The visit to this Sri Amaleeswarar Temple at Gopurapatti,
in Tiruchirappalli District, was a part of “திருச்சி மரபு நடை - Tiruchirappalli Heritage Walk”, from 18th to 19th July 2026,
organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”. This temple is
in the midst of fields.
Moolavar : Sri Amaleeswarar
Thayar :
Sri Avudainayagi, Avudai Ambigai
Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces west with a Rishabam. Moolavar is about
4.5 feet tall on a square avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy,
Sankaranarayanan, Brahma, and Durgai. An abandoned Rishabam is in the praharam.
The toranas above koshtas have the bas-relief of
Ardhanareeswarar in a sitting posture (above Dakshinamurthy), Gajasamharamurthy
(above Durgai), etc.
Durga
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
and ardha mandapam. The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to
prastaram. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with Jagathy,
threepatta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters
are of vishnukantha pilasters with square base, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals
mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and Taranga pothyal. The koshtas are padra
koshtas. Ramayan miniature sculptures are on the kanda pada. The prastaram
consists of valapi with bhuta ganas, kapotam with nasi kudus and vyyalavari.
There is no superstructure above the prastarm / Bhumi desam.
The ardha mandapam is supported by vrudha pillars with
Taranga pothyal.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
இக்கோயில் பொயு. 975ஆம் ஆண்டில் கட்டப்பட்டது. இங்கு உத்தமசோழர், முதலாம் இராசராசன், முதலாம் இராசேந்திரன் போன்றோரின் கல்வெட்டுக்கள் உள்ளன. இக்கோயிலின் அடித்தளத்தில் இராமயணக் காட்சிகள்
சிற்பங்களாக செதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. கண்டராதித்த சோழனின் தேவியும் உத்தமசோழனின்
தாயுமான செம்பியன்மாதேவி இக்கோயிலுக்கு விளக்குகள் தானம் அளித்துள்ளார்.
This temple
was constructed during 975 CE. It has various inscriptions of kings such as Uthamachola,
Rajaraja I and Rajendra I. A panel of Ramayana sculptures is engraved in the
basement of this temple. Chembian Madevi, the mother of Uthamachola and wife of
Gandaraditya Chola, has gifted lamps to this temple.
DEPARTMENT OF
ARCHAEOLOGY
GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU
The inscriptions are as follows…
The Chozha king Uttama Chozha’s 12th reign
year fragmentary inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum records
only the 12th regnal year of Uttamachoļa.
The Chozha king Parakesarivarman’s 12th
reign year inscription records the gift of 5 lamp-stands by
Sambiyan-mahādeviyäl, the queen of Gandarāditta-Perumal, to the deity of
Tiru-vāmanéśvaram at Pachchili in Mala-nādu
The Chozha king Parakesarivarman’s 14th
reign year inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum records that
the (queen of) Uttamachbla (Nakkan) Viranārāyapiyar consecrated the image of
Avanisundarar with prabai and pedestal for the occasion of visākam in Vaikasi
in the temple of Avaniśvaran at Pächchili in Mala-nādu.
The Chozha king Parakesarivarman’s 16th
reign year inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum records the
installation of the image (of the goddess) Umābhattāraki by Nakkan Vīranārāyanyar,
the queen of Uttamachōla, for the festive occasion of Vaisakam in the month of
Vaikasi at the Tiruvāmaněśvara temple at Pachchili in Mala-nādu. It is
mentioned that the image of the goddess was installed for the deity
Avanisundarěśvara in the same temple. In characters of about the 11th century C.E.
The Chozha King Rajara -I’s 19th reign year
damaged and incomplete inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum refers
to some gift of ornaments weighed by the stone (kudiñaikal) by Sembiyan
Mahādēvi.
The Chozha King Rajara – I’s 21st reign
year inscription on the north wall of the sanctum sanctorum records the
assignment of a specified share of produce from the devadana lands at Korgankudi
and Bananailür endowed for various services like dance master (naltuvarı), dancing (maimattu), playing musical instruments like mõrviyam and vangiyam.
Provision was also made for the maintenance of the lamp and also for the
maintenance of the potter. Besides, provision was also made for bathing of the deity
and large-scale food offerings to the deity.
Amrěśvaram-udaiyar every month on the day of sadaiyam, the natal star of Rajaraja I, and also for large-scale food offerings on the
occasion of festivals on the day of Aviţţam, the birth star of Kundavai, the
elder sister of Rājarāja, every month. It is also stipulated to feed 30
brahmanas and 30 ascetics. The details of paddy, i.e., 300 kalam of paddy to be
measured for the purpose, are also given. Some of the allottees figure as
signatories. It is stated that this arrangement was to be carried out with
surplus paddy that was deducted after due enquiry by the revenue administrator
of the district.
The Chozha King Rajakesari Varman’s reign inscription
on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum records the gift of a quarter veli
of land in two pieces by Alangudaiyan Malapādi Kumaran, the accountant of
Tiruvāmaniśvarattu Mahādēva temple at Pachchil in Malanādu. The produce of the
land 22 kalam, one tupi and one padakku, obtained after the reclamation of land
is to be utilized for supplying one ulakku of oil daily to burn the lamp to the
deity of the above temple. The donor also donated one lamp-stand to burn the
lamp. Do.
The Chozha king Rajendra Chozha’s reign inscription on
the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum refers to the enquiry conducted by the
officials Irumudichōla Müvënda vēļār, Parakčsari Vilupparaiyar and others into
the misdemeanour (not specified) committed by Korrangudi Pannāinallür Udaiyan
who held the kani of writing accounts of the temple of Pachchil in Pachchil-kürram.
As the accountant was found guilty, a fine of 100 kāśu was imposed on him. As
he was unable to remit the fine, it was decided to sell his lands, houses, and gardens at Kõrangudi and Pälainallür, which were obviously given for writing
the accounts by the temple. Since nobody came forward to purchase the same, it
was decided to sell the same to the temple itself along with the right to
maintain temple accounts. The amount thus realised, after the sale, was
deposited in the temple treasury. It was also decided to make their own
provisions for maintaining temple accounts.
Ref:
Annual report on Indian Epigraphy for Year 1992 - 93
LEGENDS
As per the legend, Sri Amaleeswarar himself gave
darshan to the priest in the form of a small boy and wanted him to construct a
temple for him and offer naivedyam daily.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular oru kala poojas, special poojas are
conducted on pradosham and Maha Shivaratri days.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open in the morning hours.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
The place Gopurapatti is 6 km from Manachanallur, 7 km
from Thiruvasi, 12 km from Srirangam, and 23 km from Trichy
The nearest Railway Station is Srirangam.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Vali & Sukreevan fight
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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