the Ultimate Web on Indian Gods & Temples

 by Padmani,

Abodes of Shiva

The legend is that Saint Sundarar left Thiruvotriyur to proceed to Thiruvarur after abandoning his wife Sangili Nachiyar and breaching the promise that he had made to her. On his way to this temple, it is believed that he lost his eye sight due to his failure of keep his promise to Sangili Naachiyar. While entering the temple, he asked the lord in annoyance whether he was inside (Koilul ullayo?) and further argued that if the lord cannot solve his devotees problems, then what is the reason for his being there. He further pleaded to the lord to restore his vision for which Lord Shiva politely replied “yes I am inside (Ulom Pokeer), but instead of restoring his vision, he gave Sundarar a walking stick and asked him to leave. Angered and dejected, Sundarar threw the stick back which hit the Nandhis right horn and broke it. You can see the idol of Saint Sundarar with closed eyes and a sad expression on his face and holding a stick in his left hand. The idol of Nandhi can be seen with its right horn broken. Both these idols are in front of Lord Shiva’s shrine. In Sundarar’s pathigam at this temple, it is evident that Sundarar was heartbroken when the Lord Shiva refused to restore his vision. It is said that Goddess Parvathy helped him reach Kancheepuram by providing him light by the way of flashes of lightning. Hence, she is praised here as Minnoliyammai (Minnal in Tamil means lightning). It is further said that Goddess Parvathy consoled Sundarar by saying that life goes in accordance with one’s good or evil deeds and assured him that he would get back his vision in the due course of time. Hence, she is also praised as Kanivai Mozhi Nayaki – the goddess who gave assurance.

This is one of the 276 Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalams and 17th Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. This is an east facing temple and has no main tower (Rajagopuram) but has arches on South and East sides. This temple has two corridors. This temple is constructed like a madakkoil with steps. Madakkoils are temples that are built at an elevation and have a few steps to be climbed to see the Lord. Lord Shiva gave Sundararamurthy Nayanar a walking stick (Oontrukol), hence the lord here is named Oontreeswarar. Earlier this Shiva temple was situated on the banks of river Kusashthalai in a village called Thiruvulampudur. During the year 1942, Tamil Nadu Government acquired and took over many villages including Thiruvulampudur for construction of the Poondi water dam. The Government provided alternative land at Thiruvenpakkam (Poondi) for construction of a new temple in place of the old one at Thiruvalampudur. The idols of deities except the moolavar, pillars and sculptures were removed from the old temple of Thiruvulampudur and reinstated at the new location. For this new temple, the consecration ceremony (Maha Kumbabishekam) took place on 5th July, 1968. It is said that the idol of the main deity is newly created as the original one had already been installed at Sri Gangadareswarar temple at Purasapakkam, Chennai. It is further said that some portion of the old temple’s main tower can still be seen from the banks of the Poondi Lake. Devotees facing obstacles in marriage proposals can worship Lord Oontreeswarar and seek his blessings. Also, people with eye sight related problems can worship Goddess Minnoli Ammai for remedy.

Mahashivrathri in the Tamil month of Masi (February-March), Annabishekam in the Tamil month of Aipasi (October- November) and Thirukarthikai in the Tamil month of Karthikai (November-December) are the major festivals celebrated in this temple. Monthly Pradosham is also observed.