Sri Agneeswarar Temple, Neyveli, Sri Vaseeswarar Temple, Thirupachur, Sri Nandeeswarar Temple Manavur, Sri Karkatteeswarar Temple, Manavur, Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Palayanur, Sri Thazhuvakuzhaintha Eswarar Temple, Palayanur and Sri Saatchi Boodeshwarar Temple with a Vellalar Memorial, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

23, July 2013

I had the opportunity  of joining Tour organised by R.E.A.C.H Foundation,  on 21^st July 2013 to Neyveli, Thirupachur, Thiruvalangadu, Manavur and Palayanur. It was an wonderful experience. Learnt a lot from Mr Vagula Varadharajan, the Historian.

SRI ADI AGNEESWARAR TEMPLE, NEYVELI

Initially I thought Neyveli is the place in North Arcot district where Neyveli Lignite Corporation is located. Then I understand that this Neyveli is near to Poondi ( Tiruvallur ). On the way to Tiruvallur Mr Chandrasekaran, PRO of REACH foundation  narrated the incidents happened  about the the Neyveli Shiva Temple. The details are as follows. This part of this post was written as a separated post with updated details. Please click the Link to see the updated details. 

 South side entrance arch  and the Gajabirusta vimanam is on the left side

Moolavar    : Sri Adhi Agneeswarar

Consort      : Sri Lalithambigai

Sthala Vruksha : Kallala Tree

Some of the important features of this temple are....

The Rajagopuram is yet to be constructed  and the entrance arch is on the south side. The temple is facing east.

In the outer prakaram Sannadhi for Radha with Krishnan, Ganapathy, Sri Valli devasena Sametha Subramaniar, Vana Durgai, Chandikeswarar, Naga Devar and Naga Devathai with a Child ( It was believed that if one worships naga Devathas they will be blessed with Children ) and Sri Dakshinamurthy is under the Kallala Tree facing south.

Ambal is facing south in standing posture with four hands. Lotus on two hands and other two in abhaya hastham and vara hastham.

HISTORY 

It was learnt that the Neyveli Shiva Temple is being worshiped by Siddhars in sukshma roopam. The incidents happened are proof for the same.  Many Miracles also happened through Lord Agneeswara Swamy of this temple. As per history, only the Shiva Linga’s head was visible, through Kallala tree trunk. When excavated there was no damage  and the Lingam was found intact with shining. Kumbabishekam was conducted recently and we went for the mandala pooja. The new temple  was constructed in front of original Shiva Lingam. 

LEGEND

The Sthala Viruksha is a real Kallala Tree and it is believed that the tree is more than 5000 years old. Also it is believed that Yakshinis are living in the tree hence the tree itself treated as sacred.  There are some Laterite stones seen in between the roots of the tree. These stones  might have been used for the original temple. A siddhar in the form of snake lives in the tree and one or two people had the darshan.

HOW TO REACH :

We, 15 member from R.E.A.C.H foundation went through a van  from Chennai.

Neyveli is on the way from Tiruvallur to Poondi. And the temple is about a km off main road  on east side of the village  in the midst of paddy field.

CONTACT DETAILS:

For pooja and  timings  Please contact Ramamoorthy Gurukkal 9843685562 and Pradeep 9710709301.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE 

 Sthala Vruksha Kallala Tree

 East side entrance arch

 Naga devar and Naga Devathai with a child

 Sri Agneeswarar

 Kallala maram trunk

 Sri Vana Durgai

 Urchavar

 Kallala maram fruits

After Darshan of Lord Agneeswarar we proceeded to see the Poondi archaeological museum. On the way we had seen the the place where the stone weapons were are made during stone age period. The site is now under the control of Archaeological Department. Through Historian Mr Vagula Varadharajan it was learnt the site might be 1 lakhs years old. The stones we had seen are very much looks like stone age weapons.

Since the museum was closed, we returned back to Thiruvallur for second breakfast. At temple we had Lord Shiva’s prasad as first breakfast.

16. SRI VASEESWARAR TEMPLE, THIRUPACHUR

( This post was Updated with Thevara Hymns, Sthala purana, History, Inscriptions, etc,. For the details of the up dated post please click this link )

It was 11.30 Hrs when we proceeded to Thirupachur after breakfast at Thiruvallur. We are lucky enough to enter in to the temple before closing the temple after pooja. After darshan, our historian explained the details of the temple.  Since Ambal is on the right side of the moolavar, this temple is important for the marriages. To prove that there is a Kalyana mandapam on the north east corner of the temple complex which is now  in ruined condition.

This is the 16^th Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai nadu  Appar and Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

Moolavar   : Sri Vaseeswarar, Sri Pachur Nathar

Consort     : Sri Thangathali ( Tham Kathali )

Sthala vruksham : Bamboo

Some of the special features of the temple are ....

The temple is facing east with a 3 tier rajagopuram on the south side. The moolavar was in a bamboo forest, when bamboo was cut by the hunters the vasi ( axe like tool to cut wood ) hit the moolavar. Still scar can be seen on side and top. Moolavar is of swayambhu  theenda thirumeni on square avudayar. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durgai. Dwarapalakas are beautiful. ( Pictures are uploaded. )

There is no sannadhi in outer prakaram. In the inner prakaram sannadhi for Selva murugan,  Navagrahas, Somaskandar, Vinayagars ( 5 in number ), Saptamatrikas, Naalvar.

Urchava mootham for Chandrasekar, Sukravara Amman, Vinayagar, Shanmugar, Naalvar, Pachur Amman, Somaskandar.

HOW TO REACH :

This temple is on the Chennai to Tirupati bus route and 3 KM from Tiruvallur town.

Town buses are available from Tiruvallur since the temple is on the highway. 

Autos are available from Tiruvallur.

CONTACT DETAILS :

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

 East side entrance with dwajasthambam

 Raja gopuram ( South side ), balipeedam with simha vahanam of  Ambal temple

 Ambal Sannadhi front view

 3 tier Rajagopuram on the south side

 Beautiful art in stone see the Chuzhiyam in the forehead and Simham on the head gear of Dwarapalaka

 Full view of dwarapalaka

 Saptamatrikas

 Gajabirusta vimanam

 Tamil inscription on the sanctum wall

 Beautiful Brahma -  See the  hip belt with Simha face

 Vishnu Durgai - different from others. Chakra is in round only half is visible and other half in the behind stone. Please see the sari frills on both side of the hips.

 Ambal sannadhi Gopuram

Sri Vadaranyeswarar Temple, Thiruvalaangadu. 

( This part of this post was written as a separate post with Thevara Hymns, Sthala puranam, History, Inscriptions, etc. Please Click this link for the up dated post )

The details of the temple are recorded in one of my earlier  post.  I had taken some  photos this time which are rare to see. We tried to read some of the Tamil inscriptions, but could not do so,  damaged due to  sand blasting during renovation.

Many  bas reliefs of Vijayanagara period Pig, sword and half moon emblem- As per historian  Muslims hate pigs - so Muslims will not destroy the temple

Seppu and brass moortham of Kottaiyur Muthukaruppan Chettiar and Kamu ammal - Might have done Thiruppani  to this temple - Please see the turban of Chettiar looks beautiful and looks like real.

 a mural at the entrance of moolavar sannadhi

 A statue kept in a  ventilator behind Saba mandapam. Is it Karaikkal Ammayar?. May not be since left leg is not folded

 Temple view from outer prakaram

 Entrance of  Shiva temple 

SRI NANDEESWARAR TEMPLE. MANAVUR.

This part of the post was updated with Architecture, History and inscriptions, Legends etc after the Visit on 10th July 2022. Please click the link to view the updated post. 

Manavur is very near to Thiruvalangadu, where we had the darshan of Thiru Nandeeswarar. There was story for the construction of Rajagopuram. When they tried to construct the Rajagopuram and do the Kumbabishekam, faced lot of problems and work was moving in a snail space. After prasannam they came to know that the delay was due to neglect of Ganapathy temple in front of Rajagopuram. After kumbabishekam was performed to Rajaganapathy, they could able to construct the Rajagopuram with out any hurdle.

Moolavar    : Sri Nandeeswarar

Consort      : Sri Anandavalli.

Some of the details of this temple are ....

The temple is facing eat with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Vishnu Durgai.

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Mukkan Vinayagar, Brihadeeswarar and Nagars.

In the inner prakaram sannadhi for An ammbal, Vinayagar, Ashta Lakshmi, Chandikeswarar, Sri Valli Devasena sametha Subramaniar and Bhairavar. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi  facing south in standing posture.

There is a valampuri Vinayagar on the left side of sanctum sanctorum. The Vinayagar belongs to Pallava period ( Very much similar to Pillayarpatti Vinayagar. ).

The temple belongs to 4^th century. The Village Manavur was once a Manavur Kottam during Chozha period.

LEGEND

Lord Shiva gave Thirumana kola darshan to Agasthiyar. Lord Shiva gave moksham to Nandhi bhagavan.

There is a saying about this temple ie Aadiyathu Aalangattil, Amarnthathu Thiruvuralil and Mananthathu Manavuril. ( ஆடியது ஆலங்காட்டில், அமர்ந்தது திருவூரலில், மணந்தது மணவூரில் ) 

Kumbabishekam was performed on 25-03-2012.

HOW TO REACH : 

T2 bus is available from Thiruvallur to Thiruvalangadu via Manavur ( Daily two trip only )

Manavur railway station is very near to the village on the Chennai to Arakkonam route.

CONTACT DETAILS

The temple is open between 08.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.

For pooja and details can be obtained from Mr Srinivasan at 8012247358 and 8098795873.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :  CLICK HERE

 Entrance of Main shrine from south side

 Moolavar vimanam

 The newly built 5 tier Rajagopuram

 Temple view from back side

 Temple view from Dwajasthambam

 Old Rishaba vahana - may be 200 years old. 

SRI KARKATTEESWARAR TEMPLE,MANAVUR OLD SHIVA TEMPLE

( This part of the post was updated with Architecture, legends, History etc after the second Visit on 10th July 2022. Please click the link to view the updated post ). 

After Lunch at temple we had been to a ruined temple out side village. Trees are found grown on the temple. ( Where it will get water  during non rainy season  ? ) Vinayagar sannidhi is little away from main shrine.

Moolavar   : Sri Karkatteeswarar

Consort     : Sri Kamakshi

Some of the details are ....

Sannadhi for Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar and Ambal. Kanchi Periyavar once stayed in the temple, when he was on tour. This temple is for the Kataka rasi temple, They can perform the pariharam in this temple.

Iraivan gave moksham to nandu ( crab ).

REQUEST TO READERS.

Devotees are requested for the reconstruction of this temple. Donations may please be sent to Mr Srinivasan at 8012247358 and 8098795873 and get the blessings of Lord Shiva Karkatteeswarar.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE  

 Temple from a distance - looks the trees are not on the temple.

 Closer look -  yes the trees are grown on the  temple itself

 Moolavar and inside is intact

 see the roots of banyan tree - goes up to the base.

 Ambal Sannadhi - inside looks fine only the outer wall damaged

 Old damaged well - Abhishekam might have done using this well water

 Bas relief of Vinayagar

 The damaged outer wall of the main shrine

 Damaged outer wall of main shrine - Bas-reliefs 

  Damaged outer wall of main shrine - Bas-reliefs 

Once again we came to Manavur and went to Kandaswamy temple. The vahana of this temple is Elephant. The archakar told that the temple was constructed before surasamharam period. The peacock vahana has come after sura samharam. The moolavar is beautiful. This Kandhan is believed to give gnanam.  There is no sannadhi for Sri Valli and Devasena. Old Tamil inscriptions are found on the base of the temple. As per historians the temple was built during Pallava Period.

MANAVUR KANDASWAMY TEMPLE :

( This part of the post was written as sepaarate post with Architecture, legends, History etc. Please click the link to view the updated post ).

 

 Elephant as vahana

 Urchavars

Moolavar vimanam 

Also we worshipped Sri Veeraraghava Perumal with Sridevi and Bhoodevi on both sides. All are in sitting posture. This temple was also an old one.

Sri Veeraraghava Perumal with Sridevi and Bhoodevi 

SRI KAILASANATHAR TEMPLE, PALAYANUR

On the way to Chennai after Manavur we decided to see the Shiva temples and the memorial of vellalars who ends their life for a Merchant by jumping in to fire. First we went to a Shiva temple which was little away from the village in the midst of field.

Moolavar    : Sri Kailasanathar

Consort      : Sri Parvathavarthini

Moolavar is of swayambhu. Also there is a Shiva Lingam in the Artha mandapam. Sannadhi for Ganapathy and Subramaniyar. Earlier period tamil inscriptions are found at the base on the temple.  It was sad to see a inscription tablet is being used for the well water spout.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

SRI THAZHUVAKUZAINTHA ESWARAR, PALAYANUR.

Inside the Village there is another important ancient ( belongs to Pallava Period ) Shiva temple which has its own history. It is believed that Lord Shiva called Karaikkal ammaiyar  as mother ( Ammaye ) and hugged her. Karaikkal Ammaiyar went to the Shiva Temple of Thiruvalangadu through her hands from this temple, since  the pebble stones on the way resembles as Shiva Lingam. Also another important feature of this temple is Naalvar has sung hymns on Thiruvalangadu Shiva from this temple without going there.

Moolavar    : Sri Thazhuvakuzhaindha eswarar

Consort      : Sri Anantha Valli.

In artha mandapam Nalvar, Ganapathy and urchava moorthangal are there. In the outer prakaram  sannadhi for Vijayaraghava Perumal  Subramaniar and Chandikeswarar. In Koshtam Durgai, Brahma, Vishnu in place of Lingothbavar and Dakshinamurthy. The temple is facing west with out Rajagopuram.

 Entrance of the main shrine - with sudhai sirpam  of Thiruvalangadu Nadanam 

 Nandhi mandapam with balipeedam 

 Moolavar vimanam 

 Entrance mandapam arch 

Sri Saatchi Boodeshwarar Temple, Pazhayanur

( This part of the post was updated with Architecture, legends, History etc. Please click the link to view the updated post ). 

We had also seen the memorial constructed for the 70 vellaras who ends their life by jumping in to fire. The story behind that was the vellalars promised in front of Lord Shiva Sri Sakshi Bhutheswarar temple  to save the life of the merchant from Neeli, a ghost, but could not do so. The Neeli killed the merchant. So they ends their life. It is believed that this incident happened approximately 2500 years before.  In side the pit bas-reliefs are found around the wall. 

 Sthala varalaru

 Sakshi Bhutheswarar temple 

Bas reliefs around the inner wall

 Bas- reliefs of Vellalar entering in to the fire 

A memorial mandapam for the 70 vellalars jumped in to the fire to ends their life. 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---