Dhenupureeswarar Temple

Introduction to the Dhenupureeswarar Temple

The ancient Dhenupureeswarar Temple is on Velachery—Tambaram Road, Madambakkam, near Tambaram, Chennai. Anirudhamangalam and Ulakuyavanda Chaturvedi Mangalam are the old names of Madambakkam. The Archaeological Survey of India cares for this protected monument.

Legend of the Dhenupureeswarar Temple

According to the legend, Sage Kapila offered his prayers to Shiva using his left arm, which resulted in a curse. Hence, he took birth as a cow. During his cow birth, the sage continuously worshipped Shiva by expressing its milk on the buried Shiva Lingam.

On seeing this, the cowherd punished the cow. However, the cow continued to pour its milk on the Shiva Lingam daily. One day, the cowherd severely beat the cow. The cow began to run as it could not bear the pain. The cow's hoof hit the surface of the buried Shiva Lingam, and it started bleeding.

The cowherd was scared after seeing the blood and pleaded with Shiva to forgive him. Shiva appeared, blessed Sage Kapila, and liberated the sage from his birth as a cow. Shiva also forgave the cowherd.

The landowner had dreamt of this occurrence and ordered his servants to unearth the Shiva Lingam, which he called Dhenupureeswarar. Dhenu refers to 'cow,' and as sage Kapila attained liberation by the blessings of Shiva, the deity is known by the name Dhenupureeswarar.

The Architecture of the Dhenupureeswarar Temple

The Chola King Sundara Chola, father of the great Raja Raja Chola, and his minister Anirudha Brahmadhirajan built the Dhenupureeswarar Temple in the 10th century. Kulothunga Chola I added some more structures to the temple during his reign. The Dhenupureeswarar temple underwent many renovations during the periods of the Cheras, Pallavas, and the Vijayanagara rulers. It features the Dravidian architectural style.

The entrance wall of the temple has carvings of Ganesha and Karthikeya holding bows and arrows. Dhwajasthambam, Bali Peetam, and Nandi are facing towards the main shrine. A bas-relief image of Ganesha is installed on the Dhwajasthambam. The paintings of Ashtadik Palakas are on the roof above Nandi.

Dhenupureeswarar is the main deity enshrined in the apsidal-shaped sanctum as Swayambhu Lingam facing east, six inches high. Devotees can see the scar left by the cow's hoof and a stone pit on the Shiva Lingam. The Vimana of the sanctum is in the Gaja Prishta (shaped like an elephant's back) style. Dhenukambal or Nambirattiyar, his divine consort, graces from a separate shrine in the Maha Mandapam facing south. She is in a standing posture with four arms. Sittrerinathar, and Sittreri Aludaiya Nayanar are the other names of Dhenupureeswarar. The temple is famous for its Sarabeswarar sculpture. Vishnu is behind the sanctum.

The Ardha and Mukha Mandapams have granite pillars with intricately carved sculptures of various deities, showing the richness of the temple architecture. One of the pillars has carvings of Sage Kapila holding the Shiva Lingam in his left arm and a garland in his right. Both Shaiva and Vaishnava sculptures and carvings on the walls and the pillars enhance the beauty of the Dhenupureeswarar Temple.

In the inner prakaram of the Dhenupureeswarar Temple, there are separate shrines for Ganapati, Chandikeswarar, Bhairava, Nataraja, Muruga with his consorts, and Varadaraja with his consorts. The Navagrahas and a separate shrine for the planet Mercury (Budhan) are also found here. The outer prakaram is vast and has many plants and trees. There are no shrines except a few serpent idols under a tree.

A vast temple tank, Kapila Theertham, is always filled with freshwater outside the temple. Another rare shrine is nearby, housing 18 Siddhars, Sri Seshadri Swamigal, and Maha Meru. Together with the Dhenupureeswarar temple, this place gives the whole area a divine ambiance. Since this place washed away the sins of Indra and the sage Kapila, it is considered a Parihara Sthalam. Saint Arunagirinathar composed a hymn in this temple. The temple's Sthala Vriksham is a Bilva tree.

Festivals in the Dhenupureeswarar Temple

Brahmotsavam, Pradosham, and Panguni Uthiram are grandly celebrated at the Dhenupureeswarar Temple. All other Hindu festivals are also hosted, which attracts a huge crowd from the nearby areas.