==
	The temple was built during the reign of the [[Chola]] king, [[Parantaka Chola II]], father of [[Raja Raja Chola I]], who constructed the famous [[Brihadeeswarar Temple]] in [[Thanjavur]]. The main sanctum ({{~~lang-~~sa\|[[garbha griha]]}}), like some other Chola temples in and around Chennai, is [[apsidal]] in shape (Sanskrit: gajaprishta vimana) (also described as shaped like the back of a sleeping elephant), unlike most Hindu shrines, which are square or rectangular.<ref name="chola"/><ref name="kapila"/>		The temple was built between 956 and 973 CE during the reign of the [[Chola]] king, [[Parantaka Chola II]], father of [[Raja Raja Chola I]], who constructed the famous [[Brihadeeswarar Temple]] in [[Thanjavur]]. The main sanctum ({{langx\|sa\|[[garbha griha]]}}), like some other Chola temples in and around Chennai, is [[apsidal]] in shape (Sanskrit: gajaprishta vimana) (also described as shaped like the back of a sleeping elephant), unlike most Hindu shrines, which are square or rectangular.<ref name="chola"/><ref name="kapila"/>

	The temple is thought to have been consolidated with stones during the reign of [[Kulothunga Chola I]].<ref name="kapila">{{cite news \|author=Rohini Ramakrishnan \|title=Walking through history \|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-youngworld/walking-through-history/article478650.ece \|work=The Hindu \|date=22 June 2010 \|access-date=2014-07-24 }}</ref>		The temple is thought to have been consolidated with stones during the reign of [[Kulothunga Chola I]].<ref name="kapila">{{cite news \|author=Rohini Ramakrishnan \|title=Walking through history \|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-youngworld/walking-through-history/article478650.ece \|work=The Hindu \|date=22 June 2010 \|access-date=2014-07-24 }}</ref>
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	==See also==		==See also==
	*[[List of Monuments of National Importance in Kanchipuram district]]		*[[List of Monuments of National Importance in Kanchipuram district]]
			*[[Heritage structures in Chennai]]

	==References==		==References==
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	{{List of Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu}}		{{List of Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu}}

	[[Category:Hindu temples in ~~Chennai~~]]		[[Category:Hindu temples in Chengalpattu district]]
	[[Category:Shiva temples in ~~Kanchipuram district]]~~		[[Category:Shiva temples in Chengalpattu district]]
	~~[[Category:Hindu temples in Kanchipuram~~ district]]

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Dhenupureeswarar Temple
| image = Thenupureeswarar koil front view.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates = {{coord|12|53|55|N|80|09|36|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| location = [[Madambakkam]], [[Chennai]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Dhenupureeswarar([[Shiva]]), Dhenukambal([[Parvati]])
| facade_direction = East
| festivals= [[Pradosha]], Panguni Uttiram, [[Navarathri]]
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian]]
| year_completed = circa 957–970 CE
}}
'''Dhenupureeswarar Temple''' (also "Dhenupurisvara" and "Thiripureeswarar"), is located in [[Madambakkam]] near [[Tambaram]], [[Chennai]]. Dhenupureeswarar is the local name for the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] deity [[Shiva]].<ref name="chola">{{cite news |author=Chitra Madhavan |title=Ancient Chola temple at Madambakkam |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/09/26/stories/2003092601940800.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206191220/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/09/26/stories/2003092601940800.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 December 2003 |date=26 September 2003 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2014-07-23 }}</ref>

==Religious significance==
Dhenupureeswarar got his name because he gave [[moksha]] to a cow ({{lang-sa|Dhenu}}).{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} Sage Kapila is said to have been reborn as a cow for his sin of having improperly worshiped a Shiva [[lingam]] using his left hand. The cow continued to worship Shiva by pouring milk on a Shiva lingam buried in the ground. The cowherd initially punished the cow for wasting the milk, but when the villagers unearthed the Shiva lingam, Shiva appeared and granted moksha (liberation) to Kapila and forgave the cowherd who had mistreated him.<ref name="legend">{{cite news |author=J. V. Siva Prasanna Kumar |title=1,000-year-old Chola legacy draws devotees |url=http://archive.asianage.com/chennai/1000-year-old-chola-legacy-draws-devotees-412 |work=The Asian Age |date=3 August 2012 |access-date=2014-07-24 }}</ref> Legend has it that the king had a dream of this occurrence at this site and had the temple built to commemorate it.<ref name="kapila"/>

Dhenupureeswarar's consort here is Dhenukambal. The main building of the temple, which contains the statue of Dhenupureeswara in linga form, faces east and his consort faces south in a separate sanctum.<ref name="chola"/> The Shiva lingam is [[Swayambhu]] Lingam or Self Manifested Lingam.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}}

It is an interesting story of how the temple was discovered from its ruins. One of the Bhakts approached Maha Periyava Sri Chandra Sekarendra Saraswathi Swamigal and sought His blessings for his new built home at Selaiyur. Maha Periyava blessed him, and told him that there is an old Siva temple lying in ruins at a nearby village called Madambakkam. In those days, even Selaiyur was a distant suburb, and no one had heard of Madambakkam, even in Selaiyur. The Bhakt gathered some more men, and went in search of the temple. They cleared the bushes near the agricultural fields, and found an astounding temple in Chola architecture. They renovated it, performed Kumbabhishekam, and commenced daily pujas. The temple is now attracting thousands of people from nearby locations.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

[[File:Thenupureeswarar temple vimanam.jpg|left|thumb|Temple [[Vimana (architectural feature)|Vimana]]]]

==Construction==
The temple was built during the reign of the [[Chola]] king, [[Parantaka Chola II]], father of [[Raja Raja Chola I]], who constructed the famous [[Brihadeeswarar Temple]] in [[Thanjavur]]. The main sanctum ({{lang-sa|[[garbha griha]]}}), like some other Chola temples in and around Chennai, is [[apsidal]] in shape (Sanskrit: gajaprishta vimana) (also described as shaped like the back of a sleeping elephant), unlike most Hindu shrines, which are square or rectangular.<ref name="chola"/><ref name="kapila"/>

The temple is thought to have been consolidated with stones during the reign of [[Kulothunga Chola I]].<ref name="kapila">{{cite news |author=Rohini Ramakrishnan |title=Walking through history |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-youngworld/walking-through-history/article478650.ece |work=The Hindu |date=22 June 2010 |access-date=2014-07-24 }}</ref>

Well-preserved [[Chola art|Chola]] sculptures and carved pillar bases are present in and around both sanctums.<ref name="chola"/>

A number of fine inscriptions and sculptures dating to the [[Vijayanagara Empire]] are also preserved.<ref name="chola"/>

[[File:Nandhi statue at Thenupureeswarar koil.jpg|left|thumb|[[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] statue]]

==Restoration==
The temple is one of a number of sites that have been conserved and restored under the auspices of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref>{{cite news |author=T. Ramakrishnan |title=Restoring past glory |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2001/10/02/stories/1302126h.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020122111743/http://hindu.com/thehindu/2001/10/02/stories/1302126h.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 January 2002 |date=2 October 2001 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2014-07-23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Nirmala Lakshman |title=Degree Coffee by the Yard: A Short Biography of Madras |date= 12 September 2013|publisher=Aleph Book Company |pages=50 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cfY9AQAAQBAJ&q=Madambakkam+asi+restoration&pg=PT50 |isbn=9789383064403 }}</ref> Improvements included removing the damaged thick weathering course (roof surface) of the front [[mandapa]] and [[Mariamman|Amman]] Shrine and relaying with fresh weathering course.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Archaeology 1999-2000 -A Review |url=http://asi.nic.in/nmma_reviews/indian%20archaeology%201999-2000%20a%20review.pdf |pages=296 |publisher=[[Archaeological Survey of India]] |date=2005 |access-date=2014-07-23 }}</ref>

The ASI states that the temple has been declared a monument of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (amendment and validation) 2010 Act.<ref name="legend"/>

The temple is a National Monuments Authority notified site upon which construction is banned.<ref>{{cite news |author=D. Madhavan |title=National Institute of Siddha modifies expansion plan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/national-institute-of-siddha-modifies-expansion-plan/article4218676.ece |work=The Hindu |date=20 December 2012 |access-date=2014-07-23 }}</ref>

[[File:Thirupugazh at Thenupureeswarar koil.jpg|right|thumb|Verses mentioning the temple from [[Arunagirinathar]]'s [[Thirupugazh]] inscribed on the temple wall]]

==Cultural significance==
The 15th century [[Tamil language|Tamil]] poet [[Arunagirinathar]]'s work contains a line mentioning the temple.<ref name="kapila"/>

A number of religious festivals are celebrated at the temple, including [[Pradosha]], Panguni Uttiram and during [[Navarathri]], devotees visit to offer special [[Puja (Hinduism)|pujas]].<ref name="chola"/>

==See also==
*[[List of Monuments of National Importance in Kanchipuram district]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{Commons category|Thenupureeswarar Temple, Madambakkam}}
* http://templesoftamilnadu.co.in/tag/thenupuriswarar/

{{Chennai Topics}}
{{Places of worship in Chennai}}
{{List of Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Chennai]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Kanchipuram district]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Kanchipuram district]]