Tuesday 29 November 2016

Sri Kamesuwarar Temple / Thirukkameshwarar Temple / Thirukkamiswarar Temple, Kappalur, Near Polur, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

27th November 2016.
This Kappalur Heritage visit was arranged by R.E.A.C.H Foundation for it’s 7th batch Epigraphy students. Since I am also an alumni of the Epigraphy class, Mr Ramanath  included me for this Visit. As planned we, 38 heritage enthusiasts started from Chennai  through 2 vans and a car around 05.45 hrs. Total journey was around 4.30 hours, on 27th November 2016. We reached Kappalur  from Chennai via Uthiramerur, Vandavasi, Polur . On the way we had our breakfast under a  road side tamarind tree. Mr Ramanath had taken much pain to carry from Tindivanam.  It was a pleasant journey  with lot of information pouring in from Mr Ramachandran,  Mr Vakula Varadharajan and  Mr Madhusudhanan of our group also added flavor to it. Learned a lot throughout the journey and from the field visit.

The Village Kappalur is a heritage treasure. It has 20 temples, Nadukal, Hero stones, Komarikal, Vijayanagara period granite panel slabs erected in 4 corners of the village and many. The main aim of this field visit was to learn to read the inscriptions and hand on experience of taking estempage of the  inscriptions. Mr Ramachandran encouraged the students to read  the inscriptions. From the inscriptions it was learnt that the original name of the Village was “Kamapullur”  and has the contributions of Pallava, Chozha, Early period Chozhas, Rashtrakutas, Latter period Pandyas,  Sambuvarayar and Vijayanagar  rulers. We started our field visit from  Sri Kamesuwarar Temple.

SRI KAMESUWARAR TEMPLE


Moolavar    : Sri Kamesuwarar
Consort      : Sri Kadina Kujambal.

Some of the important features are..
The temple is facing east with  balipeedam and  Rishabam mandapam. Even though the we enter through mottai Gopuram Main entrance to the sanctum sanctorum is from east. Dwarapalakas are at the east side immediately after the main entrance on the both side of a granite jolly work. Moolavar is on a round avudayar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy ( installed separately not installed in the niche), Vishnu in place of Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. In the maha mandapam, Urchavars, Suryan and Vinayagar. 

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Naalvars,  Two Vinayagars, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Shiva Lingam & Ambal,  Annapoorani, Natarajar Saba ( with a separate vimanam ), Chandikeswarar, Bairavar and Navagrahas. The bell is in the north east corner of the outer prakaram.

ARCHITECTURE
The main entrance to the sanctum Sanctorum. The temple consists of Sanctum, artha mandapam and a maha mandapam. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi with front mandapam on the right side of  moolavar sannadhi, may be reconstructed during Vijayanara Period. Their emblem is on one of the Pillar. 

 The emblem of Vijaya Nagaras ( at the entrance of Ambal sannadhi )

HISTORY & INSCRIPTION:
The inscriptions are there around sanctum adhistanam ( base). There is a separate Rajendra Chozha two side inscription granite slab measuring 185 cm x 138 cm, on the north west corner. The inscription records that Chief of army Rajaraja Bhiramarayan’s son donation of ninety goats   for burning a perpetual lamp, land donated to nandhavanam ( Garden ), and land donated for pooja with naivedyam to Dakshinamurthy.

The Pillars of the mandapam bears the inscription about the donation made for burning the lamp.

Rajendra Chozha two side inscription granite slab measuring 185 cm x 138 cm ( North side )

Rajendra Chozha two side inscription granite slab measuring 185 cm x 138 cm ( south side )


THE TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept open between 09.00 Hrs to 10.00 Hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:
Mr B Raghupathy may be contacted on his mobile 9442810617

HOW TO REACH:
About 5 KM from Polur. Since the frequency of the bus is limited, hire a taxi  from Polur.

LOCATION :CLICK HERE








 


 





....... to be continued ( Sapthamathirika Temple )

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

7 comments:

  1. As usual, excellent summary Mr Veludharan sir... Looking forward to the continuation article...

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  2. As usual, excellent summary Mr Veludharan sir... Looking forward to the continuation article...

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    Replies
    1. I was expecting you Sir, but disappointed..but hope to meet you next field visit...Thanks for the encouraging comments...

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  3. Dear sir I visited the temple couple of days back the dakshinamurthy idol looks so nice

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    1. Thanks Sanjeevikumar .. the murthy is an original one and the mandapam was reconstructed latter
      Regards

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