Tuesday 18 August 2015

Sri Gangadeeswarar Temple, Purasawalkam & Sri Agastheeswarar Temple, Villivakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

 17th August 2015
On 16th August I had been to Purasaiwakkam Sri Gangadeeswarar Temple . This visit  was planned  to worship Sri Oondreswarar of Thiruvenpakkam, where Lord Shiva gave Oondrukol to Sundarar when he lost his eyes. The original moorthams were brought to this temple while constructing the Poondi reservoir.  Lord Shiva wishes  to stay  here itself  even after constructing a new temple at Thiruvenpakkam, the present Poondi. ( For details of my Thiruvenpakkam Visit. 

From Guindy to Egmore went through  Train and from Egmore  Railway station walked up to temple.  The route was Egmore Railway station – Poonamallee High Road- Dr Alagappa Chettiar Road – Sri Gangadeeswarar temple Road.

SRI PANGAJAMBAL SAMEDHA SRI GANGADEESWARAR TEMPLE – PURASAWALKAM.
This temple is at Purasawalkam, a part of Chennai City close to Egmore.

The 5 tier Rajagopuram.

Moolavar    : Sri Gangadeeswarar
Consort      : Sri Pangajambal

Some of the important features of this temple are....
The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam and Rishabam are at the front side.

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Urchavar Mandapam with 63var,  Siddhi Vinayagar, Vaitheeswarar, Sri Balasubramaniar, Kuruntha Malleeswarar ( North Indians do abhishekam on their own hands), Ambal Temple Simha vahanam with balipeedam and Dwajasthambam,  Sathya Narayana Perumal, Bana lingam without avudayar, Yaha salai, Navagrahas and Sri Ramalinga Vallalar.

In the outer prakaram walls sudhai reliefs of Shiva’s leela. They are Shiva’s anandha thandavam, Carried mud to stop the water of vaigai for Pittu, Shiva kicking  Yama for Markandeyar, Kannappar applying his eyes of Shiva, Burning Muppuram / Tripurantaka, Ravana lifting Kailash, Shiva gave darshan to Karaikal Ammaiyar.

The sthala puranam stucco images are Bhakirathan not respecting  Narathar and Narathar gave curse/ sabam, Bhagirathan worshiping Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva gave darshan to Bhagirathan.


The temple sthala puranam -  Bhakirathan’s  court where Ladies are dancing and Narathar was respected when he visited Bhakirathan’s court. Narathar gave him sabam to get the decease of mega noi.  (மேக நோய் )

The temple sthala puranam -   Bhakirathan Worshiping Lord Shiva – Ganga flowed from Shiva’s head and Bhagirathan got relieved from the decease. ( In another version Bhakirathan got Ganga water to get rid of his ancestors sin )

In the inner prakaram sannadhi for Ambal, Naalvar, Maha Ganapathy, Nagars, Bhagirathan, Kasi Viswanathar, Sekkizhar, Kulachirai Nayanar, Suryan, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Uchishta Ganapathy, Sri Oondreswarar, Minnoli ammai, Shanmugar, Durgai, Bhairavar, Dakshinamurthy,  Palliyarai,  Bhairavar, Chandran, Suryan, Natarajar Saba.

Nalvar reliefs is on the pillar in front of Moolavar sannidhi. Once this place was with large number of Purasu trees, hence this place was called as Purasawalkam

Around the Sanctum is in the form of moat/ agazhi type. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy,  Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As per the inscriptions this place was in  Puliyur Nadu a sub division in Jayangonda Chozha mandalam during Chozha period. ( Ref: Chennai mavatta kalvettukal, Tamil Nadu, Archaeological Department ) 
 
The 13th Century inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp at Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Puliyur Nattu Thiruvanmiyur Ulakaludaya Nayanar Temple, by Neelakangaraiyan.

The 15th Century Vijayanagara period inscription ( may be Devarayar ), is found much damaged. the letters like kanda kanda, Samudrathi, Kesavettai, Sri Veeraprathapa,  Raya maha rayar etc. The details couldn't be identified. 

The 16th Century Vijayanagara period inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp daily, for the same Kong.... kon Azhagu Perumal, one of the mandradis kudi amarthappattathu ( may be given to this temple ), belongs to Jayangonda Chozha mandalam. 

Another 16th Century Vijayanagara period  inscription is much damaged and words like taxes, Kanikkai are mentioned. 

LEGENDS
The legends like, Tripura samharam, Ravana Lifting Mount Kailash, Vinayagar get Gnana pazham, Bakiratha's penance to bring Ganga river are in the form of stucco images on the wall. 
 
Stucco relief of Shiva’s Leela – burning of  Muppuram 
Sudhai relief of Shiva’s Leela – Churning the par kadal – Vasuki the  snake – as thread and Mount meru as mathu  
The story of Gnana pazham (ஞான பழம் )
Stucco image of Shiva’s Leela-Ravana Lifting Kailash 

POOJA TIMINGS:
The temple is kept open for darshan between 07.00 Hrs to 11.00 Hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 21.00 Hrs

CONTACT DETAILS :
The office telephone number is 044 26422487
The temple web Site

HOW TO REACH :
Bus facility is available from various parts of the city.
2 KM from Egmore station via Gandhi Irvin road – Nair Road – Dr Alagappa Chettiar Road – Gangadeeswarar temple road.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE 

Entrance view of the temple after Rajagopuram
Moolavar Vimanam 
Lord Shiva’s Sudhai  statue – Bhagirathan is worshiping Lord Shiva.  It was said that there is a light and show about the history of the temple after 19.00 Hrs 
This set  of idols /moorthams belongs to  Thiruvenpakkam

This set  of idols /moorthams belongs to  Thiruvenpakkam, presently called as Poondi,  Shiva temple. While constructing the Poondi Reservoir Moolavar  Sri Oontreeswarar, Ambal Minnoli Ambal, Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Bairavar were brought and kept in this temple. After some years the moorthams were installed in this temple itself. After completion of the Poondi reservoir the present temple at poondi was reconstructed  and when asked to shift the original moorthams, Lord Shiva has not given permission and stayed here itself.  One of the nandhi's horn is in broken condition due to hitting of Sundarar's oontrukol, which can be seen. The Sivachariyar  told that 6 kaala poojas were performed at Thiruvenpakkam and now one Kaala Pooja is performed ( For my Thiruvenpakkam visit - Please Click link for the updated post,  AND   Please Click this link for my first Visit without Up date).

After darshan, thought of worshiping  Sri Agastheeswarar  at Villivakkam. I had been to this temple once and we used to cross the temple  around 05.00 Hrs on the way to Thirupathi Patha yathra.  Lot of renovations has been carried out  and kumbhabhishekam was also performed recently ( Due to renovation the temple lost it’s identity, how ? written separately ). Walked to the temple from Villivakkam bus- stand. Tried to get the sthala puranam, (  for knowing epigraph details ) but the book  shop was not open.  Epigraph details are not mentioned in the temple web site.   

SRI SWARNAMBIGA SAMETHA SRI AGASTHEESWARAR TEMPLE - VILLIVAKKAM ( Written in a separate post... for the details please click this Link ).

This temple is at Villivakkam a part of Chennai City and close to  Bus terminus and Railway station. This temple is believed to be one of the Thevara vaippu sthalam sung by  Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal.

நாடகமா டிடநந்தி கேச்சுரமா காளேச்
        சுரநாகேச் சுரநாக ளேச்சுரநன் கான
கோடீச் சுரங் கொண்டீச் சுரந்திண் டீச் சுரங்
        குக்குடேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரங்கூறுங்கால்
ஆடகேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரமய னீச்சுர
        மத்தீக்சுரஞ் சித்தீக்சுர மந்தண் கானல்
ஈடுதிரை யிராமேசசுர மென்றென் றேத்தி
        யிறைவனுறை சுரம்பலவு மியம்பு வோமே.
….. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் ( 6-71-8 )

Moolavar Gajabirusta Vimanam 

Moolavar    : Sri Agastheeswarar
Consort      : Sri Swarnambika

Some of the important features of this temple are...
The main entrance is from south with a Mottai Rajagopuram and the arch above was built in recent years.

Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam are at the east entrance in the outer prakaram. Sannadhi for Naagars, Lingas, Vilvambigai,  Aadhi Sankarar and Navagrahas.

In the inner prakaram sannadhi for Surayan, Nandeeswarar ( with nandhi head ), Naalvar, Ganapathy, Urchavars, Kasi Viswanathar, Agasthiyar, Palani Andavar, Lakshmi, Saraswathy, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar and Chandran.

Vinayagar and Subramaniar are at the entrance of sanctum.  Dwarapalakas are little big in size and cute.

In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai. Sanctum is of Gajabrushta type and Agazhi type of construction.  Moolavar is in an elevated position. In nagabharanam looks cute.

Ambal sannadhi is in the same prakaram facing south.  Lord Shiva permitted Ambal to give darshan to Agasthiyar  with gold ornaments, hence Ambal is called as Sri Swarnambika.  This sthalam is one of the 108 Sakthi sthalam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple has Chozha Period inscriptions and proves that the temple exists  more than 500 years. ( A separate post is written about the inscriptions ).
 
The stones with inscription ( only a portion of the epigraph) on the wall in the inner prakaram. Could not identify, in which language it was written.  With little light I found that the stone was kept up side down.  Some of inscription blocks  are used for the out side wall. We cannot trace under whose period the temple was constructed. Totally it was a mesh. There are some inscriptions on the base of Ambal sanctum also in a un readable condition.
  
Epigraph details are not mentioned in the temple web site also.  In the name of renovation, with out knowing the importance of the epigraph details the identity  and authenticity of the  temple was destroyed and the future generations  will be kept in dark. Here are some of the epigraphs / inscriptions...

This epigraphic stone is kept up side down. 
The epigraph on the base of Ambal sanctum base
The epigraph on the base of Ambal sanctum base
This epigraph is on the outside wall 
LEGENDS
The history says that Agasthiyar Killed demons Vilvalan and Vatapi. To get rid of brahmahathi dosham Sri Veerabhadra helped Agasthiyar and got relieved.  Hence Sri Veerabhadra's sannadhi is opposite to South side entrance and facing north.

Mars created a spring and worshiped Lord Shiva.  Naagars are around Neem and Peepal tree on a raised platform. Devotees worship during Aadi Tamil month.

TEMPLE TIMINGS :
The temple is kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs with 4 Kala poojas.

CONTACT DETAILS :
The telephone number is 044 26172326
TNHRCE Dept Executive officer 9790996743 & Clerk 9952038155
Temple web site  

HOW TO REACH :
Villivakkam is well connected with various parts of Chennai city and a KM from Bus terminus and Railway station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

The south side entrance of the temple 
The south side entrance of the temple  Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Nandi  on east side small entrance from Temple tank  
Moolavar Gajabirusta Vimanam - an another view  
Temple tank 
Devotees worship Nagars under Neem and  peepal /Arasa trees. 
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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