The fourth visit to this Sri Kailasanathar Temple was
a part of the 570th week, abhishekam organised by the Ancient Shiva
Temples & Shivamayam Team, on 05th October 2025. Thanks
to the Shivamayam Team. The details of the 3 visits are written at the end of this article.
Moolavar :
Sri Kailasanathar.
Consort
: Sri Kamakshi
Some
of the important details of this temple are...
The
temple faces east. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front. The sanctum sanctorum
is about 4 feet above the ground level, like a mada koil. Steps are provided on
both sides of the entrance of the maha mandapam and the ardha mandapam. Dwarapalakas
are at the entrance of the ardha mandapam. Vinayagar and Murugan are on both sides
of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is a little big on a round avudaiyar. A Stucco
image of Somaskandar was constructed behind Moolavar, which is a unique feature
of this temple. No murtis are found in the koshtams.
In
the praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, and Chandikeswarar.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum
sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum
was constructed with a passage called Santharam/ circumambulatory path around
the sanctum sanctorum. The sanctum sanctorum is on a upanam and a simple pada
bandha adhistanam with jagathy, muppattai kumudam, and pattikai. The upanam and adhistanam
were built with granite stone.
The superstructure above the
adhistanam is built with brick and plastered with lime mortar. In bhitti, the
plasters are of brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, mandi, palakai,
veera kandam, and tharanga pothyal. The prastram consists of valapi with bhuta ganas, kapotam, and
madahalai (like wooden beams).
The vimana above the bhumidesam is of
two tiers. The first tier is of hara style similar to the Dhrmaraja ratham of
Mahabalipuram. The haram is also with 6 angas/parts. There is a passage between the 1st tier and the 2nd
tier, just above santharam. Provisions are made with glass for the natural
light to the santharam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the
tala and greeva koshtams. In addition to the koshta images, many deities’
images are on the two talas. The sigaram is of vesara style with a single
kalasam. Maha nasis are on the 4 cardinal directions of the sigaram.
The bhitti or the wall is provided
with many number of koshtas / niches. (A research article on Tamil Yoginis was published
by Emma Natalya Stein and Katherine E.
Kasdorf https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/888. As per the article, the niches might have been installed
with Yogini images.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple was built during Pallava King Nandi
Varman’s period and reconstructed during the Chozha period with stone up to
Adhistanam. Later patronised by Chozha Kings Parataka Chozha I, Rajaraja I,
Rajendra Chozha I, and Vijayanagara Kings, especially Krishnadevaraya. As per
Chozha period inscriptions, this place was called Uttirameru Chaturvedimangalam, and Shiva was called Kailayamudiya Mahadevar.
The inscriptions mainly record donations made to
this temple in terms of Land, Gold, Goats, Cows, etc, for the regular poojas
and functions. In one of the inscriptions, it was mentioned that if the body
obstructs the normal functioning of the temple poojas and lighting of lamps
received through gifts (By way of gold, Land, cows) to the temple, it will be
equivalent to killing their father and mother and killing a cow on the banks of the river Ganga. (This much of Pavam/Sin will be added to them).
Rajendra
Chozha-I's period (1015-1016 CE) inscription records the endowment of Naivedyam
of rice, ghee, vegetables, and beetle nut for three services and burning of
sandhi lamp, for the same land was gifted to the temple.
There is a measurement scale marked at the base of
the temple in two lengths, each 11 feet, with the Vijayanagara Dynasty's Royal emblem of
Kattari and Sun.
The Kumbhabhishekam was performed in 2013 after
renovation. Technical assistance was extended by the Reach Foundation for the
reconstruction of this temple back to worship.
Dr Ramachandran explains to us how to read the inscriptions.
A measurement scale marked at the base of the temple in two lengths, each 11 feet, with the Vijayanagara Dynasty's Royal emblem
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Amavasya days, Pourami days,
Chaturthi, Sashti, Sankadahhara Chaturthi, Kiruthigai, Vinayagar Chatrithi,
etc.
A video on the Abhishekam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI2oiIwTFZk
CONTACT
DETAILS
Mr
Dhinakaran Gurkkal’s mobile number +919940858598 may be contacted for poojas.
HOW TO REACH
The
temple is about a km from the Uthiramerur Bus Stand. Uthiramerur is 27 km from
Kanchipuram, 31 km from Chengalpattu, and 90 km from Chennai.
Buses
are available from Chennai Kilambakkam Bus Terminus, Kanchipuram, and
Chengalpattu.
The
nearest Railway Junction is Chengalpattu.
The
first visit to this Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Uthiramerur, was on 13-03-2011
with my wife; at that time, the temple was not fully reconstructed, and
Kumbhabhishekam had also not been performed.
The
second visit to Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Uthiramerur, was on 17-02-2013,
SUNDAY, along with REACH Foundation. During our visit, we participated in the
mandala pooja after Kumbhabhishekam. I was fortunate enough to join with the
eminent personalities like Mr Sathyamuthy, Rtd. Superintend ASI, Mr
Ramachandran, Epigraphist, Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department, and Mr Vakula
Varadharajan, a Scholar and Historian.
The
third visit to Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Uthiramerur, was a part of the
Thirumukkudal Temples Visit scheduled on 16th and 17th November 2019, along with
Mr Gandhi Rajan and Mrs Sakthi Prakash.
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
