Shiva (Marundeeswarar) temple · Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Arulmigu Marundeeswarar Temple in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai (600 041), is a Hindu temple to Shiva as Marundeeswarar — 'the lord of medicine' — also called Paalvannanathar, with his consort Thiripurasundari Amman. It is administered by the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, whose temple page records its history.
Faith & Tradition
The temple was sung by Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasar in the 7th century, under Pallava rule, so it is regarded as about 1,300 years old, according to the HR&CE Department. By tradition the sage Valmiki worshipped the deity here on the advice of Markandeya, giving the place its name.
Its annual car festival draws thousands of devotees; in 2021 the chariot carrying Chandrasekareswarar and his consort set out at 5.45 a.m., followed by processions of Ganesha, Murugan, Thiripurasundari Amman and Chandikeshwarar, The Hindu reported.
Heritage
Seven inscriptions on the outer wall of the Amman sanctum show that Chola kings including Rajendra I and Rajadhiraja made endowments to the temple; most of the present structure dates from the Chola period, with later upkeep under the Vijayanagara rulers. In inscriptions the deity is named Thiruvanmiyurudaiya Mahadevar (HR&CE Department).
The temple's Jeernodharana Ashtabandhana Mahakumbabhishekam was held on 5 February 2020, with holy water poured on the vimanas, the seven-tier rajagopuram and other gopurams; historian Pradeep Chakravarthi noted that broken pieces from Buddhist viharas used to be found near the temple, The Hindu reported.
Seven-tier rajagopuram with several gopurams and vimanas (The Hindu).
Plan Your Visit
Confirm darshan timings on the HR&CE temple page before visiting.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department before travelling. Last reviewed 6 October 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Chariot procession of Chandrasekareswarar and consort (The Hindu).
Location
The temple is in Thiruvanmiyur, south Chennai (PIN 600 041).
Location: Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
More in Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu · Shiva (Marundeeswarar) temples
Questions
In Thiruvanmiyur, south Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Lord of medicine; the deity is worshipped for healing.
It was hymned by 7th-century Nayanmars and has Chola-era inscriptions.
On 5 February 2020.
The Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department.
Further reading: Arulmigu Marundeeswarar Temple, Thiruvanmiyur on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Write to info@hindutone.com — see our editorial policy.
Pilgrim Circuit
