Thaiyur Mareeswarar Temple

Thaiyur, a remote, peaceful village till a few years ago, is a fast developing southern suburb of Chennai. Not many know that it is the site of seven ancient temples of Shiva called Sapta Sthana Temples of Thaiyur. This article is about one of those seven temples, the Mareeswarar Shrine.

The list of seven temples of Thaiyur:
1. Chenkanmaleeswarar  (Click the link to read the article about this site.)
2. Mareeswarar (the temple on which this article is written)
3. Murugeeswarar (This is the biggest temple of Thaiyur. Click the link to read my article on this temple.)
4. Jalakandeswarar
5. Azhageesar
6. Komaleeswarar
7. Abhatsagayeesar or Baleeswarar of Sozhathangal (or) the temple inside the forest of Chenkadu

Till the early 2000s, the temple was in ruin. The current structure of the temple was built in 2007 CE, and the gigantic Raja gopuram (tower) was built in 2019. Except for Shiva Linga, Nandi, and a King's bas-relief image, all other sculptures are new. Few materials in the original structure are reused for reconstruction. 

The original temple in dilapidated state

As the temple continued to be dilapidated for decades together, there is no record of any inscriptions. Based on some of the old circular pillars of Maha mandapa, we can assume that the earlier structure was built during the Vijayanagara period. Nandi might belong to the same period, however Shiva Linga might be much older.

Mareeswarar is the presiding deity who is enshrined in the east-facing sanctum. He is in the form of 1.5 feet high Shiva Linga. 

Aram Valarththa Nayaki (Dharmasamvardhini) is the presiding Goddess enshrined in a south-facing shrine located in Maha mandapa.

Many processional metal images are housed in a shrine in Maha mandapa. All of them are newly made.

The usual elements such as Nandi mandapa, bali peetha, dhwajastambha, Navagrahas, Bhairava, Pancha koshta murtis (Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga), and Chandikeswara are found.

Surya and Chandra are found on either side of the main entrance interior. Hanuman is enshrined in a west-facing sub-shrine.

A shrine of Nerur Sadguru Sadasiva Brahmendra Swamigal, a 21st century Guruji, is located in the prakara.

A sculpture of Ganesha is placed beneath the holy Vanni tree.

On the wall of Maha mandapa, the relief image of Uthanda Kalapala, a chieftain, is found. It is said that he reconstructed the temple.

(Uthandan, serving the Vijayanagara Kings, ruled Thaiyur in the 15th century CE. A poet had composed 450 songs on him. The collection called Uthandan Kovai talks elaboratively about Thaiyur. Kovai is a Tamil literature form, where the verses are arranged in a thematic sequence.) 

The five-tiered colorful tower faces the east direction. The holy pond is found on the right side.

 A peepul tree with a few icons of Nagas (serpents) and Ganesha is located nearby.

Happy travelling.