Tiruninravur Hridayaleeswarar Temple

By -
Situated close to Chennai, Tiruninravur, a quaint village, holds a unique temple that mirrors the visionary creation of a devout heart. This temple, named the Hridayaleeswarar Temple, echoes the devout journey of its originator.

Within Tiruninravur, two ancient temples grace its grounds. One of these venerable structures is devoted to Lord Shiva, hailed as Hridayaleeswarar in this sacred space. Rooted in the Bhakti movement of Tamil Nadu, the tapestry of Lord Shiva's devotees is woven with 63 distinguished individuals known as Nayanmars. Among them, Poosalar emerges as a notable figure. Despite his humble circumstances, residing in Tiruninravur, Poosalar nurtured a fervent desire to erect a temple for Lord Shiva. However, the means eluded him. Thus, he embarked on a gradual visualization, erecting the temple brick by brick within his own heart. Ultimately, he accomplished the temple's entirety within his spiritual confines and designated a day for its consecration.

Serendipitously, this day aligned with the consecration of King Rajasimha Pallava's newly constructed Kailasanath temple in Kanchipuram. Through a divine dream, the deity prompted the king to postpone his ceremony, directing him to partake in Poosalar's consecration. The king, guided by the Gods, journeyed to Tiruninravur. There, he encountered Poosalar and realized that the temple's existence was nestled within the devotee's heart. This revelation propelled Poosalar's eminence beyond his secluded devotion. Subsequently, a tangible temple was erected in Tiruninravur, mirroring the ethereal one within Poosalar's heart. It's from this heart-centered origin that the deity earned the moniker "Hridayaleeswarar," with "Hridaya" signifying heart.

This ancient Hridayaleeswarar Temple features a west-facing entrance adorned by a splendid tower. Adorning the sanctum's precincts are a flagstaff and the revered Nandi. The sanctum enshrines Lord Hridayaleeswarar in the form of a grand Shiv Linga  facing eastward. In tandem with this sacred icon, the statue of the devoted Poosalar stands in homage. Notably, a separate shrine honors the Goddess Maragadambal.

Winding around the shrines of Hridayaleeswarar and Maragadambal, a corridor houses an array of divine entities. Images of Surya, Chandra, Raja Simha Pallava, Polla Pillayar (Ganesha), the Nalvar (four great devotees), Navagraha (nine planets), Chandikeshwara, and Bhairav adorn this passage. Further enclaves pay homage to Maha Ganapati and Murugan with Valli and Devasena.

The temple's sanctum is crowned with a Gajaprshtha-type vimana. The ceiling showcases intricate paintings, while strategically designed apertures invite sunbeams to grace the corridor's interior. Niche images of Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durga grace the sanctum's surrounding walls. The outer corridor hosts the Sapta Mata icons.

With these insights, embark on your journey to the Hridayaleeswarar Temple, nestled in Tiruninravur, a stone's throw from Chennai. Immerse yourself in its profound history, a testament to devotion taking tangible form.

Happy travelling.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Tallest Murugan of Chennai

By -
Image
Consecrated in March 2021, the 40 feet high Bala Murugan icon at Saveetha Medical College campus is the tallest image of Murugan in Chennai. Malaysia has 140 feet tall Murugan. In April 2022, the 146 feet tall image of Murugan was consecrated near Salem in Tamil Nadu. However, they are all stucco images. But, the one that we find on the college campus is a monolithic granite icon. Thus, it is the tallest stone icon of Murugan in the entire world. A stone weighing 320 tonnes was brought from Siruvambur near Wallajah, and it was carved to 140 tonnes to get this beautiful and gigantic sculpture. The entire temple complex is designed in the shape of the Devanagiri letter "Om", which can be appreciated in the aerial view.  The west-facing gigantic sculpture is located atop the star-shaped pedestal. It dominates the entire landscape. A large meditation hall is situated below the pedestal. On the open corridor in front of the presiding deity, smaller shrines are found. They enshrine...
Read more

Little known Nimishamba Temple of Chennai

By -
Image
Site Name:  Nimishamba Temple Site Type:  Hindu Temple Location:   Kasi Chetty Street, Sowcarpet, Chennai city, Tamil Nadu state, India Highlights:   A rare temple of Nimishamba in Chennai city Nearest Railway Station:   Chennai - well connected from the cities/towns all over India Nearest Airport:   Chennai has both national and international airports How to reach:   Easily reachable by road as this is centrally located in the city Hotel:  Many star hotels, luxury hotels/resorts, and budget hotels are available in Chennai Restaurants:  All options - vegetarian, non-vegetarian, Chinese, South Indian, Gujarati, North Indian, Punjabi,....- you can find everything in Chennai city Chennai is considered as the gateway to South India. The capital city of Tamil Nadu state of India has hundreds of tourist sites which include museum, British period monuments, temples, beach, etc. Let us explore a little known temple called Nimisham...
Read more

Hastinapuram Navapashanam Murugan Temple

By -
Image
Navapashanam is an amalgam of nine poisonous herbs. It is said to act as a remedy for all types of diseases. It is believed that the Siddhas knew the secret formula to prepare this medicinal potion.  The sculpture of Murugan from the famous Palani is claimed to be made of Navapashanam. Similarly, there is a lesser-known temple near Chennai, which has a Navapashanam Murugan. In Hastinapuram near Chrompet in the southern outskirts of Chennai, in a congested lane called Masjid Street, this tiny temple of Bala Murugan is situated. Murugan, made of Navapashanam, is the presiding deity.  Jalakandeeswara Linga, Meenakshi, and the Siddha who found this temple are the other Murtis found in the temple. Happy travelling.
Read more