Bheemeswara Temple

In Mudichur, on the southern outskirts of Chennai, the Bheemeswara temple is located. It is popularly known as Shiva Vishnu temple nowadays.

Not many citizens might be familiar with this temple located interior. However, the temple tank is too huge to miss. Thousands of people who pass by this busy high road would have definitely noticed the tank.

Although it is an old temple, it is impossible to believe so, with the maximum amount of current-day concrete repairs and additions. 

The east-facing sanctum enshrines a large-sized Shiva Linga named Bheemeswara. The height of Linga must be around five feet. 

At the entrance of the sanctum, the images of Ganesha and Subramanya are found. In the outer area, Nandi is found facing the sanctum.

The outer walls of the sanctum have the niche images of Dakshinamurti, Lingodbhava, Brahma and Durga. Chandikeswara is found in a small sub-shrine in the usual location near Durga.

The south-facing shrine of Vidyambikai with a Simha (lion) vahana in the opposite direction is found. Brahmi, Vaishnavi and Varahi are found in the niches around the shrine.

Parallel to Shiva's shrine, there is an east-facing shrine of Damodara Perumal (Vishnu). In the ardha mandapa, the images of Lakshmi and Andal are situated. Garuda and Hanuman are found facing the Vishnu shrine.

Tumbikkai Alwar (Ganesha and not Vishwaksena), Narasimha in the standing posture and Dhanvantri are found as the Koshta murtis of Vishnu temple. Besides, a bronze icon of Lakshmi Hayagreeva is found inside the shrine.

Surya, Chandra, Bhairava and Navagraha are also found across the temple complex. 

On the banks of the adjoining huge tank, a sub-shrine of Hanuman is located. There are so many trees and plants in the region that joins the temple tank. They make visiting the temple a pleasant experience.

Except for Shiva Linga and a deepa stambha (lamp post) of Vishnu, nothing else appears to be old. No inscription is found. 

Let me not share the legend of the site as it appears to be something created in the last few decades.

Happy travelling.