Masilamaneeswarar Temple

Masilamaneeswarar Temple is located in Vada Thirumullaivoyal near Avadi,Chennai. King Tondaimaan built this temple. Masilamaneeswarar Temple is the 22nd of the 32 Tevara Padal Petra Stalams in the Tondainadu region of South India. Saints like Arunagirinadhar, Sundhara, Vallalar and many others has sung songs in this temple.  This information can be witnessed in Temple Kalvettu. Devi Kodiyidai Amman is one of the Tri-Shakti. Devi Kodiyidai Amman represents Kriya Shakti (Power of Activity). The other two temples are Melur Thiruvudai Amman Temple representing Iccha Shakti (Power of Will) and Thiruvottiyur Vadivudai Amman Temple representing Jnana Shakti (Power of Knowledge).

In the Masilamaneeswarar Temple vimana (roof) of the sanctorum sanctorum is designed in a special way that is exclusive to Pallava architecture – the GajaBrishtam, that looks like the rear of an elephant (Gaja – elephant, brishtam – rear).It is created on a solid round base and is known as ThoonganaiMaadam in Tamil [thoong(um) – sleeping, aanai – elephant, maadam – top of a building (or temple)] or simply, ‘a building that looks like the rear of a sleeping elephant’.