SRI DHENUPUREESWARAR SIVAN TEMPLE, MADAMBAKKAM, CHENNAI.

Sri DHENUPUREESWARAR SIVAN TEMPLE,

MADAMBAKKAM, Chennai.

Sri Dhenupurishwarar is one of the famous temples of Chennai, especially because of the sculpture of God Sarabeswarar present here. The Shiva lingam is Swayambhu Lingam or self-manifested Lingam This temple was built during NINETH CENTURY. The Lord Shiva here is called Dhenupureeswarar (Dhenu + Puri + Ishwarar) which means, the Lord Shiva who was showered by a cow. Dhenupureeswarar got his name because he gave moksha to a cow ( Dhenu). 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. Later on the Pandya Kings built the shrine for his consort, Goddess Dhenukambal, and also the southern entrance and the Mandapam. Much later, during the Pallava Reign in this region, the Maha Mandapam was built.

Lord Dhenupureeswarar who is seen facing the east and the Goddess is called Dhenukambal gracing from a separate shrine facing south. The sanctum Garbhagraaha is quite small where The Shiva Linga is placed on a platform about 8-9 inches high. The Linga is relatively small too. It also bears the marks of the cow’s rear legs and stone attacks.

Two Vinyakas are found in the inner corridor (prakara) of this temple. The Ambal here appears with a parrot on her hand. One can see, behind the sanctum, Sri Maha Vishnu instead of Sri Lingothbavar. Lord Varadharaja also graces his devotees from a separate shrine here along with consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi. Sri Bhudha shrine is seen facing the North here. People suffering from speech related problems such as stammering, offer green pulse Dhanam to the Budha here. Sri Kala Bhairavar is worshipped here with Banana fruits and cashew garland. Devotees light lamps in coconut shell and pumpkin on Ashtami.

One can see separate Sri Sarabeswarar sannidhanam on the pillar out side sanctum. He's a Reincarnation, a form of Lord Shiva. The legend goes that, when Lord Vishnu reincarnated in the Narasimha Avatar, after killing Hiranya Kasipu his anger didn't subside and he went on a destructive mode. So Lord Shiva assumed the form of Sarabeswarar to control Narasimhar.

Every Sunday during Ragukalam special pooja done for Sri Sarabeswarar and Thousands of devotees throng every Sunday for Sri Sarabeswarar Pooja