Marundeeswarar Temple

Marundeeswarar Temple
Marundeeswarar Temple and Tank glow in the morning sunlight
Marundeeswarar Temple Location in Tamil Nadu
Name
Proper name	Marundeeswarar Temple
Geography
Coordinates	12°59′08″N 80°15′41″E / 12.98556°N 80.26139°E / 12.98556; 80.26139Coordinates: 12°59′08″N 80°15′41″E / 12.98556°N 80.26139°E / 12.98556; 80.26139
Country	India
State/province	Tamil Nadu
Locale	Tiruvanmiyur, Chennai
Culture
Primary deity	Marundeeswarar (Shiva)
Important festivals	Panguni Brahmmotsavam in March- April, Shivrathri in February–March
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture

Marundeeswarar Temple (Tamil: மருந்தீஸ்வரர் ஆலயம்) is a temple dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva, located in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai adjacent to the beach of Bay of Bengal. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where the three of the most revered Nayanars (Saivite Saints), Appar and Tirugnana Sambandar have glorified the temple with their verses during the 7th-8th century. The temple has been widely expanded by Chola kings during the 11th century. The temple has two seven tiered gateway towers, a huge tank, with the overall temple area covering 1 acre. The Marundeeswarar temple has been a place of curative worship for people with diseases. The latest consecration of the temple after renovation, was performed in May 2008. The temple is administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Marundeeswarar is known so because he imparted sage Agastya on curative properties of various herbs and plants. Since then the Marundeeswarar temple has been a place of worship for people with diseases and various problems with their health. It is said that even The Sage Valmiki, who wrote The Ramayana, came here to The Marundeeswarar temple to worship Shiva. Sage Valmiki was said to be blessed here. After this incident, this place was to be known as Thiruvalmikiyur, the name gradually changed to Thiruvanmiyur. There is a place present in Thiruvanmiyur called Valmiki Nagar in his honour. There is also a temple built for Sage Valmiki in the middle of the East Coast Road, very close to the Marundeeswarar temple. The lingam for which Hanuman performed pooja, The lingam(meenakshi sundareswarar) that cured the curse of Indra, the Lingam for which Saint Bharadwaja performed pooja are present here. Markandeyar performed a penance and prayed to Shiva here, Brahma is believed to have conducted a festival here for Shiva.