the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Shiva

This temple is situated at Porur on Porur - Kundrathur Road. The temple is just 1/2 km from Porur Power House Bus stop. It is near Porur Murugan Temple.

According to the history, Sri Rama on His way to Sri Lanka rested here in this place which was then a forest. While resting under an Amla tree (Nelli in Thamizh), He realized that there was a Shiva Lingam under the ground and his feet had touched the head of the Lingam unknowingly. Sri Rama acquired a Dhosham as He had touched the Lingam with His feet. So he undertook a penance towards Lord Shiva for 48 days with just one Amla fruit as his food, to recover from the Dhosham and to bring out the Shiva Lingam. Lord Shiva pleased with Sri Rama's penance came out from the earth and gave Viswaroopa Dharshan to Sri Rama. Sri Rama overwhelmed by the Lord's mercy named the Shiva Lingam as Sri Ramanaadheswarar and worshipped Him. Goddess Parvathi too appeared and gave Dharshan to Sri Rama as Sri Sivakaama Sundhari. Sri Rama with sincere prayers worshipped Lord Shiva as His Guru and got to know the directions to reach the place where Sri Sita was kept under custody of Raavana and headed towards Sri Lanka. As Sri Rama worshipped Lord Shiva as His Guru, this place became a Guru Sthalam among 9 Navagraha Temples of Chennai (or Thondai Mandalam). Here Lord Shiva Himself is worshipped as Sri Guru Bhagavan. Also this place is called Uthara Raameswaram, as Sri Rama worshipped Lord Shiva here, similar to Raameswaram. Lord Rama and Lordess Sita while returning to Ayodya came to Porur and thanked Lord Shiva.

This temple is one of the Navagraha temples of Chennai (or Thondai Mandalam) devoted to Sri Guru Bhagavan. Here Sri Sandigeswarar is seen in a peculiar position near Nandhi facing south. The practice of offering Theertham and Sadaari are generally seen only in Vishnu temples. But, this is probably the only Shiva temple, where Theertham and Sadaari are offered to the devotees.