18th
August 2018.
( A Separate post was written in Tamil, about this Temple. During my earlier Visit the temple was preparing for Kumbhabhishekam. For The details in Tamil please click this Link. ) Also Visited the temple after Kumbhabhishekam.. For the photographs after Kumbhabhishekam please Click this link )
Why this place is called Thiruvotriyur..
?
This place Thiruvotriyur exists since paleolithic period with
human habitation. As per the literature this place was called as Adhipuri,
hence this temple’s Lord is called as Adhipuriswarar. Another version is, the
creator of this universe, Brahma created this place first, hence this is called
as Aadhipuri. This place is also called as Thiruvotriyur. Thiruvotriyur has
different meanings. In Tamil “oththi” which means mortgage. Another meaning is
the “wiping out”. During piralaya the this place was completely covered with
water and Shiva wiped out water, hence this place is called as Thiruvotriyur.
From the copper plate of Velanchery near Thiruthani, Vijayalaya Chozha’s father
name was mentioned as "Votriyuran". The same name appears in the
Tiruchengode inscription also. As per the Thevaram hymns, the sea was very near
and able to hear the roaring sound of the sea waves.
The Rajagopuram and front mandapam…The east side Rajagopuram is of 5 tiers, with stucco images
related saivam. Kumba pancharam between the pilasters of the walls. This might
have built between 10th to 13th century,
probably during Rajendra Chozha period. The stucco images belongs to 16th century
Nayaka’s period.
Main door
Miniature reliefs of Rajagopuram base
The front mandapam of the main shrine was built during Chozha period. It
is to be noted that the main sanctum and Rajagopuram are not in the same
straight line. Thiyagesar sannadhi was built during 16th to 17th century.
The fusion of Chozha period mandapa with the latter period Thiyagesar sannadhi
can be seen from out side. The outer prakaram has the 27 shiva lingas, (
old Lingas ) represents the 27 nakshatras, on the south side of the outer
prakaram.
The main
sanctum front mandapa is called a "Nithya Yaga Sala", where yagam
used to be conducted daily. This mandapa might have been built during 12th Century,
a latter Chozha period. The ceiling has the statues of shiva’s Various forms.
In that an amazing one is the small size Bikshadanar. Dwarapalakas
at the entrance of the main sanctum are worth to see. The laladam of the crown
has the simha image. Both crown image are different. Also both are not
installed on a pedestal. Since the inscriptions are on the back side wall of the
Dwarapalakas, they were brought from elsewhere and installed here. The
inscription on the right side wall ( right side dwarapalaka), speaks about a
land distributed to 10 people who staged the life story of the Sundarar in
presence of Sathuranthantha pandithar, Vasika Pandithar, Soma Siddhanatha
Pandithar and Otriyur Battar. In that it is mentioned the land value should be
the same value of the land that sold at Dhandeeswaram, part of Chennai
City. In the Nithya yaga mandapam near Natarajar Sannadhi there is a
Chandikeswarar, which belongs to 8th to 9th Century.
Dwarapalakas
Chandikeswarar
Bhikshatana / Pichadanar
In the inner prakaram near Kaliya Nayanar
Sannadhi, there is an old Chozha painting faintly visible, which was discovered
during renovation. Kaliya Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmar belongs to this
Thiruvotriyur. He spend all his money for lighting lamps for this temple. When
he do not have money, he intend to lit the lamp with his blood. When tries to
cut his head, Lord Shiva appeared and blessed him. The inner prakaram may
belongs to 9th to 10th century. The pillars has the Chozha period inscriptions.
The original temple may be of brick temple with a square base sanctum. During Chozha period this was reconstructed
as Gajabirushta sanctum with stone. The sanctum has the inscriptions of
Rajendra period in Sanskrit, and many inscriptions speaks about the donation
made to this temple for burning lamps. Some of the donations are in terms of “sava
moova peeradu“ – which means at any point of time the number of goats offered
should not decrease. The name of the architect / sculpture of this temple is mentioned as Veera Chozha Ravi thachan.
One of the inscription speaks about an officer who has not collected the
tax from the property belongs to this
temple was called as “Shiva Thuroki” and his property was confiscated and
attached to this temple. In one
inscription 15% interest in terms of gold as tax to be collected once in six
months and food for this collector should be served.
The story of Kaliya Nayanar
Chozha period inscriptions on the pillar
Chozha period
painting
Vattaparai Amman temple. This is actually
a saptamatrikas temple facing North. The poojaris are not the usual
Sivachariyar. For this sannadhi and Ambal Sannadhi, kerala namboothiris, that
too unmarried are doing pooja. It was learnt that this Vattaparai Amman was
treated as Village deity and animals are sacrificed. A palipedam and Soolam was
there in front of this temple, which was removed in the recent years. The practice of
sacrifice was also stopped few years before. Since this sannidhi is very close
to the main sanctum, the sannadhi might have constructed at a latter period.
Moolavar Sannadhi.. Moolavar is in the
form of anthill, abhishekam is done only to the avudayar. Moolavar usually kept
covered and will be opened only three days in a year from Karthigai Deepam
festival. Punuku and oil is applied. Iraivan also called as Padampakkanathar.
As per the legend The Snake Vasuki worshiped Lord Shiva and joins with shiva
with its body. This legend is very much associated to Kayarokana – Lakulisa
pasupata- cult worship, ie attaining Mukti and joins with Lord Shiva with the
physical body. Incidentally all Kayarokana Shiva temple are on the sea coast,
Nagapattinam and a temple in Gujarat.
Thiyagarajar sannadhi. Thiyagesar is in the form of a Somaskandar. The
flower decorations are done in such a way that Swamy and Ambal’s face with
hands are only seen. The Nadanam of Thiyagesar is Ajaba. It was told that this
Thiyagesar worshiping cult may be belongs to Kalamukha sect who wears spatika
kundala and yagnopaveetha made out of hair. They ate food in Kapalam ( the
skull of human head). Appar has sung
that Bhikshatana came here after wandering Mylapore. Thiyarajar is a Boga
moorthy. During procession SomasKandar used to come out with full of decoration
and the pooja articles. 12 people used to carry the open palanquin. On the out
side of the inner praharam wall and near the Thiagarajar sannadhi, north side,
inscriptions was there. Which speaks about the donations like 28 samaram,
Thivetti made by the devadasis. One of the donor’s name was mentioned as “Sani
otriyur Akki”. Iraivan was also called as manikka Thiyagar. The sad part is,
the inscriptions were covered by the flooring done in the recent years. It was
also told that, olden days Somaskandar was brought out by the Devadasis. The
main sanctum was built during Chozha period. Latter the mandapam was added and
renovated during Vijayanagar Nayaks.
Kowleeswar Sannadhi…. Kowleeswar Sannadhi
is on the back side of the Thiyagesar Sannadhi. A form of Shiva holding a kapalam
and soolam on the upper hands and lower hands are in chin mudra and meditating
posture. This moorthy may be called as "Agora Dakshinamurthy". People
by mistake claims him as Kowleeswarar and somebody, Lakuleesar.
Bhairavar sannidhi…. A beautiful life size Bhairavar with jadamudi hangs up to
floor. A half buried Bairavi is also inside the Shiva’s main sanctum just
opposite to Bhairava. The presence of Bhairava and Bhairavi, indicates that
Kapalika cult worship existed earlier.
Vadivudai Amman Temple… The Amman is facing south with a separate balipeedam,
dwajasthambam and Simha vahana. The whole Temple is also called as
Vadivudai Amman Temple. For this sannadhi and Vattaparai Amman Sannadhi, kerala
namboothiris, that too unmarried are doing pooja. It was told that
Sankarachariyar brought namboothiris from Kerala to do pooja to Ambal. A chakra
was also installed by him. Thyagaraja Swamikal has sung hymns on this Ambal.
Vallalar also sung Navamani malai. Pattinathar, Vallalar, Sankaracharya, Kanchi
Periyava worshiped Lord Shiva and Ambal of this temple.
Vidhusis Archana and Aarthi – Musical treat
Vidhusis Archana and Aarthi – Musical treat
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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