189. VILLIYAMBAKKAM

THOKKEESWARAR TEMPLE

Distance: 17kms from Chengulpet

Shiva: Thokkeeswarar

Amman: Swarnambigai

Speciality:

The Shiva Linga faces east.

There is a temple pond nearby.

This temple was said to have built before 1000 years but later due to invasions and calamities the temple was devastated and only the Linga and Nandhi was left over. Years went by but no one took notice of the temple. The place was full of trees and twines. About 20 years back people took steps to remove the Linga and Nandhi here and placed them in a small room. The name was discovered to be Thokkeeswarar.

A contractor named Manavalan took steps 5 years ago to build a temple for the Lord as some instinct made him do this.  Now a temple has been built and is in a very good shape. As we enter the temple we first see the Vijaya Ganapathy Sannidhi. In the Koshta of this Ganapathy we find Saraswathi with in a standing posture carrying a Veena. The Pancha Koshta Sannidhis, Valli Devanai Subramanya, Suryan, Chandran and Navagrahas are found in this temple. 

There is only 1 inscription in this temple of 1440AD. The inscription states that the Senadhipathi of Krishnadevaraya has referred Thokkeeswarar as Thirukoteeswara Mudaiyar. He donated this Village to the temple. Later Shiva was named Sokkanadhar, then Thokkanadhar and now Thokkeeswarar. The Mulavar is made of a stone of a very rare type.