When Swami Haridhos Giri (Guruji) came to Thennangur in 1985, he visited the Shiva Vishnu Temple. The idols of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu were in the GarbaGriha (sanctum sanctorum). This temple was in a dilapidated state. Guruji immediately started reconstruction of the temple and the Kumbhabhishekham (consecration with holy water) of this temple was performed in 1987.

Later, Guruji found that there used to be another Shiva temple in Thennangur. However, the whereabouts of this temple was unknown. One day as Guruji was walking around Thennangur; he intuitively stopped at a particular spot and asked some workers to dig there. The workers found remnants of an ancient Shiva temple.  Guruji decided to construct a Shiva-Parvathy temple on the same spot. 

The construction of this temple started in the early 1990’s and got completed in Jan 1996. 

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy are worshipped with different names in different places. Guruji was thinking of naming the temple Meenakshi Sundareshwar (Parvathy and Shiva). Incidentally, he was on a visit to Kanchipuram where he met the Maha Periyava Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal of the Kanchi Mutt. The Maha Periyava concurred with Guruji’s idea to name the temple as the Meenakshi Sundareshwar temple and narrated a story. A Pandya king and his wife were fervently praying for a child. He was advised to perform a yagna (invoking a deity in the holy fire) in Aaru Kadu (six forest areas) called Shadaaranyam in which Thennangur was located.  When the King performed the yagna, Goddess Meenakshi appeared in the form of a young girl and blessed the couple with a child. Thus, Thennangur is considered the birthplace of Goddess Meenakshi. Hence it is called Halasyam and since it is in the south it is called Dakshina Halasyam.

Later the Pandya king made an idol of Goddess Meenakshi and consecrated the same in Madurai.

The temple constructed by Guruji in Thennangur was consecrated as the Meenakshi Sundareshwar temple. The Kumbhabhishekham of this temple was performed in Jan 1996.

This history is beautifully depicted in the form of paintings on the ceiling of the temple.

As you enter the temple complex, you will spot the shrine of Lord Vinayaka on the left. Here the lord is called Gnana Vinayaka. Next to Lord Vinayaka are the Utasava moorthys of the temple. 

Further ahead are the shrines of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwar. The lingam is Bana Lingam and is seen only in a few temples.  Lord Muruga, who is known as Gnanaskandar here, is standing along with his consorts Valli and Devasena. There is another idol of Goddess Durga, known here as Gnana Durga. 

Lord Bhairavar, Lord Natarajar, Lord Chandikeshwarar, Goddess Tulja Bhawani and Lord Hanuman are also worshipped.

The paintings in the Meenakshi Sundareshwar temple depict the Pradoshamoorthy and the four Tamil Nayanmar saints   Thirunavukkarasar (Appar), Sundaramoorthy Naayanar (Sundarar), ThiruGnana Sambandar and Manikkavasagar.

Navagrahas & their Consorts

The Navagraha sannidhi (where the deities are) is also very unique.  All the Navagrahas are seated on their vahanas along with their respective consorts. A temple with the Navagrahas and their consorts is extremely rare. The presence of Lord Surya with his seven horses is a beautiful sight. 

The procession of Lord Sundareshwar during every Pradosham is an important event. The Pradosha pooja is conducted on the Trayodashi day (13Th day), twice a month. Panchamoorthy procession is also conducted every year.   

On Arudra Darshanam day, a unique event takes place. Lord Nataraja is brought out of the temple in a procession and he meets Lord Panduranga, who is also brought out in a procession from the Panduranga Rakhumayi temple. The meeting of the two Gods are marked by celebrations in the village and symbolic of Shaiva-Vaishnava unity. 

On the Panguni Uthiram day, the Meenakshi Sundareshwar Kalyanam (celestial wedding) is celebrated in a grand manner. This Kalyanam is celebrated in the tradition prescribed in Dakshina Sampradhaya Namasankirtan.