Thirumazhisai is growing in population and has become one of the most important outskirts of Chennai. Sri Othandeeswarar Temple is also known as Sri Kulirthanayagi Samedha Sri Othandeshwarar Temple. This Temple has a huge South facing five tiered Rajagopuram. To the left of the Rajagopuram is the East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Prasanna Vinayagar. There are two East facing Dwara Baalaka Idols and the Gopuram has a stucco Idol of Sri Prasanna Vinayagar. In the Sanctum Sanctorum Sri Prasanna Vinayagar is seen East facing and His Sub Shrine can be circumambulated. 

On crossing the Rajagopuram a beautiful painting of Shiva Lingam is seen. The Northern base of the Rajagopuram has two lovely paintings of Sri Vinayagar and Sri Murugan. There is a small Sub Shrine of Sri Devaraja Vinayagar which is South facing. On circumambulating the outer peripheral a Sub Shrine of Sri Subramaniyar is seen in a multi pillared Mandapam. The Gopuram of this multi pillared Mandapam has several coloured stucco Idols. In the Sanctum Sanctorum Sri Siva Subramaniyar is flanked by His Consorts Valli and Devasena and they are all seen East facing and in a standing posture. A Mayil Vaahanam and a Neivedhya Peedam is seen facing this Sub Shrine. Close to this is another East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Gangadheeswarar. In the Sanctum Sanctorum Sri Gangadheeswarar is seen in the form of a Shiva Lingam. Within the same Sanctum Sanctorum Sri Ambal is also seen East facing and in a standing posture. Facing this Shrine is a Neivedhya Peedam and a Nandhi Vaahanam. At the doorsteps of this Shrine are two Idols of Raahu and Kethu on either side. The base of the pillars of this Mandapam has embossed Idols of a Shiva Lingam and Sri Anjaneya Swamy. There are two Virukshams growing before the Shrine of Sri Gangadheeswarar and they are Parijatham and Vilva Maram. The outer peripheral has a West facing Sub Shrine of Sri Sanaicharar and He is seen in a standing posture. 

Facing the Moolasthanam is a tall Dwajasthambam or Kodi Maram, a Neivedhya Peedam or Bali Peedam and a Nandhi Vaahanam within a four pillared Mandapam looking West towards the Moolasthanam. This Nandhi is known as Maha Nandhi. On either side of the doorway leading to the Moolasthanam are two Dwara Baalakas who stand guard. There are three thresholds leading to the Moolasthanam and a small Nandhi Vaahanam is seen here. In the Sanctum Sanctorum Sri Othandeshwarar is seen in the form of a Shiva Lingam with a cut mark. To the rear of the Sri Othandeshwarar is Shivan and Parvathy in Kalyana Kolam. The Sanskrit name of Sri Othandeeswarar is Sri Manonukooleshwarar. To the left of the Moolasthanam is an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Somaskandar. The Koshtam of Sri Othandeshwarar is beautifully designed in a Gajabrushtam style resembling the rear of an Elephant. Around the Koshtam of the Moolavar the Idols of Sri Maha Ganapathy, a Naga Devatha, Sri Dhakshinamoorthy, Sri Maha Vishnu, Sri Brahmma, Sri Durgai and Sri Chandikeshwarar are seen. Unusually a small Nandhi Vaahanam is seen facing the Maha Vishnu Idol in the Koshtam. The Temple has a South facing Shrine of Sri Kulirthanayagi Ambal and Her name in Sanskrit is Sri Seethambigai Ambal. She is seen in a standing posture in Abhaya Hasta Posture. The Urchavamoorthy Idol of the Ambal is also seen in Her Moolasthanam. Parallel to Her Shrine is the South facing Shrine of Sri Nataraja who is seen along with Sri Sivagami Ambal and Sri Manickavasagar. Next to this is another South facing Shrine of Sri Rishandhakar. 

Facing the Moolasthanam are the Idols of Suryan, Chandran and Adhikaara Nandhi who are all West facing. In the inner peripheral there is a North facing Sub Shrine of Sri Naalvar comprising of the Idols of Sri Thirugnana Sammandhar, Sri Appar, Sri Sundarar and Sri Manikavasagar. The inner peripheral has an East facing Sub Shrine of Sri Ganapathy and Sri Subramaniyar who is flanked by His Consorts Valli and Devasena. To the rear of the Ambal's Shrine is an South facing Sri Bhairavar. 

The Histroy behind this Temple is that King Kulothunga Cholan II was returning from Thirumullaivoyal on his Battle Elephant and at that time the movement of the Elephant was curbed by dangling creepers. So the King wished to clear the pathway and hence swamy his sword here and there. His Sword struck against something and blood started oozing. On further investigation by King Kulothunga Cholan II he found out the Shiva Lingam of and offered his hand and severed it as an offering to Shiva. The courageous act of daredevilry was appreciated by God Shiva and He gave back the lost hand to the King. At that time God Shiva appeared before the King along with His Ambal and hence He derived tha name Sri Othandeeswarar. Others say that since God Shiva gave back the cut off and lost hand back to the King He was called as Sri Kai Kodutha Nathar.

The Temple's outer peripheral has a well designed Sub Shrine of the Navagrahams. There is a Alankaara Mandapam close to which is the Temple's Office. There is a Temple Kitchen or Madapalli. Beyond the Dwajasthambam is a doorway leading to a well maintained Temple Tank or Pushkarani. The Sthala Viruksham of the Temple are Parijatham and Vilva Maram and the Pushkarani or Temple Tank is known as Theepa Theertham. This is not a Government Temple but instead run by the Sengundhars and they have be well appreciated for maintaining the Temple spic and span. 

Contact Details: Karna Trustee 80560 54360, Balu Trustee 94450 11089, 98415 57775 Sri Devi Flower Shop 81226 02753

Temple Timing: 6.30 AM to 12 Noon and 4.30 PM to 9 PM

Distance from Porur to Thirumazhisai is 14 Kms

Distance from Iyyappanthangal to Thirumazhisai is 11 Kms

Distance from Kundrathur to Thirumazhisai is 10 Kms

Distance from Anna Nagar to Thirumazhisai is 19 Kms

Distance from Vadapalani to Thirumazhisai is 20 Kms

Distance from Maduravoyal to Thirumazhisai is 13 Kms

Distance from  Poonamallee to Thirumazhisai is 5 Kms

Distance from Guindy to Thirumazhisai is 23 Kms

Distance from Sriperumbudur to Thirumazhisai is 18 Kms

Distance from Siruvapuri to Thirumazhisai is 45 Kms

Distance from Kancheepuram to Thirumazhisai is 53 Kms

Distance from Vellore to Thirumazhisai is 117 Kms

Distance from Kaveripakkam to Thirumazhisai is 76 Kms

Distance from Gnayiru to Thirumazhisai is 40 Kms

Distance from Thiruninravur to Thirumazhisai is 13 Kms

Distance from Avadi to Thirumazhisai is 13 Kms

Distance from Thiruvallur to Thirumazhisai is 20 Kms

Distance from Vikravandi to Thirumazhisai is 140 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Thirumazhisai is 25 Kms

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