7. SRI THIRU MAGARALEESWARAR TEMPLE THIRUMAGARAL

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	7th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Thondai Naadu
Thondai Naadu	7th Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar

HISTORY:

Thirumakaraleeswarar Temple (also called Thirumagaral Temple and Thirumakaral Easwarar Temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in Magaral, a village in Kanchipuram district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Shiva is worshipped as Thirumakaraleeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Tribuvananayagi. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work.

The temple complex covers two acres and it houses a five tier gateway tower known as gopurams, axially facing the Thirumakaraleeswarar shrine. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Thirumakaraleeswarar and his consort Tribuvananayagi being the most prominent. The original complex is believed to have been built by Cholas, while the present masonry structure was built during the Nayak during the 16th century.

Lord Indra:

Lord Indra, the king of celestial deities, presented his white elephant to Muruga, the son of Shiva, during his marriage at Thiruparakundram. The divine couple travelled on the elephant. When Vishnu wanted to view the couple, they appeared at Thirumagaral.

Magaraleeswarar:

A ruler of the region wanted the fruit from a jack fruit tree in the place wanted it to be offered to Chidambaram Nataraja Temple everyday and subsequently to him. He ordered the local public to carry out the activity everyday. Once it was a turn of a boy in the village to carry the fruit. He felt that the king has made an undue order and wanted it to be eliminated. He burnt the tree thinking that the villagers would be relieved off the duty. The king enquired the boy, who fearlessly narrated the truth. The king was angry with him and started chasing him to punish. He found a golden iguana cross his way to an anthill. The king dug the anthill only to see blood woozing out. A divine voice told him that it was Shiva who appeared that and the king had to build a temple for his propitiation. Since Shiva appeared as magaral, an iguana, the place came to be known as Magaral and Shiva is called as Magaraleeswarar.

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        The main rajagopuram is on the east side with seven tiers and pierces the large rectangular granite walls.

·        The temple tank, Indra Theertha, is located inside the main entrance. The temple is built on an elevated platform and there are two corridors inside the temple.

·        At the main entrance, the sculptures of Ganapathy and Muruga can be found on both the sides. The main shrine accommodates the image of Shiva known as Thirumakaraleeswarar in the form of Lingam, of the size of the tail of an iguana.

·        There is a separate shrine for Balambigai to the right of Thirumakaraleeswarar's sanctum. The first precinct on the four sides of the sanctum sancotrum are decorated with the images of Nayanmars, Navagrahas, Bhairava, Murugan Sannadhi in the northwest and Durga Sannadhi on the northeast.

·        The vimana of the temple is called Gajabrusta in model, replicating the hip of an elephant.

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Thiru Magaral Easwarar
Ambal	Sri Tiri Bhuvana Nayaki
Theertham	Agni Theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Lime Tree

BELIEF:

Devotees believe that consuming the abishek theertha serves as an effective medicine reducing the impact of blood related illnesses, fractures, impaired vision, paralysis etc.

Devotees perform poojas here for unity among couples, for relief from planetary inflictions and those seeking child boon do angapradakshinam rolling around the prakara.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Vaikasi	May-June	Vaikasi Visakam
Aani	June-July	Aani Tirumanjanam
Aadi	July-Aug	Aadi Pooram
Avani	Aug-Sept	Vinayakar Chaturthi
Purattasi	Sep-Oct	Navarathri
Aippasi	Oct–Nov	Skanda Shashti
		Aippasi Pournami
Karthikai	Nov-Dec	Thirukarthikai
Markazhi	Dec-Jan	Thiruvadhirai
Markazhi	Dec-Jan	Arudra Darisanam
Thai	Jan-Feb	Makara Sankranthi
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Brahmotsavam festival and Maasi Magam
Panguni	Mar-Apr	Panguni Uthiram

HOW TO REACH:

This paadal petra sthalam is located on the Kancheepuram - Uthiramerur route via Orikkai. It is about 16 Kms from Kancheepuram on the banks of river Seyyaaru. Bus facilities are available from Kancheepuram.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Tirumagaraleeswarar Temple,
Maagaral Village,
Uthiramerur,
Kancheepuram,
Tamil Nadu - 631603.

LOCATION: