Friday 18 September 2015

Sri Kailasanathar Temple / ஸ்ரீ கைலாசநாதர் கோயில், தாரமங்கலம்/ Tharamangalam, Salem District, Tamil Nadu.

 18th September 2015. 
When I planned for the - in search of History - Kongu Nadu, Tharamangalam was not in the list. Since this trip was about three days, I thought of accommodating Tharamangalam temple on any one of the day and wished to see the architecture marvel of the temple. After seeing this temple on 13th September 2015, really I was happy and it is worth to take much pain to reach Tharamangalam.
    
SRI KAILASANATHAR TEMPLE - THARAMANGALAM
This  temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is a architectural marvel with sculptures equivalent to Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple. It attracts visitors from various parts of our country.

 Sivaganam with Rishabam on the wall 

Moolavar    : Sri Kailasanathar
Consort      : Sri Sivakami Amman

Some of the important features of this temple are…..
The temple is facing west with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. When we climb down steps through Rajagopuram Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam  are at the entrance of sanctum Sanctorum. Moolavar is swayambhu. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum. In koshtam, Durgai, Brahma, Lingothbavar, Dakshinamurthy and Nadana Vinayagar.

Rishabam / Idabam mandapam with balipeedam 
 Mummudi Vinayagars

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Sri Sahasra Lingam,  with Muruga Peruman, Brahma theertha Vinayagar, 9 Pillar mandapa Vinayagar, Sri Avinasiappar with his consort Karunambigai. Mummudi Vinayagar are at the left side of entrance mandapam.

In the inner prakaram sannidhi for Pathala Lingam ( below the ground with an entrance of 3 X 3 feet opening on the floor), Sri Sivakami Amman,  Navagrahas, Sri Murugan Palliyarai, Natarajar Saba, Oorthuva Thandava Murthy, Akora Veerabhadra, Jurakeswarar, Kala Bhairava, Siva Suriyan, Shanieswarar, Chandikeswarar, Kanni Vinayagar, Aadhi lingam, Uma Devi, Naalvar, Vinayagar, Somaskanda Murti, Sri Valli Devasena Arumugar.

 Nayanmars

ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and artha mandapam. The sculptures near the Mummudi Vinayagar mandapam pillars and the rotating ball in a lion’s mouth  and other pillars sculptures are worth to see.  ( another one is available in the inside pillar top simham. At the sanctum entrance on the ceiling hanging chain with rotating stem are also worth to watch.

rolling ball in lion’s mouth 
 Hanging stone Chains

Sculptures on the pillars worth to see are, Rishi pathini, Parvathy, Pichadanar, Rishi Pathini, Mahavishnu in mohini avatharam, Pathanjali, Viyakrapada, Jayamuni, Hayagreevar, Oorthuva Thandavar, Shiva & Shakti in anger mood, Shiva and Shakti in peaceful mood, Maha Vishnu, Agora Veerabhadra, Agni Veerabhadra, Pradosha nayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Dwarapalaka, Sri kali, Iyyannar, Manickavasagar, Brahma, Kanchi Kamakshi, Manmadhan, Rathi, Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar and Munivar perunthakai.
 
Manmathan and Rathi
 Pichadanar & Ayyanar
 Hayagreevar & Kamakshi
 Pathanjali and Alingnamurti
Veerabhadra 
 Oorthuva Thandava murti

  The monkeys on the kodungai  



 
Ceiling of Rajagopuram - Ketti Mudali's emblem
  The ornamental base of the sannadhi - Kadaka kumudam with Kapotam

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The story of this temple goes like this… Kings Ketti Mudali family ruled this place with Amarakundhi as capital. In their region one cow refused to give milk and it poured on one particular place. Hence the king beat the servants who take care of the cows. Shiva appeared in Ketti Mudali’s dream and told that he is  below the earth with a treasure for which cow poured her milk. Ketti Mudali excavated the Shiva Lingam and constructed this temple  using the treasure.

Tharamangalam, Sri Kailasanathar Temple Inscriptions are recorded in “Salem – Namakkal mavatta kalvettukkal”.

போசாள நாட்டு அரசர் இராமநாத தேவரின் 14 ஆம் ஆட்சியாண்டு (13 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு ) கல்வெட்டு வட பூவாணிய நாட்டில் பூங்குளம் என்னும் ஊரில் வாழ்ந்த கொப்பயத் தண்ணாக்கரின் பிள்ளைகள் மூவர் கயிலாயநாதர் கோவிலுக்குத் தேவதான இறைபிலியாக நன்செய், புன்செய் நிலங்கள் அளிக்கப்பெற்றதைப் பதிவு செய்கின்றது. கல்வெட்டு சிதைந்துள்ளது.
A damaged Hoysala King Ramanathan’s 14th reign year ( 13th Century ) inscription records the gift of land Nansei & punjai as thevadhana irayili, by Vada Bhuvaniya nattu Poongulam Koppaiya Thannaakkar’s 3 sons.

விஜயநகர அரசர் வீர வஸந்தராயர் ( 1508 CE ) காலத்தைச் சார்ந்த கல்வெட்டு வீரசோழ மண்டலத்தின் வடபூவாணிய நாட்டு வேளாளரில் ஒருவரான இம்முடி இளம்நயினா முதலியார் என்பவரால் தேவதான இறையிலியாக இளம்சமுத்திரம் என்னும் ஊர் விடப்பெற்றது. தாரமங்கலம் கயிலாயநாதர் கோவிலுக்கும் இளமீசுவரர் கோவிலுக்கும் சேர்த்து அவ்வூர் அளிக்கபெற்றது. திருத்தோன்பட்டி என்ற ஊர் “இளம்சமுத்திரம்” எனப் பெயர் மாற்றம் செய்யப்பெற்றது.
The Vijayanagara King Veera Vasantharayar ( 1508 CE ) inscription records the gift of Village Thiruththonpatti after renaming it as “Ilam samudram” as Thevadhana Irayili by Veera vhozha mandalathu Vada Bhoovaniya nattu Immudi Ilamnayina Mudaliar, one of the Velalar Community.  This was gifted both to Sri Kailasanathar and Ilameeswarar Temples.

16ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு கல்வெட்டு இம்முடி கட்டிமுதலியார் அவர்களால் திருப்பணி செய்யப்பட்டதைப் அதிவு செய்கின்றது. கைலாயநாதர் கோயில் கருவரை முன்பு அர்த்தமண்டபம், மஹாமண்டபம் கட்டப்பட்டது. மேலும் வினாயகர், துர்கை, பிரம்மா, தட்சிணாமூர்த்தி, ஆதி சண்டேசுவரர், இடபதேவர், ஆகியோருக்கு மண்டபம் / சிகரமும் கட்டப்பட்டது.  
The 16th Century  inscription records the thirupani at Sri Kailasanathar Temple by Immudi kattu Mudaliar. Ardha Mandapam in front of sanctum sanctorum, Maha mandapam  are newly built. The mandapa for Ganapathy, Durgai, Brahma, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Adi Chandeswarar, Idabam / Rishabam,  are also built.

விஜயநகர சிக்கதெவராயர் காலத்தைய ( 07-04-1679 ) கல்வெட்டு சிக்கதேவராய உடையாரின் செயலராகிய கெம்பயன் என்பவர் பாலசுப்பிரமணியரையும் அறுபத்துமூன்று நாயன்மார்களயும் எழுந்தருளச்செய்து பிரதிட்டை செய்து முடித்தமையைப் பதிவு செய்கின்றது.
Vijaya Nagara king Chikka Devarayar’s 07-04-1679 inscription records the establishment of Sannidhis of Bala Subramaniyar  and 63var ( 63 Nayanmars ) by the King’s secretary.

The Tamil inscriptions

LEGENDS
The place is called as Tharamangalam since Vishnu gave his sister to Shiva through marriage – thaarai vaarthu koduthal at this place. Hence this place is called as Tharamangalam.  Another two versions are Chandran and Suryan worshipped Lord Shiva in the evening hours  and they are also called as Tharakapathy and Tharakan. The last legend is Vali’s wife Tharakai constructed this temple and worshipped Lord Shiva of this temple, hence this place is called as Tharamangalam.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple is kept open between 07.00 Hrs to 12.30 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs

CONTACT DETAILS :
The link to temple web site is

HOW TO REACH :
Frequent Town buses are available from Salem.
Buses are also available from Mettur, Erode and Salem, Omalur.   

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE    :CLICK HERE
  
  Yazhi on the Rajagopuram passage 
Entrance step side sculptures 
Entrance step side sculptures 

West side view of 5 tier Rajagopuram with Villakku thoon / Deepa sthambam
Temple view from Rajagopuram 
   


    The inside corridor 

  Stucco Rishabam under construction 
  South side entrance 
   The vahana mandapam 
 The East side entrance arch with Rishabams on the top


 The Temple chariot   
 The Temple Layout  






AVINASHIAPPAR TEMPLE





The Navakandam Hero Stone behind Sri Avinashiappar Temple
--- OM SHIVYA NAMA ---

6 comments:

  1. Awesome post! Very useful information! Planning to visit this temple sometime next month. Do they allow photography? (Only to shoot the sculptures on the praharam and not the sanctum sanctorum)

    Rgds

    Vg

    www.vgopalan.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, thanks for the comments.. photography is not allowed in the prakaram,,, you can take only in the outer prakaram...
    Regards

    ReplyDelete
  3. Awesome view sir .... Thanks alot Sir

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sir, please share timings of opening & closure to see sculptures

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 07.00 to 12.30 hrs and evening 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs

      Delete