Monday 18 February 2013

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 Railway station for the van to board.  It was raining till we get in to 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, History. Learned a lot from all these peoples.

Had been to this temple third time a part of Thirumukkudal Temples Visit scheduled on 16th and 17th 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 is facing east. Balipeedam and Nandhi are in front. The sanctum sanctorum is about 4 feet above the ground level and steps are provided on the east side. Moolavar is 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 of this temple.

ARCHITECTURE
The Temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. The super structure above the Adhistanam is built with brick. The adhistanam is of simple pada bandha adhistanam. The Bhitti or the wall are 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  and, the bhitti niches are with Yogini Images


HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple was built during Pallava King Nandi Varman’s period and reconstructed during Chozha period with stone up to Adhistanam. Latter patronized by Chozha Kings Parataka Chozha_I, Rajaraja-I, Rajendra Chozha-I and Vijayanagara Kings especially Krishnadevaraya.

The inscriptions mainly records about donations made to this temple in terms of Land, Gold, Goats, Cow, etc for the regular poojas and functions. In one of the inscription it was mentioned that if any body obstruct the normal functioning of the temple poojas and lighting of lamps received through gifts ( By way of gold, Land, cows ) to temple, it will be equivalent to killing their father and mother and Killing a cow on the banks of river Ganga. ( This much of paavam /Sin  will be added to them ).

There is a measurement scale marked at the base of the temple in two lengths of 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 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 opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.


HOW TO REACH

About a KM from 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 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 AAGNEECURARShiva temple ( The name appeared from the Tamil inscriptions found under the base ), which in a dilapidated condition.  The meaning of Aagneechurar is the son of AGNI is 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 for 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 top of avudayar. Moolavar is in slanting posture. From the image of Chandikeswarar and the temple was constructed during 10th century during Pallava’s  period. The name of the village is the same as that one in the inscriptions. The temple was constructed first with bricks and latter it was re-constructed with stone. To prove this the excavated bricks are square and rectangular with thin shapes.  One of the inscription 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 theertham made of stone with out 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, team members got exhausted and very hungry. Returned to Chennai after having 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 copy of the inscription on the pillar
 Excavated bricks
  Gomukha and collection pot for Abhisheka theertham
The images recovered so far
Please visit to the following site to get  more about these temples and the activities of REACH FOUNDATION.

1 comment:

  1. There is no dwajasthambam and Rajagopuram, There is no moortham installed in the koshtam nitches. A beautiful renovation. Thanks to Reach foundation for much pain taken to reconstruct the temple back to its glory. you can visit there through bus and You can book Online Bus Ticket also.

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