Sapta Matrika - Shri Brahmi - Shri Thantondreeshwarar Temple

This temple is on Mayiladuthurai-Needur road

According to Puran, this is the place where Brahmi, one of the Sapta Matrikas, worshiped Lord Shiva.

Description: Brahmi is Shakti Rupa of Lord Brahma. According to Puran, she manifested from the face of Ambika. She has broad shoulder, wide eyes, sparkling (gold color) complexion, has four faces, four hands. She has a Kamandalu, Akshamala in two hands and in the other two hands she bears Varada and Abhaya mudra. She wears a Jata Mukut. Has Swan on her flag as her emblem and she is seated in Padmasan. 

As she is shakti of Lord Brahma, she is responsible for creation. She wears a sphatika garland and a white dress and has white Swan as her mount. She is a goddess of all art and knowledge, hence she bestows arts, knowledge and child boon for those who worship her. 

About the temple:

Mulavar: Shri Thantondreeeshwarar (than - on its own, tondree - manifested, eshwarar - Lord Shiva) meaning Lord who manifested on his own.

Devi: Shri Oppilanayaki

Location: Thiruindalur, Pallavarayan Pettai, Mayiladuthurai District, TamilNadu

Temple is open between 6 to 8 am in the morning, and 6 to 8 pm the evening.

This is one of the 70 mada-kovil (temples where elephant cannot enter) built by Chola king Chenkannottayan in the seventh century. He is one of the 63 Nayanmars. 

The temple is very old and is in rundown condition. It is under litigation. Only daily pujas are performed by a priest. This is a west facing temple. At the entrance, we have an idol of Lord Shiva seated on Rishabha along with Parvati. The Shiva Linga is a Swayambhu Linga. In the temple prakaram, we come across idols of 63 Nayanmars, Varuna Linga, Vayu Linga, idol of Mahavishnu and Samadhi of Chidambaram.

A divine couple Nada Sharma and his wife Anambika travelled from the North visiting various Shiva temples and reached the south. Nada Sharma was praying to Lord Shiva to have darshan. When he reached there he got a Shiva Linga from Lord Shiva. We come across a Shiva Linga at this place which is covered by vastra presumed to be that of wife of Nada Sharma. There is an idol of Balatripurasundari. No other details were available to us as there was no one present when reached the temple. 

Brahmi worshiped Lord Shiva along with Goddess Parvati at Chakramangai in Chakravageeshwarar temple.