23, September 2013
This weekend on 23-09-2013, I went to Sitharkadu Shiva temple. After knowing the temple is a Swathi star temple ( my son’s birth star is Swathi), thought
of visiting the temple. As usual started early in the morning reached Pattabiram
by train reached the temple by shared auto and walked to a
distance of about a KM from the national highway bridge. Since Sitharkadu is a
small village, purchased pooja materials from Pattabiram. When I reached
the temple, the temple was not opened, The temple is under
renovation and Swamy is kept in a separate mandapam. Swamy Looks
cute and small. Sivachariyar came around 8.45 Hrs ( His house is opposite the temple ). In the meantime spend time looking at the reliefs carved
on the pillars at the entrance and in the mandapam. Reliefs are also chiseled
on the beams of the mandapam, a unique of this temple.
Since the day happened to be Sunday, the main shrine was kept
closed due to the holiday for the workers, who are doing the renovation jobs.
SRI DHATHREESWARAR
TEMPLE, SITHARKADU
5-tier Rajagopuram after renovation
Moolavar : Sri
Dhathreeswarar
Consort : Sri Prasuna Kundhalambigai
Some of the important
features of this temple are ….
The temple faces east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. At the entrance to the main temple
Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishaba Mandapam. The entrance arch for the sanctum sanctorum with stucco images is under construction, Somaskandar is at the center. In the outer
prakaram Nagars and a small Amman sannadhi.
ARCHITECTURE
There is a stone-pillared mandapam on the right side of the entrance where we could find a lot of
relief and some Siddhars too on the pillars. The mandapam beams
are also chiseled with relief looks beautiful. The temple is under
renovation.
HISTORY
Sitharkadu Shiva Temple is believed to have been constructed by
Pandya king Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan-I (King of the Pandya Dynasty)
dating back to the 9th Century on the banks of the sacred river Cooum.
The main temple entrance was constructed with bricks that belonged to the Chozha
Period.
TEMPLE TIMINGS :
The temple is kept
open between 08.00 Hrs 10.30 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS:
Sivachariyars
Viswanathan 9444562335 Kumaran 9444793942 and T P Ramesh 9445603942 can be
contacted for further details.
Email address: tsbjst@gmail.com / tnkumaran8@gmail.com
HOW
TO REACH :
Pattabiram is on the
Chennai to Thiruvallur main road and also on the railway route.
From Pattabiram at
the end of the bridge on the south side Share autos are available up to the National Highway Bridge.
Sithukadu is about
1.5 KM from the bridge.
Poonamallee to
Pattabiram bus route nos 54C passes through Pattabiram.
From CMBT Bus
terminus route no 153 passes through Pattabiram.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
5 tier Rajagopuram after renovation
Ambal sannadhi vimanam
Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishaba mandapam
Nagars
View of the temple from the south side
Relief on the dwajasthambam
Relief on the dwajasthambam
Relief on the dwajasthambam
Relief on the ceiling of the mandapam
Siddhar
Ambal
Relief on the beams too
Reliefs on the pillar - Kinnarar
Siddhars on the Pillars
Symbolic representation of solar and lunar eclipse
Relief on the ceiling at the entrance of Rajagopuram
Siddhar
Relief of Nagabandham on the entrance pillar
After darshan at
Sitharkadu returned back to Pattabiram around 10.00 Hrs. Thought of trying my
luck for the darshan of Lord Shiva at the temple THIRUKKALLIL,
which is about 20 KM from Pattabiram. During Pada Yathra to Thirupathi, I
used to think of making a visit to this Shiva Temple, when we passed
Kannigaipair. Since there is no direct bus from Pattabiram, reach Kannigaipair Via Periyapalayam. Through a shared auto
reached the temple around 12.00 Hrs, from Kannigaipair. To my luck, the temple
was kept open. Learned that the Sivachariyar is staying in that temple and
sleeping in a house in the village. He must be 90+ years old but very much active.
The Locals told me that he is 100+.
Had the darshan of
Lord Shiva and the Sivachariyar used the coconut from his stock and gave me the
prasada. After darshan he asked me to wait in the mandapam, I do
not know why?. After a few minutes, the temple housekeeper gave me coffee
prepared by the Sivachariyar. Since morning I had not taken any food,
hence the coffee was like Lord Shiva’s gift to me. The secret of getting
the rain is due to Sivachariyars, like him, who do this type of service
to Lord Shiva and his devotees.
18 – SRI
SHIVA NANDEESWARAR TEMPLE, THIRUKKALLIL
Now this place is
called Thirukandalam. This is the 18th Devaram Paadal Petra
Shiva Sthalam in Thondai Nadu. Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of
Lord Shiva of this temple.
Temple view from Southside - please note that the bell tower is being supported by bhuta ganas
Moolavar : Sri Shiva Nandeeswarar
Consort : Sri Ananthavalli
Some of the salient
features of this temple are …
The Rajagopuram is of
5-tiers and the temple faces east with a Temple Tank in front. Dwajasthambam,
Balipeedam Moolavar vimanam is of Gajabirushtam type and Rishabam mandapam are at
the front in outer prakaram. In koshatam Natana Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy,
Lingothbavar, Brahma, Vishnu Durgai.
In the outer praharam
sannadhi for Nalvar with Sekkizhar and Suryan, Sri Anjaneyar, Nagars under
Nelli ( amla ) tree, Sundara Vinayagar, Kaalathi Nathar, Balasubramanian without usual Valli Devasena, Chandikeswarar, Sri Sakthi Dakshinamurthy, Kaala
Bhairavar and Navagrahas. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing east.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION
Most of the sannadhi
and mandapam are built in recent years. There are many
inscriptions found at the base of the sanctum and one belongs to Vikarama
Chozha.
HOW
TO REACH :
The Place
Kannigaipair is on the way from Chennai to Periyapalayam. And from there, Thirukandalam is about 3 KM.
Share auto is
available from Kannigaipair.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
Sri Sakthi Dakshinamurthy
Gajabirushta type vimanam
Entrance view
Rishabam mandapam
5 tier Rajagopuram
Stucco dwarapalakas on the Rajagopuram Right and Left side.
Nalvar
Nalvar with Sekkizhar and Suriyan
Sri Sakthi Dakshinamurthy
After the darshan of
Lord Shiva at Thirukkallil ( Thirukandalam ), started back to Kannigaipair. It
was too hot and I do not know when the share auto will come. So
walked slowly. After reaching half of the distance a passerby gave me a lift on
his TVS 50 up to auto stand at Kannigaipair. Reached home via Guindy via Redhills and Koyambedu.
Had been to this
temple again on 25th February 2017, in connection with the Pulicat
Heritage visit. For the details Click
here
---OM SIVAYA NAMA---
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