Mappedu Singeeswarar Temple

Site Name: Singeeswarar Temple

Site Type: Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva

Location:  Mappedu, near  Kadambattur, near Chennai city, Tamil Nadu state, India

Highlights: The idol of Hanuman playing Veena in front of Lord Shiva; built by Aditya Karikalan Chola

Nearest Railway Station: Tambaram

Nearest Airport: Chennai

How to reach: Well connected by road from Chennai; public transport is difficult

Hotel: Go to Chennai where there are lot of options 

Restaurants: Go to Chennai where there are lot of options

Mappedu is a small village located near Chennai city in South India. The nearest landmark to this village is Kadambattur. This tiny village has an ancient temple for Lord Shiva called as Singeeswarar. It was built by Aditya Karikala Chola, the elder brother of the great king Raja Raja Chola who constructed the most popular Brahadeeswara Temple at Tanjore. 

Highlights:

• Hanuman playing Veena in front of Lord Shiva.
• Built by Aditya Karikala Chola in the 10th century CE.
• Prayers offered here helps to get the devotees skillful in music.
• The site is particularly good for those who were born with Moolam as the birth-star.
• God - Singeeswarar  
• Goddess - Pushpakujambal aka Poomulai Nayaki
• Teerth (Holy water) - Sweta Padma Pushkarani
• Holy Tree (Sthala Vruksha) - Ilandai tree

Legend:

Lord Shiva danced in Tirvalankadu site; Singi, one of eight Nandis, played mrudankam; he was so devoted that he closed his eyes and missed the divine dance. He requested the Lord to dance again so that he could watch the same. Shiva fulfilled his wish in Mappedu site. As Singi got darshan of Lord Shiva's dance in this place, Shiva is called as Singeeswarar.

Hanuman played amrutavarshini raaga using his veena in this site which turned the dry land into fertile land. Hanuman idol playing veena is found in this temple.

History:

Aditya Karikalan II Chola was a great warrior who won Veera Pandian; he was the elder brother of the great Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola. His murder still remains as a historical mystery. He built this temple in 967 CE.

In the second half of the 16th century CE, Ariyanatha Mudaliyar, who served as the Dalavai under Viswanatha Naicker and Krishnappa Naicker I, constructed the compound wall and the tower of this temple. A unique image of a person in the reclining posture that is found in the tower is none other than him.

Ariyanatha was born in Mappedu. He was very powerful in Madurai during the Naicker period. He built Arupaththu Moovar Mandapam in Meenakshi temple. The most popular thousand pillared hall (Aayiram Kal Mandapam) of Madurai Meenkashi temple was also built by him. During his time, he migrated hundreds of his relatives and community people from Kanchipuram to Cholavandhan near Madurai. This is considered as the beginning for the migration of Tondai mandala Vellala community from Tondai region to Pandya region. 

(The details about Ariyanatha Mudaliar are based on the book "Aalavai" written by Sri Narasiah). 

Temple Layout:

The temple which has north facing tower has the east facing main shrine. The flag post, Nandi mandapa and bali peetha are located facing the main shrine. 

Singeeswarar is found in the form of a slightly big Shiva Linga in the sanctum sanctorum. There are two Ganesha idols found at the entrance of the sanctum. The Maha mandapa has few pillars with good sculpture. 

The Goddess Pushpakujambal is found in a separate east facing shrine in the prakara. The mandapa of this shrine has good sculptures. 

The wall around the main shrine has Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga as the koshta idols. Chandikeshwarar isfound near Durga.

There is only one prakara in this temple - wide and big. The sub shrines of Ganesha, Surya, Subramanya-Valli-Devasena, Varadaraja-SreeDevi-Bhoo Devi and Bhairava are located in the prakara. 

There is a vasanta mandapa with a lot of beautiful pillars with sculptures. Near that mandapa, there is a sub shrine for Shiva Linga - Veerapaleeswarar. Facing this shrine, the rare idol of Hanuman with veena is found.

It is worth visiting this beautiful ancient temple in "Meip pedu", which is called as Mappedu nowadays.

Happy travelling.