Palashkhanra73: New basic place w/ sources

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New basic place w/ sources

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{{Short description|Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Othandeeswarar Temple
| image = Othandeeswarar temple1.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|13|03|18|N|80|03|42|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Tiruvallur district|Tiruvallur]]
| location = [[Chennai]][[Thirumazhisai]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Othandeeswarar([[Shiva]])
Kulirvithanayaki ([[Parvathi]])

| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani =
| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Othandeeswarar Temple''' in [[Thirumazhisai]] [[Chennai City]] in [[Tiruvallur district]] in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]], is dedicated to the Hindu god [[Shiva]]. It is located 22 km from the state capital [[Chennai]]. Constructed in the [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]], the temple was built during the 11th century by [[Chola]] king [[Kulothunga Chola II]]. Shiva is worshipped as Othandeeswarar and his consort [[Parvathi]] as Kulirvithanayaki.

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a five-tiered raja[[gopuram]], the gateway tower. The [[Vijayanagar Empire|Vijayanagar]] and [[Vijayanagar Empire|Vijayanagar kings]] made further expansion to the temple during the 16th century.

The temple is open from 6 am - 11:30 am and 4:30 - 8:00 pm on all days. Four daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Brahmotsavamfestival during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Panguni'' (March - April) and Sani Peyarchi (transit of planet Saturn) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowments Department of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
[[File:Othandeeswarar temple2.JPG|250px|thumb|left|Image of the [[Pushkarni|temple tank]] and the tower]]
As per another legend, [[Chola]] king [[Kulothunga Chola II]] was hunting in the forest and while returning from [[Masilamaniswara Temple, Thirumullaivoyal|Thirumullaivasal]], found a blockade on his way. He tried to remove it using his sword and found blood stain in it. He later found that it emanated from the image of [[lingam]] (an iconic form of [[Shiva]]) in the place. The king wanted to expiate his sin of cutting the image and cut his hand. Shiva was pleased with the devotion and appeared to him at this place as Othandeeswarar along with his consort Parvathi as Kulirvithanayaki. Othandeeswarar also restored the hand of Kulothunga Chola and hence got the name Kai Thantha Piran. The presiding deity at the temple is still believed to have a scar on it.<ref name=hindu>{{cite news|title=Siva temple|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2000/06/02/stories/13020495.htm|last=T.A.|first=Srinivasan|date=2 June 2000|work=[[The Hindu]]|accessdate=10 November 2015}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> As per another legend, since the presiding deity relieves the devotees off their curses and impinges strength the deity is also called Manuanukuleeswarar.<ref name=Saiva5>{{cite book|title=Saiva Encyclopaedia volume 5 - Temples in Tamil Nadu (Later period)|editor-last=Dr. R.|editor-first=Selvaganapathy|publisher=Saint Sekkizhaar Human Resource Development Charitable Trust|location=Chennai, India|year=2013|pages=286-7}}</ref>

==History==
The temple has many inscriptions from the [[Chola]] period during the 11th century. [[Kulothunga Chola II]] is believed to have built the temple and the shrines in the current form. Historians believe that the shrine of Vishnu seems to be a later addition. Sengunda Mudaliyars built many shrines in the temple and refurbished the tank. The [[Vijayanagar Empire|Vijayanagara kings]], who ruled the region, have done benevolent endowments to the temple. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowments Department of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name=hindu/><ref name=census>{{cite book|title=Temples of Tamil Nadu Kancheepuram District|publisher= Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu|page=72|year=2003|last=C.|first=Chandramouli}}</ref><ref name=HRCE>{{cite web|title=Thirukoil - Temple list of Tamil Nadu|url=https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|publisher=Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu|format=PDF|pages=22|access-date=1 August 2020|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009010850/https://tnhrce.gov.in/resources/docs/temple_list.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Architecture==
Othandeeswarar temple has a seven-tiered ''raja[[gopuram]]'', the gateway tower piercing the rectangular granite walls around the temple. The presiding deity Othandeeswarar, in the form of [[Lingam]] is housed in the sanctum. The sanctum is approached from the main entrance through the flag staff hall, Maha mandap and Artha mandap. The flag staff is located in the flagstaff hall axial to the sanctum. An image of [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] faces the main shrine in the Maha [[Mandapa]]. There are shrines of [[Vinayaka]], [[Murugan|Muruga]] before the Mahamandap and the sanctum is guarded by [[Dvarapala|Dwarapalas]]. The shrine of Kulirvithanayaki is located in the second precinct. The temple has a shrine of [[Nataraja]] (dancing form of Shiva) and his consort Sivakami facing each other. The [[vimana (tower)|vimana]], structure over the sanctum is in the form of Gajabrushta, the shape of an elephant in its sitting posture. Vinayaka in the temple is called Prasanna Vinayaga. There is a shrine for [[Vishnu]] in the second precinct. There also shrines of [[Shani]], Vrusabha Nayaka, [[Durga]], Chandikeswara, [[Dakshinamurthy|Dakshninamurthy]] and [[Navagraha]] around the sanctum.<ref name=Saiva5/>

==Festival==
[[File:Othandeeswarar temple3.JPG|250px|thumb|The various shrines of the temple]]
The temple follows Saivite tradition. The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Shaivaite]] community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:30 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 11:30 p.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m., and ''Sayaratchai'' between 8:00  - 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Othandeeswarar and Kulirvithanayaki. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. The temple is open from 6am - 11:30 am and 4-8:30 pm on all days. The temple has many festivals in its calendar, with the Brahmotsavamfestival during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Panguni'' (March - April) and Sani Peyarchi (transit of planet Saturn) being the most prominent<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Othandeeswarar temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=141|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=31 May 2014|year=2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Famous Shiva temples|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Tiruvallur district]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Tiruvallur district]]

Othandeeswarar Temple - Revision history

Palashkhanra73: New basic place w/ sources