BHOOMEESWARAR TEMPLE
Distance: 37kms from Dindivanam
Shiva: Bhoomeswarar
Amman: Girijambaal
Speciality:
There are Garpagriha, Antharala, Arthamandapam and Mugamandapam in the temple.
The Koshta deities are Dhakshinamurthy, Vishnu and Brahma.
The Utsavar deities of the temple are Somaskandhar, Chandrasekarar, Natarajar, Amman Girijambiga and Kaali.
The Linga is a Suyambhu Linga.
Bhumeeswarar was called by different names during the reign of different kings.
From inscriptions we learn salt was given as grants to the temple in King Raja Raja Chola I period.
Bhumeeswarar was called by different names during the reign of different kings.
- Rajaraja Chola I - Bhumeeswara Dhevar, Bhumeeswarath Aazhwar
- Rajendhra Chola I - Thirubhumeeswaramudaiyar, Bhumeeswaramudaiya Mahadevar
- Kulothunga Chola III - Bhumeeswaramudaiya Nayanar
- Vijayanagara Kings - Bhumeeswaramudaiya Thambiran, Thirubhumiyappa Thambiranar
From inscriptions we learn salt was given as grants to the temple in King Raja Raja Chola I period.
Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas have renovated the temple in their periods.
There are many inscriptions around the main shrine.
The Durga of this temple has Dwarabalakis. This is a strange feature of this temple.
Sage Ganvar and Manmadhan have worshipped this temple.
There is a Paavai Vilakku in front of Shiva.
There is no Rajagopuram.
There is a temple pond to the west of the temple.
There is a Vahana Mandapam and Nadana Mandapam.
The Bhairavar of this temple is special.
In the Prahara we sannidhis of Naalvar, Baala Vinayaka, Hanuman, Saptha Kannis, Valli Devasena Subramaniya, Bhairavar, Chandikeswarar and Navagrahas. There are sculptures of Purana Stories in the pillars. In the Koshta we find Bhikshadanar in the place of Vinayaka, Dhakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durga. Durga is seen with an umbrella, garland and 2 Dwarabalakis beside her.
In the Prahara we sannidhis of Naalvar, Baala Vinayaka, Hanuman, Saptha Kannis, Valli Devasena Subramaniya, Bhairavar, Chandikeswarar and Navagrahas. There are sculptures of Purana Stories in the pillars. In the Koshta we find Bhikshadanar in the place of Vinayaka, Dhakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durga. Durga is seen with an umbrella, garland and 2 Dwarabalakis beside her.
The Brahma Theertham was formed by Brahma.
There are twisted serpents on the body of Bhairavar with serve hairs, earings, bracelets and anklets and other ornaments of the body. The Bhairavar is dressed in Tiger skin with human bones on his body with his dog Vahana.
Inscriptions:
Inscriptions of Rajaraja Chola and Rajendhra Chola are found in this temple. The Rajaraja Chola inscription is about the gift of lamp to the Bhoomeeswarar temple at Rajaraja Peralam (Marakkanam) in Pattina Naadu.
There are 2 inscriptions in the period of Parakesari Varman Rajendhra Chola I. The first insccription is about the gift made of taxes due to a salt pan for 2 lamps to be burnt in the temple. The second inscription is about the gift which was made of Sheep for a lamp.
King Rajakesari Vijaya Rajendhran Rajadhi Raja Chola I inscription is about the sale of Land for the Nandhavanam (garden) of the Bhoomeeswarar temple by a Sabha of Eyir Pattinam (Marakkanam).
There are also inscriptions about the gift of land in the period of Rajakesari Varman Kulothunga Chola II.
The inscriptions of Kulothunga Chola III is also found.
The inscriptions of the Vijayanagara Kings states the name of Marakkanam as Kandaradhitha Nallur in Pattina Naadu and Vijaya Rajendhra Chola Valanaadu in Jayamkonda Chola Mandalam.
A Chola inscription states that the name of the place was called Manarkaanam since the place was full of mud (sea shore). The same inscription states that Marakkalam has changed to Marakkanam.
From the inscriptions in the temple we get to know about the Varieties of the names of this sea port.
- Rajaraja Peralam
- Pattinam
- Eyil Pattinam (eyil means madhil as the temple had very big walls during the period of Rajaraja Chola I)
- Vikrama Chola Chadhurvedhi Mangalam
- Kandaradhitha Nallur
- Vijaya Rajendhra Chola Valanaadu
The affairs of the temple were managed by the Sabha.
History:
Once upon a time there lived a Shiva devotee in Marakkanam. The Lord came in the form of a Sage to the devotee's house. The devotee wanted to provide food to the Sage. The Sage said that he wanted to Perform Shiva pooja in a Shiva temple and only then he would have food. Since there was no Shiva temple in that place the devotee took a 'Marakkal Padi' (a cylinderical vessel used for measuring grains) and turned it upside down, placed it on the ground and decorated it with flowers. The Sage (Shiva) perfomed Pooja and had food and left the place. After the Sage departed the devotee tried to move the vessel but he could not. He brought some device to remove the Marakkal Padi but it had disappeared. He came out of his house shouting Marakkal Kaanom (some people say that the name Marakkanam has derived from this dialogue) and he ran towards the sea in search of his vessel. Near the Bay of Bengal he found a Shiva Linga which indicated him which was his vessel. He started performing pooja to the Linga and later a big temple was built for this linga by the Cholas. This is the Bhumeeswarar temple.
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