Sri Dhatheeswarar Temple- Swathi Nakshatra

Address

Sri Dhatheeswarar Temple, (Chithukadu), South Mada Street,1/144, Thirumanam Village, Via Pattabhiram, V Ayalanallur Post, Chennai – 600072.

Diety

Dhathreeswarar Amman: Prasunakunthalambigai

Introduction

It is believed that the temple was originally built by the Pandiya King Jatavarman Sundara Pandya in the 13th century CE. Later additions and renovations were done by the Nayaka kings. Two great Siddhas, Padukkai Jadamudi Siddha and Prana Deepika Siddha performed penance in this place. They installed a Shivalinga under a Gooseberry tree and named in Nelliappar. Thathiri in Sanskrit means gooseberry and the Tamil name is Nelli. As the place is fragrant, it is also called Tirumanam-good fragrance. It is called Siddhar Kadu as Siddhas lived here. It is Chitukadunow. SWATHI STARERS: Swathi Starers are sharp in thinking and action. Love luxuries. Trust worthy.

Puranic Significance

There are carvings of some Siddhas in the pillars ensuring longevity to devotees. Padukkai Jadamudi Siddha and Prana Deepika Siddhas are in the Nandhi shrine pillars. Those facing heart trouble light ghee lamps in this shrine. This is the temple for Swathi starrers. Special abisheks are performed for Lord Muruga on Aadi and Thai Kruthika days and Panguni Uthiramday. On the Karthika festival day, lamps are lit for all the 27stars with special pujas. 10 day Margazhi festival is grandly celebrated. The wedding festival for Lord Nataraja and Mother Sivakami is celebrated on Margazhi Tiruvadhirai day. Those expecting to be married, worship on this day with all faith. The sacred word Swathi has in it the combined graceful powers of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The letter ‘Va’ is in Namasivaya Mantra. It also contains the sacredness of the seed letters in the names of Vishnu – Sundararajar, Vasudeva and Trivikrama. Swathi starrers are advised to worship in the Chithukadu temple filled with the combined grace of Shiva andVishnu. They are advised to offer curd rice nivedhana with gooseberry pickle, tamarind rice and offer the same to the poor for a prosperous life.

Beliefs

Sitharkadu Sivan Temple is the temple dedicated to Dhathreeswarar (God for solving problems related to Illness and Poverty) and Prasunakunthalambigai Ambal (Godess for solving problems related to Marriage and Prosperity). Besides Swathi people generally worshipping for relief from adverse planetary effects, those facing obstacles in marriage proposals and those suffering from cardiac problems pray to Lord for solutions

Festivals

Sri Panchamurthy procession on Chitra Poornima day in April-May, Vinayaka Chaturthi in August-September, Shivrathri in February-March, Margazhi Tiruvadhirai in December-January,Tirukarthikai in November-December, Aadi Kruthika in July-August, Thai Kruthika and Thai Poosam in January-February and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the festivals of the temple.