Sri Azhahambihai sametha Jumbukeswarar Temple - Sembakkam

Sri Azhahambihai sametha Jumbukeswarar Temple - Sembakkam

Location

The temple is located at Thirupporur-Chenglepat/ Guduvancheri route, southwest of Thirupporur at 7 kms from Thirupporur and 20 kms from Chenglepat. The arch in the main road is an indicator, from where the temple is about a km inside the same road.

Sanctum

The Jambukeswarar Temple is dedicated to Sri Shiva as Jambukeswarar and Divine Mother Shakti as Azhagambikai. The main deity Sri Jambukeswarar is seen facing east from a small, beautiful sanctum.

Inner Praharam 

The inner praham has a separate shirine for mother Azhagambikai facing south. Opposite to her sacntum and in the form of a well, the Amutha Theertham is present making the number of theerthams to two.  The other one is the Ahazhi Theertham which is present in the form of a pond outside the temple. It is  in the northwest corner of the temple.

Architecture

There is no Rajagopuram for this temple  as seen from the above picture. There is a large outer praharam which is open and well maintained. The temple has a beautiful garden with flowers to meet the requirements of worship. 

Sthala Viruksham & Theertham

In the southeast direction is present the huge and beautiful Naval tree (Black naval fruit) as Sthalavruksham. There are two theerthams – Ahazhi Theertham in the form of a pond outside the temple in the northwest of the temple and Amutha Theertham in the form of a well inside the temple in front of the Goddess shrine.

Siddhars

Sri Ponnambala Swamigal and Sri Thirumeni linga Swamigal the twin siddhars have lived in Sembakkam. They were usually seen together. It is learnt that a lot of handwritten notes of Ponnambala Swamigal was preserved in sembakkam.

Importance

Ancient and beautiful 8^th/9^th century Temple built by the Chola kings

 

Sri Govardhanaambigai sametha Gnanapureeswarar Temple - Thiru Idaichuram.

Sri Govardhanaambigai sametha Gnanapureeswarar Temple - Thiru Idaichuram.

Raja Gopuram

Location

The temple is on the road connecting Chengalpattu and Thirupporur. Thiru Idaichuram can either be accessed from Thirupporur at about 18 kms or from Chengalpattu about 9 kms. The address is "Sri Gnanapureeswarar Temple, Tiruvadishoolam-603 108 (Tiru Idaisuram), Chengalpat". The temple is open from 7.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Since the location of the temple is present inbetween (idai) the hills and since Easwaran came in the form of a Edayar and blessed the place is called as idai easwaram.

Sanctum

The main deity Sri Gnanapureeswarar is seen facing east from a small, beautiful sanctum. The deity is made of Maragatha (dark green) stone with a square aavudai facing east.  It is said that the actual color and the glow of this Maragatha Lingam will clearly be visible when ‘Then Abishegam’ (Honey Abishegam) is performed to the deity. Lord Shiva is blessing us as a swambu murthy from this temple.

Inner Praharam

Beautiful inner praharam is styled with Ahazhi surrounding the sanctum. The inner praham has a separate shirine for mother Govaradhnambikai.  Here, Govaradhnambikai has one foot backward and one forward as if a in walking posture. The shrines for the Nalvar,  Ganapathy, Lord Subramanyar with his consorts, Chandikeswarar, Kala Bairavar, Dwara Ganapathy MuthukumaraSwamy and Sun God are housed in the inner praharam.  Lord Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, Maha Vishnu Durga are present as Koshta moorthies.

Architecture

The temple looks ancient and sobre amidst the serene atmosphere.  The raja gopuram for the temple has been recently constructed. The rajagopuram is a five tier gopuram as seen in above.  There are shrines for Varasiddhi Vinayaka, Lord Brahmmandeswarar and Mother Brahmmandeswari in the outer praharam. The temple is facing south. The temple plates describe the work of Kulothunga Cholan.

The vilvam present inside the temple near the gopuram is unique with 11 leaves.  The three trees Neem, Vilvam and Arasu are bound together and is present near the east enterance.

Sthala Viruksham & Theertham

The Sthala Viruksham here is Vilvam, which is on the eastern part of the temple. The Theertham for the temple is Madhura Theertham.

Importance

• The temple is about 2000 year old.
• This temple is one among the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams.
• The temple is praised by Saint Tirugnana Sambandar in Thevaram.
• 11 faced Vilvam is an important aspect of the sthala viruksham. The vilvam is as seen below.

Legend

Saint Tirugnanasambandar, took a pilgrimage to visit the various Sivaalayams across the country. Sambandar had taken a vow of having the dharshan of Lord Shiva, everyday before taking any food. During his pilgrimage to Shiva temples, he felt terribly hungry and tired while passing through this place.  Sambandar took bath in the nearby pond and rested on the banks of the pond thinking about the greatness of Shiva. Lord Shiva was overwhelmed with joy and disguised as a yadhava boy, approached Sambandar with food in a mud pot and asked Sambandar, Who are you in this forest area?. Sambandar answered that he is on a pilgrimage to shivaalayams. The disguised yadhava offered food to Sambandar. However Sambandar thanked the boy and politely refused the food. He said that he will not take food without the dharshan of Lord Shiva. The boy immediately said that there is a shiva temple nearby and invited the saint to the temple. Saint followed the boy who stopped near a tank, smiled and disappeared.  Lord Shiva granted darshan as a shepherd to Sambandar and the overwhelmed Sambandar sang in parise of the lord.

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AJBS