29. SIRUKARUMBUR

THIRIPURANDHAGAESWARAR TEMPLE

Distance: Sirukarumbur is situated 95kms from Chennai between Ochcheri and Kaveripakkam.

Shiva: Thiripuraandhagaeswarar

Amman: Sundara Kamakshi or Maragadhambal

Sthala Viruksham: Sarkondrai.

Speciality:

In ancient days this place was called Thirukarumbur now the name has been transformed into Sirukarumbur. This temple was known as Kushmeshapuram in Sanskrit. 

This temple was built by the Cholas. 

The sculptures are very unique in this temple.

The Vimaana is in the Gajaprishta form {Thoongaanai Maadam}. 

The idol of Ambaal is made of green stone {emerald}. The whole Karuvarai of Ambaal is built out of green stone. The Ambaal has a smile on her face.

The Sundhara Kamakshi Ambaal is one of the Kaamakshi peetam of Aadhi Shankara. 

There is a Srichakram in front of Ambaal.

The shilpa of Kamadhenu and Karpaga Vriksha is carved with liveliness. 

The shilpas of Lakshmi, Veena Saraswathy, Chandi, Vaishnavi, Kowmari are also amazing. 

The name of Vinayaka is Sundhara Ganapathy. 

There are many inscriptions in the temple. 

The Dhakshinamurthy of this temple carries 63 lingas which denotes 63 nayanmaars on his Jadamudi (hair). This is a very rare and unique feature which could not be found elsewhere. 

We find a Bilva tree and a neem tree together denoting Shiva and Ambaal could not be separated. 

History:

Malik Kafur, an army general of Alauddin Kilji, heard about the speciality of the green stone with which temple has been built. During his invasion he came to attack this temple. The people of this village and the villages nearby brought sand and mud from all the places around and covered the whole temple so that it resembled a great sand hill. When Malik Kafur came with his army he could not find any temple hear. He enquired about the temple but got no answer. so he mercilessly killed the people. As years went by the sand and the mud on the temple gave a destructive look and no one took steps to clear the mud. In 1958, the district collector of Vellore Mr. Baskara Tondaiman heard about this temple and took steps to clear the mud and renovated the temple. The green stone and its speciality stood lasting even after many 100s of years.