Jain Tirthankaras Onampakkam, Theepanchamman Temple, Cheyyur, Vanmikinathar Temple, Cheyyur, Kariya manicka Perumal Temple, Cheyyur, Kandasamy - 27 STAR Vedalam, Cheyyur, Kailasanathar Temple, Cheyyur, Vedal Shiva Temple / Vadavamuga Agneeswarar Temple, Vedal, Ayyanar Chunambedu - Chozha & Pallava Period Temples, Jain Cave in and around Cheyyur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

16^th, December 2012

On 15^th December 2012,  I was fortunate enough to join the Tour organized By the R.E.A.C.H foundation, Chennai to the Chozha and Pallava period Temples and a Jain Cave in and around Cheyyur. We, 30 members from various parts of the city started from Chennai in two vans around 5.30 Hrs to Cheyyur via Mathuranthakam. The places we have covered and the details are as follows.

Rock cut sculpture of one of the Tirthankara at the second level.

1. JAIN TIRTHANKARAS at KURATHI MALAI ( NEAR VENMARI ), ONAMPAKKAM.

This Jain cave is on the hill near Onampakkam, which is on the way to Cheyyur from Madurantakam. From Onampakkam the hill is about 3 KM on the north side. This cave and the sculptures are not known to the locals very much. Some people told us it is Buddha sculptures. One of the local men guided us wrongly to the nearby hill and we returned back to the original hill, which is named Kurathi Malai. Steps were constructed up to halfway. Understand that this hill was recovered back from the quarry people after a legal battle.  We had seen sculptures in three places and Tamil inscriptions at the first level. In the first level, 23^rd Tirthankara is in standing posture under the snake hood with Yaksha and Yakshini on both sides.

In the Second and third levels, the Tirthankaras are in sitting postures  ( Artha Pariyangasanam ). The Third level Tirthankara may be Mahavir at the base lion heads are found in the sculpture. The cave is under a big rock which is supported by the rocks on all sides with very good ventilation.

LOCATION OF THE JAIN CAVE: CLICK HERE

The local people wrongly  guided us to the other hill

With our Guru Mr Ramachandran in the background

First level ParshvaNath with Snake hood over his head, The previous Tirthankaras to Mahavir and Yaksha and Yakshini on both sides.

The combination of Tamil vattezhuthu inscriptions. The content is -  Sri Vasutheva padaram seivitha uruvaram.....parivaram...

Must be a shelter - A big rock is being supported by the rocks around the big rock

The rock cut sculpture at the third level - May be Mahavir with Lion's heads at the base 

A symbol in front of the second level. Sirpam

New partially constructed steps leading to the site

2. THEEPANJAMMAN TEMPLE, A SATI STONE- CHEYYUR. 

This temple is at the beginning of the Cheyyur town. The sanctum is not covered and open to the sky.

This temple may be constructed in memory of a wife who joined her husband on the funeral pyre( SATI ). In the sanctum man with a sword and a lady. Both may be husband and wife. The real story is not known.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Nadukal / Hero Stone / Sati Stone  in Sanctum Sanctorum

Sanctum Sanctorum without any roof 

Stucco image  at the mandapam entrance with name board

Opposite Sanctum Sanctorum Amman idols are installed May be, Brahmi, Saptamatrikas.

3. VANMIKINATHAR TEMPLE, CHEYYUR.

The temple is inside the town of Cheyyur. It is a Chozha Period temple. The mandapam pillars in front of Ambal have a lot of sculptures. Shiva and Ambal of Various temple are sculptured in all the pillars. These pillars might be additions after a later stage.  

Moolavar     :  Sri Vanmikanathar

Consort       :  Sri Mithambigai

Some of the important features of this temple are …

The temple is facing east with a 3 tier rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Nandhi are in the outer prakaram. Dwarapalakas are Suvdhan and Sumugan. Ambal dwarapalakas are Jai and vijay. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

One pillar has the sculptures of Manuneethi Chozhan's story around four sides of the pillar.  In the main pillars leading to Ambal sannidhi the horses are driven by ladies which I had not seen anywhere.  At the entrance of the artha mandapam right side Mayura Subramaniyar is worth seeing, dancing on his vahana Peacock.

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Saptamatrikas, Vinayagar and Subramaniar and Chandikeswarar. . 

In front of the temple, there is a Vinayagar Sannidhi and Murugan is standing without a sannidhi –in the open sky - also called Brahma Sastha. This temple is a Uthra Nakshatra temple.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Chandrasekara Gurukkal may be contacted for darshan and pooja through his landline o4427 531200.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE ( Near Kariya Manicka Perumal Temple )

  

Chozha period Sri Vinayagar in front of Temple.

Sri Subramaniar - Sri Brahma Sastha standing in the open sky, looks like new.

Macha muni bas-relief/ some claims as Varuna sitting on his vahana on the mandapam pillar

Ambal temple Mandapam Pillars Ladies are riding on a horse

Vaaraki Amman bas-relief on the mandapam pillar.

Kodimaram ( Dwajasthambam ) balipeedam and Rishabam mandapam.

Bas-relief on the ceiling - (solar eclipse ) and Sri chakra in the middle

Mayura Subramaniar - Dancing on the Peacock - A rare Sculpture

Tiger face on the stomach of a bhuta/ dwarf on the prastaram valapi - this is actually bhuta vari and the face in the belly is called Keerthi mukha / tiger belly - seems to be a standard feature in early Chozha temples - to see one of the bhuta ganas shown like this please click the link: http://poetryinstone.in/tag/tiger-belly ( With the permission of Mr. Vijay) 

Beautiful Bairavar / Pichadanar

Nandi devar in the front mandapam

Vedhalam bas-relief with an owl's face in one of the pillars between Ambal and Shiva's Sannadhi. In those days people used to worship by Lighting lamps on the pillar.  Now it is being used for putting left out Vibhuthi.

Three Tier Rajagopuram with Stone pillars to erect Pandal for the important functions ( Similar arrangement also available at Thiruvarur Temple )

4. KARIYA MANICKA PERUMAL TEMPLE, CHEYYUR.

Moolavar    : Sri Kariya manicka Perumal.

Thayar       : Sri  Peruntheviyamman

Some of the important features of this temple are..... 

Thayar sannidhi was built at a later stage. Tiles are fixed on the walls and looks like a recent temple. The temple has a single praharam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 

5. KANDASWAMY TEMPLE  - 27 STAR VEDALAM, CHEYYUR.

This is the 16th-century Murugan temple. This temple is within the town of Cheyyur.  

Moolavar    : Sri Subramaniar

Consort      :  Sri Valli and Deivanai

Some of the important features of this temple are...

In Koshtam: Thiruthakandhar, Brahma Sastha, Balaskandhar, Sivagurunathar, Pulinthar ( Villenthiya velan – Vedan ).

In the front mandapam sannidhi for Siva suriyan, Somanathar, Meenakshi ammai and in front Brahma and Vishnu sila moorthangal. There is no Ganapathy sannidhi, instead, there are 9  Vinayagar sannidhis around the temple on the streets.

In The outer prakaram Samkara moorthy, Sandeswarar, Vinayagar, Kzhukkunrar, Kailasanathar, Sinanantha valli, Brahma, Vishnu, Veerabahu, Sri Palani nayagar, Astharadevar, Dhandapani.

Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of lord Subramaniar of this temple.27 Vedalams were installed around the compound wall, which is connected to 27 Nakshatras in a later stage after 1944. ( There is no mention of this in the sthala purana written by Mr Muthiah Mudaliar ).

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 

( View of the mandapam with Peacock mandapam and balipeedam on both sides.

Mandapam Pillar sculptures

Dwarapalakas

Vedhalam for my Birth Star

Mayura Subramaniar or Villenthiya Velan with a bow in his right hand a bas-reliefs on the mandapam pillar.

The Nakshathra with the respective Vedhalam  details

PULINTHAR- Vedan - (வில்லேந்திய  வேலன்  /சுப்ரமணியர் )

Bas-relief of Ambal is doing dhabas on the mandapam pillar ( The sthala purana of  Mangadu Amman )

Shiva's Oorthuva Thandavam a bas-relief on a pillar

Murugan in a sannidhi on the road.

6. KAILASANATHAR TEMPLE, CHEYYUR.

Moolavar    : Sri Kailasanathar

Consort      : Sri Visalakshi

Some of the details of this temple are…

As per the history, it was the first and earliest temple constructed in this area. This temple was built during the Chozha period. A lot of Tamil inscriptions are found around the Sanctum wall.

This temple’s mandapam and vimanam are fallen down. It was under renovation and then it was abandoned. During renovation, the stones were not placed in their proper place/ position and were cut in many places.

Palalayam was performed and the Shiva Linga is in dismantled condition.

This may be the original Rishabam still waiting for Shiva's arrival

Original Shiva Linga Baanam  and Ambal are kept in a shed

The temple is  under renovation ( stopped !!!)

REACH Foundation and Tour members are looking at the inscriptions.

Coping the one of the Tamil Inscription - The content says that two people gifted 12 goats to this temple to light a lamp till the existence of Chandran and Suriyan.

7. VEDAL SHIVA TEMPLE, SRI VADAVAMUGA AGNEESWARAR TEMPLE AT Vedal.

Moolavar    : Sri  Vadavamuga Agneeswarar

Consort      : Sri  Vasantha Nayagi

Some of the Salient features of this temple are…

This temple may be the Last Pallavas and the early Chozha Period. The temple was constructed with bricks. The sanctum vimana is of Gajabirushtam type. Koshta Murtis are installed at a later stage.

There are two Ambals, of highest one was damaged. As per Gurukkal Lord Shiva asked the king who tried to remove the damaged one to replace it with a new one, whether he would change his wife if she got hurt. So the King installed the new one near the old Ambal Murtis.

Inscriptions are found around the temple base stone, Pillars of the artha mandapam and there is egg-shaped stone at the entrance of the Moolavar shrine.

There is a huge crack from the base to the top of the vimanam at the backside.

LOCATION OF VEDAL SHIVA TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Rishabam with balipeedam in an elevated level

 Egg-shaped stone and Tamil inscriptions are found around the stone

 Temple view

 Dakshinamurthy - This might be installed at a later stage.

 Gajabirusta Vimanam has huge cracks from top to bottom The temple was constructed with brick

 ( Ambal Sannadhi )

 Temple view from the east

 Two Amman idols - The taller Amman idol was damaged.

 Temple complex view

Saptamatrikas bas-relief

    8. AYYANAR SCULPTURE, Chunambedu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Bas- relief of Ayyanar-in a sitting posture with left leg a little up from the ground and below him are the faithful dogs looking at him

Opposite to Iyannar Sannadhi Elephant with Balipeedam

It was around 19.00 hours when we completed our visit of last Ayyanar Sculpture and returned to Chennai around 21.30 Hrs. The morning breakfast and the lunch were arranged very nicely and the food was very homely.  I extend many thanks to Mr Ramachandran, and Mr. Vakula S Varadharajan for the lively explanation about the temples and sculptures.  And also to Mr Chandrasekaran PRO REACH foundation who lead us to these important places and for the very good co-ordination.

LOCATION OF CHEYYUR: CLICK HERE 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---