121. DINDIVANAM

THINTHRINEESWARAR TEMPLE

Distance: 120kms from Chennai

Shiva: Thinthrineeswarar

Amman: 

Sthala Viruksham: Taarind tree

Speciality:

Old name of Dindivanam was Kidangil which was named after the local chief Kidangil Koman whose glory was sung by the Sanga Pulavars of Tamilnadu.

Dindivanam was also called as Thandagavanam, Dindeeswaram and Thinthrinivanam in ancient days. In the inscriptions the name of the place is mentioned as Thiruthindeeswaram.

The Rajagopuram of this temple is 7 tiered.

There are 2 Praharas in this temple.

The Vimanam of he temple was designed by Sage Vyasa.

This is a Vaipustalam sung by Appar in his hymns.

There is a big lake even now called as the Kidangil Eri.

Thinthrineeswarar is a Suyambhu Linga facing east.

Thinthrineeswarar was initially installed by Dindi under a Tamarind tree.

All the Parivara and Prahara deities are present in this temple.

The temple is maintained well.

Two Asuras brothers named Dindi and Mundi worshipped Lord Shiva. The became the Dwarapalakas of Lord Shiva after they attained Mukthi. Thinthrineeswarar was worshipped by Dindi and the place Dindivanam is named after him.

This temple was also worshipped by Sage Killi and Killali.

The places where Mundi worshipped Lord Shiva are Mundiyambakkam and Thirumundeeswaram (now called Gramam). These 2 places are named after Mundi.

Inscription:

The oldest inscription on the walls of the temple was engraved during the period of Rajakesari Varman Sundhara Cholan Parantakan II. It records the gift of Lamps by many people in his country. Another inscription during the period of Rajaraja Chola I mentions about the gift of Land to 2 musicians - One a Veena Player and other a Vocalist who perform their music consort before Lord Shiva of this temple.During the days of Rajaraja Chola I the temple had the Central Shrine and the Artha Mandapam. The Parivara Deities Ganesha, Dhakshinamurthy facing south, Vishnu facing west and Brahma and Durga facing north were the only deities of the period of the 10th Century. All the other deities are later additions. The inscriptions engraved on the south wall of the Mandapam in front of the Main Shrine is of the period of Rajendhra Chola I. It records the gift of 12 cows to the Thinthrineeswarar temple of Kidangil in Oymanadu. Now Kidangil is a suburb of Dindivanam. Having recieved the 12 cows the members of the Assembly who were in charge had to supply the requirements of the temple as long as the Sun and Moon lasts. This was the order of Rajendhra Chola I.