Chandra Choodeswarar Temple, Hosur

It is believed that Yama or Dharmadeva worshipped Lord Shiva by performing a great penance near the South Pennar River (Then Pennai). The Lord was pleased with the penance and gave darshan to Yama. Yama requested for a boon to be the steed (vahana) for the Lord henceforth. The Lord then changed Yama to a bull and this bull rests in the form of a hill on which the temple stands today. Therefore the hill is also referred to as Vrushabhachalam or Rishabhagiri.

There is also a tale on how the Lord brought his consort to this place. Lord Shiva took the form of a monitor lizard that was extremely lustrous and beautiful bright green in colour. He approached Devi Parvati who was attracted by its beauty. She went on to catch hold of this creature along with her maids. The lizard was too swift for them and kept running through forests and mountains and finally set foot in this hillock. Just as they were nearing this spot, Parvati happened to touch the tail of this lizard due to which her body changed colour to the same bright green. Meanwhile, as her maids became thirsty and requested her to arrange for water to drink - Parvati commanded the Then Pennai river (South Pennar River) to bring water to the hill. The ever sweet river nymph Pennai immediately filled her waters in a beautiful tank near the hill. Parvathi got into the water and thus the water became green. This tank is still seen today and is known as the 'Marakatha Kulam' or 'Marakatha Pushkarini' - the tank of the emerald waters.

When they resumed their search for the beautiful monitor lizard, Rishi Muthkala who was meditating nearby saw the lizard. He called out aloud to his companion - Rishi Ucchaayana to join him in catching the animal. Both of them ran behind it and it disappeared. When Parvati saw that they caused the animal to disappear, she grew so furious that she cursed them to be re-born as uncivilized hunters; Muthkala who called out to his friend was to be born dumb and speechless, while Ucchaayana who came running on hearing his friend's call was to be born deaf. When they realized their mistake and pleaded for absolution. Lord Shiva appeared and explained that he was the one who came as the beautiful creature to bring Parvathi to this holy centre of worship. The Lord also blessed the Rishis saying that in their next birth of physical challenges - they will one day witness the same green monitor lizard in the hillock and they will gain back their stature as holy sages. Till such time they would perform their pooja at this temple.

During the reign of the Cholas in the 11th and 12th centuries, this deity was referred to as 'Sevida Nayanaar'. The Tamil word 'Sevidu' is used to refer to the condition of hearing loss or deafness - that is probably a reference to the deaf sage who kept performing pooja and services to this Lord with all austerities. The deity was also referred to as 'Udaiyaar Sevida naayanar' referring to the Chola background (it can be noted that the deity in Thanjavur big temple is also referred to as 'Peru Udaiyaar' or 'Peruvudaiyar') and also 'Sevida naathar' or 'Sevidanatha'. This name slightly changed during the Vijayanagara Kings in the 13th and 14th centuries to 'Choodanatha' as the Tamil 'Sevida-' was adopted in Telugu / Kannada accent to 'Chooda-'. During this time, the deity was also referred to as 'Chooda Lingaiah'. True to this name, the name of the town was also called 'Sevidavaadi', then 'Sevidapaadi' and later to 'Choodapadi'.

This prefix is known to be attached to the deity's name here - Choodeshwara.

However, it is also believed that the name bears another significance because 'Chandra Choodeshwara' also means the Lord or Eshwara who wears the crescent (Chandra) as an ornament in his locks.

Shiva's consort Parvathi is worshiped here as Maragathambika as ‘Maragatham’ means emerald. This is in reference to the green coloured monitor lizard who was none other than Lord Shiva that caused the green complexion of Parvathi as well as the water of the temple tank - 'Marakatha Kulam'.

The exact history of the temple is not clearly documented. Considering that the Hosur region is mentioned in ancient Hindu texts like the 'Padmagiri Mahathyamam', a part of Brahmanda Purana, a shrine for Shiva is deemed to have existed here from ancient times.

The temple has grown during the time of the Cholas, Hoysala and Vijayanagara Emperors. It is believed that the idol of Ganesha here is made as per the styles of the Western Ganga dynasty who were another powerful dynasty who ruled over this territory for some time. True to this, people also believe that the SaptaMatrikas and few more idols like the Veerabhadra and Kalabhairava are of the age of Ganga dynasty. During the reign of Hoysalas, the shrine of the Marakathambigai may have been built by a local chieftain - Dharmathazhwar, son of ThiruBhuvanamalla Parvatharaja Anthiyazhwar, in the year 1260. There are few Chola period inscriptions also found in the temple premises that belong to the era of Rajendra Chola and also stone inscriptions dating back to the era of the Ganga dynasty. A 13th-century inscription in the temple gives the details of donations given to Chandra Choodeshwara temple by local kings. The temple was renovated by Azhakiya Perumal Aathimoolam.

The temple is built in an area of 3 acres with one inner prahara and an outer prahara. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, the main deity Chandra Choodeshwara is housed and is believed to be a 'swayambhu' or that which is known to have formed spontaneously. We then have the Ardha Mantapam, Maha Mantapam and then we have the outer Mantapam where the Urchavar / Utsavamurthy is housed. The inner prahara contains beautiful idols of Guru Dhakshina Murthy, Narthana Ganesha, Subramanya, Saraswathi etc. There is also a corridor where all the 63 Nayanmars are lined up which is amazing to see.

Another special attraction is the Ashta Dhikpalas. This is a rare Shiva temple where there are idols of worship for all the Ashta Dhik Paalas or the Guardian Gods of Eight Directions. In addition, they are all placed exactly in the same spots that is recommended by Vaasthu. Indra, Yama, Varuna and Kubera are located in Eastern, southern, western and northern spots in the inner prahara - true to the direction they rule over. The intermediate directions that are ruled by Agni (south-east), Nirṛti (south¬west), Vayu (north-west) and Ishana (north-east) - are all placed in exactly the same directional spots. All these Gods give darshan on their respective steeds or vahanas which is also another special feature.

The Rajagopuram is five-tiered and is a beautiful old structure and no one know who built it and when. But now the local activist bodies are now involved in constructing a bigger Rajagopuram that is greater in size and grandeur.

The most important festival is the car festival that is held in the Tamil month of 'Maasi' - that goes from mid-Feb to mid-March. The full moon day in this month is called Maasi Magam or 'Maasi Makham' the day of the Makam Star combined with the full-moon. Taking part in this festival and having a darshan of the Lord in His Chariot/Car is believed to bring miracles in one's life. If one gets to touch the Car rope and contribute physically by pulling the car for a while - it is known to answer all your prayers.

Three cars are taken into procession - Lord Ganesha, Devi Marakathambigai and Lord Somaskandar. Apart from the locals, thousands of devotees from various cities in Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana throng this hill on this day. This day is declared as a local holiday by the district officials.

The Chandra Choodeshwarar Temple has been the subject of documentary in an episode of TV9's series Heegu Unte in 2013.

• Bangalore Press website
• http://www.dinamalar.com/special_detail.asp?id=1729709&Print=1