Kailasanathar Temple, Uthiramerur and Sri Aagneechurar Temple Gudalur, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

 17, February 2013

Received a mail from Mr. Chandra, PRO of  Reach Foundation for the tour to Uthiramerur and Gudalur Shiva temples on 17-02-2013, SUNDAY. Since it was a holiday, I readily accepted and confirmed the same. He reminded me on Saturday evening also over my mobile. It was cloudy when   I started from my home. After leaving my two-wheeler at SPIC Office, reached Guindy HP Petrol Bunk near the Railway station for the van to board.  It was raining till we got into the van. We left Guindy around 07-30 Hrs against the scheduled time of 6.45 Hrs.

Even though this was my second trip to Uthiramerur Sri Kailasanathar Temple, I had been there on 13-03-2011 with my wife,  at that time temple was not constructed fully and Kumbhabhishekam was also not performed. This time I was fortunate enough to Join with the eminent personalities from Archaeology, Epigraphy, and History. Learned a lot from all these people.

Had been to this temple third time as a part of the Thirumukkudal Temples Visit scheduled on 16^th and 17^th November 2019 along with Mr Gandhi Rajan and Mrs Sakthi Prakash.     

KAILASANATHAR TEMPLE, UTHIRAMERUR.

 Photos taken during renovation

Moolavar : Sri Kailasanathar.

Consort   : Sri Kamakshi Amman.

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 and steps are provided on the east side. Moolavar is a little big. A passage called Santharam/ circumambulatory path is provided around the sanctum. In the prakaram Vinayagar. A Stucco image of SomasKandar was constructed behind Moolavar which is unique to this temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The Temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The superstructure above the Adhistanam is built with brick. The adhistanam is of simple pada bandha adhistanam. The Bhitti or the wall is provided with koshtas / niches. The prastaram is with Kabotham. Bhuta ganas are in the valapi. The haram is also with 6 parts. As per an article Published by 

Emma Natalya Stein

 and

Katherine E. Kasdorf

, the bhitti niches are with Yogini Images

As per the article, it is believed that the niches might have been with Yogini images 

 South side view

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 patronized 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 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 Vijayanagara Kings 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 its glory.

 Our team members studying the inscriptions - Back side view of the temple

 Tamil inscriptions

 South side with our team

 Mr Ramachandran Sir is explaining the inscriptions

 The Scale of measurement ends with Vijayanagar Kings' royal symbols - Kattari and SUN

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH

About a KM from the Bus stand. 

Uthiramerur is 27 KM from Kanchipuram, 31 Km from Chengalpattu, and 90 KM from Chennai.

Buses are available from Chennai, Kanchipuram, and Chengalpattu.

Nearest Railway Junction is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:  CLICK HERE

  Photos taken during renovation

 Photos taken during renovation

 Front view of the Kailasanathar Temple

 Pillayar Sannadhi

 North side view with Chandikeswarar sannidhi

Front arch construction is in progress

The broken pieces of a pot were collected from the site. As per the archaeologist, the pieces must be 1000 years old. 

Sri Agneechurar Temple, Gudalur.

After Pooja at Sri Kailasanathar Temple continued our journey to GUDALUR. On the we have lost around an hour due to burst of van’s back tire. After replacing the tire reached Sri AAGNEECURAR, Shiva temple ( The name appeared from the Tamil inscriptions found under the base ), which was in a dilapidated condition.  The meaning of Aagneechurar is the son of AGNI AAGNI, who worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple ). Since the temple is facing west, Lord Shiva’s name must be Abhimukeswarar, assumed by the persons in charge of the reconstructions, which was wrong.

Tamil inscriptions are found in base and pillar stones. The temple is about three feet below the ground level. Moolavar is visible only up to the top of avudayar. Moolavar is in a slanting posture. From the image of Chandikeswarar the temple was constructed during the 10^th century during Pallava’s period. The name of the village is the same as the one in the inscriptions. The temple was constructed first with bricks and later it was re-constructed with stone. To prove this the excavated bricks are square and rectangular with thin shapes.  One of the inscriptions says there exists a Rajendra Chozha’s Cheppu Thirumeni in the temple. 

We have excavated outside the base and found Gomukha and a collection pot for the abhisheka tirtha made of stone without any damage / intact. There is a chance of getting Ambal’s image and other parivara images,  if we excavate further. It was around 15.30 hrs, and team members got exhausted and very hungry. Returned to Chennai after having an evening lunch at Hotel Highway Inn with sweet memories.

Chandikeswarar with Mazhu in hand

Rishabam

 Temple site with mandapam pillars

 Tamil inscriptions on one of the slabs

 Mr Ramachandran Sir is taking a copy of the inscription on the pillar

 Excavated bricks

  Gomukha and collection pot for Abhisheka tirtha

The images recovered so far

Please visit the following site to get more about these temples and the activities of REACH FOUNDATION.

www.conserveheritage.org

http://templesrevival.blogspot.com
http://reachhistory.blogspot.com

  --- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Arulmigu Ettukudi Murugan Temple / அருள்மிகு எட்டுக்குடி முருகன் கோயில் / Ettukudi Murugan Temple, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri ettukudi Murugan Temple and Sri Soundareswarar, Shiva temple at Ettukudi was a part of Shiva and Maha Vishnu Temples around Sirkazhi Visit on 1^st & 2^nd July 2023. Even-though this temple is  dedicated to, Shiva, but popularly known for “Ettukudi Murugan Temple – எட்டுகுடி முருகன் கோயில்” . Also this temple is called as sathru samhara Sthalam ( Enemies ).

  

 

Moolavar  : Sri Soundareswarar

Consort    : Sri Anandavalli

Murugan sannidhi   : Sri Subramania Swamy

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a temple tank & Neerazhi mandapam. Idumban and Kadamban sannidhis are on the opposite side of the Temple Tank. Entrance arch is on the east side. There are two entrances, of which one is for Shiva Temple and another for Murugan Temple.

There are two entrance of which one is with 3 tier Rajagopuram in front of Shiva Temple and another entrance opposite to Murugan Temple.

Murugan Temple.... Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Mayil vahanam are in front of Murugan temple. Utsavars Arumuga velar, Natarajar are in ardha mandapam.

Sri Soundareswarar Temple...  Rishabam and balipeedam are in front of Shiva temple. Ambal Anandavalli is in a separate sannidhi facing south. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai. Utsava murtis are in ardha mandapam.

Ambal temple 

In praharam, Vinayagar, Nagars, Navagrahas, Bairavar, Saniswaran, Suryan, Ayyappan, Maha Lakshmi, and Chandikeswararas- Two ( one for the Shiva temple and another one for the Murugan Temple ) and Soundararaja Perumal

ARCHITECTURE

The Murugan Temple’s Vimanam is higher than Shiva temple’s Vimanam, may be rebuilt at a latter period.  Vinayagar and Murugan temples are constructed with same style. The Murugan temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam.  The sanctum sanctorum is on a kapota bandha upanam. The adhisthanam is of pada bandha adhisthanam with jagathy and three patta kumudam. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The pilasters are of Vishnu Kantha pilasters with square base, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai and Poo mottu pothyal. There is no images in the deva koshtam. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus and vyyalavari. The two tier stucco Dravida Vimanam is on the prastaram.  Murugan’s various avatars are on the tala and greeva koshtams.   Kumbha panjaras are shown on the antarala wall.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the history, the original temple may belongs to 08^th -09^th Century and the same was rebuilt during Chozha period.

Maha Kumbhabhshekam was conducted in 08^th July 1965 and  2023.

LEGENDS

It is believed that the three idols at Poravachery ( near Sikkal ), Ettukudi and Engan was made by the same sculptor. The legend goes like this..... The Murugan idol was sculptured as per the order of the Chozha King. After seeing the beauty of the idol of Poravachery ( Sikkal ), the king do not wants the Sculptor, The Silpa Muni  to make another idol and cuts the sculptors thumb.

As per Muruga’s instruction the sculptor made the second idol for this place. The same was installed at Ettukudi. When the King came to know that, he made the sculptor to blind. Again the Silpa Muni took Lord Muruga’s instruction, had made the third idol for Engan. This time he took the help of his daughter. In the process of sculpting, his daughter has got hurt and blood was splashed on his eyes. Immediately he has got back the eye sight and uttered as “oh en Kan”. Hence the third place was called as Engan. The King realized the greatness of the sculptor and Lord Muruga’s grace on him. The King begged Silpa Muni to pardon him and prayed Lord Murugan.  The Silpa muni attained mukthi at Engan and his Jeeva Samadhi is on the left side before Rajagopuram.

சில்ப முனிவரால், பொரவசேரி ( சிக்கல் ), எட்டுக்குடி, எண்கண் ஆகிய கோயில்களில் உள்ள ஸ்ரீ வள்ளி தேவசேனாவுடன் ஆறுமுகப் பெருமானின் சிலைகளை வடித்த வரலாறு...

முத்தரச சோழனின் வேண்டுகோளுக்கிணங்க ஸ்ரீ சில்ப முனிவர் ( பொரவச்சேரி சிக்கலில் ) ஸ்ரீ வள்ளி, தெய்வானையுடன் உடனுறையும் மயில் மேல் அமர்ந்த நிலையில் ஸ்ரீ ஆறுமுக பெருமானின் திருமூர்த்தியை மிகவும் அழகாக வடித்து கொடுத்தார். அந்த அற்புதமான அழகின் உறைவிடமாக விளங்கிய ஸ்ரீ ஆறுமுக பெருமானின் அழகினை கண்ட முத்தரசசோழன் இது போன்ற ஈடு இணையற்ற சிற்பத்தை வடிக்க ஏற்பாடு செய்த பெருமை தன்னை தவிர இனி வேறு யாருக்கும் கிடைக்கக் கூடாது என்று எண்ணி ஸ்ரீ சில்ய முனிவரின் கை கட்டை விரலை ( தானமாக பெற்றார் ) வெட்டுவதற்கு உத்தரவிட்டார்.

கட்டைவிரலை இழந்த ஸ்ரீ சில்ப முனிவர் எட்டுக்குடியிலும் அதே போன்று அற்புதமான திருமூர்த்தத்தை வடித்தார். இச்செய்தியினை கேள்வியுற்ற முத்தரச சோழன் ஸ்ரீ சில்பமுனிவரால் இனி இச்சிலைபோன்று எந்த விதமான சிற்பங்களும் உருவாக்காமல் இருப்பதற்கு ஸ்ரீ சில்ப முனிவரின் இரண்டு கண்களையும் பறித்து குருடாக்கினார்.

ஸ்ரீ ஆறுமுக பெருமான் மீது அதீத அன்பு கொண்ட ஸ்ரீ சில்ப முனிவர் கை கட்டை விரலையும் கண்களையும் இழந்து மனம் தளராமல் தன்னுடைய மகள் உதவியுடன் எண்கண் திருத்தலத்தில் மீண்டும் ஸ்ரீ வள்ளி தெய்வானையுடன் உடனுறையும் மயில் மேல் அமர்ந்த நிலையில் ஸ்ரீ ஆறுமுக பெருமானின் அழகிய சிற்பத்தை தன்னுடைய எண்ணமே கண்களாக கொண்டு முன்பு வடித்த இரு சிற்பங்களை விட மிக அழகாகவும், நேர்த்தியாகவும் வடிவமைத்தார்.

ஸ்ரீ சில்ப முனிவரின் பக்தியில் அகம் மகிழ்ந்த ஸ்ரீ ஆறுமுக பெருமான் ஸ்ரீ சில்ப முனிவருக்கு அருள்புரிந்தார். ஸ்ரீ சில்ப முனிவர் தான் வடித்த ஸ்ரீ முருகப் பெருமானின் சிற்பத்திற்கு கண் திறக்கும் தருணத்தில் அருகில் உதவிக்கு இருந்த அவருடைய மகளின் கையில் உளிபட்டு இரத்தம் பிறிட்டு ஸ்ரீ சில்ப முனிவரின் கண்களில் பட்டவுடன் ஸ்ரீ ஆறுமுக பெருமானின் அருளால் இழந்த கட்டை விரலையும், இரு கண்களையும் ஸ்ரீ சில்ப முனிவர் திரும்ப பெற்றார்.

ஸ்ரீ சில்ப முனிவர் தான் இழந்த கட்டை விரலையும் இரு கண்களையும் எண்கண் திருக்கோயிலில் தந்து அருளியது போல், எண்கண் திருத்தலத்தில் வந்து உள்ளம் உருகி வேண்டும் பக்தர்களுக்கு இழந்த அனைத்து செல்வங்களையும் மீண்டும் தந்தருளுமாறு ஸ்ரீ ஆறுமுக பெருமானிடம் மனம் உருகி வேண்டினார். ஸ்ரீசில்ப முனிவரின் பக்தியில் அகம் மகிழ்ந்த ஆறுமுக பெருமான் ஸ்ரீ சில்ப முனிவரின் வேண்டுகோளுக்கிணங்க எண்கண் திருத்தலத்தில் ஸ்ரீவள்ளி தெய்வானையுடன் மயில் மேல் அமர்ந்து பக்தர்களுக்கு அருள்புரிந்து வருகின்றார்.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart  from regular poojas ( Thirupalli ezhuchi 06.00 hrs,  Uchi kalapooja 12.00 hrs, Ardha Jama pooja at 21.00 hrs and 3 kala poojas are conducted in between them. Abhishekam will be conducted between 08.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs, 11 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs and 15.00 hrs ( Yes, it is 15.00 hrs ) to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number +91 6381175579 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is 4 KM from ECR, 19 KM from Thiruthuraipoondi,  25 KM from Thiruvarur, 30 KM from Nagapattinam & Sikkal and Engan, 94 KM from Sirkazhi and 360 KM from Chennai. 

Nearest railway Station is Thiruvarur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

 Navaveerars

 

 Vinayagar Sannidhi

Chandikeswararas- Two ( one for the Shiva temple and another one for the Murugan Temple ) 

 Bairavar and Gajalakshmi Sannidhis

 Natarajar Sannidhi

 Temple tank with Neerazhi mandapam at the centre

 Idumban Sannidhi

Idumban Sannidhi

 Chariot wooden sculptures

Chariot wooden sculptures

Chariot wooden sculptures

Chariot wooden sculptures

Chariot wooden sculptures

Chariot wooden sculptures

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---