Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Pathangeeswarar Temple, Palur - “Thirukoil Uzhavarapani" at Arulmigu Sri Bramarambika, Vandarkuzhali Mangai Udanurai Sri Pathangeeswarar Temple, Palur, near Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu.

During my temple visits  I used to  upset over the vegetation growth in side the temple premises and on the gopurams / vimanas.  Lord Shiva has given me an opportunity last  week on  01-09-2013 to remove the vegetation grown on the moolavar vimanam of Palur Shiva Temple. I joined with “Thirukkovil Uzhavarapani  Mandram “ ( திருகோயில் உழவாரப்பணி மன்றம் - வேளச்சேரி , சென்னை -600042 ), under the head of thiru Adalarasan. The mandram used to do this thirupani on 1st Sunday of every month. This month’s Uzhavarapani was at Palur Shiva temple, which is on Chengalpattu to Kanchipuram Train and bus route. The Thirupani was a complete painting. The morning breakfast and lunch was organized through donors.  About 500 Shiva devotees participated from various places. There are many regular participants also.  With the Lord Shiva's blessing I was lucky enough to join in September month’s thirupani.

It was 08.00 when I reached to the temple  and preparation of breakfast was in progress. Few devotees arrived on Saturday itself. The rest of the devotees arrived one by one. It was interesting to see that small children also participated in the thirupani. The temple is big one and  very old.  The moolavar vimanam up to nandhi level was  made of stone and the top with sudhai.  I and two devotees selected in cleaning of moolavar vimanam. First we have removed the vegetation growth and then we cleaned the pigeons shit to enable for  painting.  When the sun raised it was very hot and by noon we have completed the cleaning of moolavar vimanam. I wonder how the vegetation grow in between the stone joints. It gets the fertilizer from the pigeon’s shit and  water from rain. Okay, what will happen during summer and non rainy season. But it is a nature’s wonder vegetation survives with out water for a long period, may be at-least 6 months, from where it gets water ( Lord Shiva also feeds them too)?.

I was very tired due to sun heat  and we worked till 12.00 hours. In the evening I was given the task of distributing the notice for the next month’s Uzhavarapani at Vilapakkam next to Palur and painting of dwarapalakas. In the evening we had the delight of hearing the IOC sivanadiyar Thirukkayilaya music. It was an wonderful sight to see two girls playing the drums.  The same music troop will also play in the next Uzhavarapani also. Anybody who reads this post can join in next Uzhavaram thirupani on 06-09-2013.  I had taken many photographs  from morning to evening and up loaded in this post.

ARULMIGU SRI BRAMARAMBIKA, VANDARKUZHALI MANGAI UDANURAI SRI PATHANGEEWARAR  TEMPLE, PALUR, NEAR CHENGALPATTU.

Front entrance arch

Moolavar    : Sri Pathangeeswarar
Consort      : Sri Bramarambika, Sri Vandarkuzhali Mangai

Some of the important details of this temple are…….
This is one of the very old Pallavar, Chozha and Kadavar period Shiva temple on the north side of River Paalar. Palur was once called as  "Thirupathangadu". There are  many Tamil inscriptions found around the moolavar karuvarai and front artha mandapam walls.

Suryan ( sun )  worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple  to get cleansed   from the graha dosha as per the advice of Lord Vishnu. ( few names of Suryan are Pathangan, Parithi, Baskaran, Aathithan ). Since on the name of Suryan is Pathangan, Iraivan is called as Pathangesar and the place was called as Thirupathangadu.

The temple is facing east. When we enter in to the temple arch, there is a vast open space on both sides. Nandhi and balipeedam are in front of a small 2nd level Rajagopuram. There is no Dwajasthambam.

Sri vinayagar,  Ambal, Kala bhairava, Navagrahas, Suryan , Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar   sannidhis are in the outer prakaram.  Since Suryan worshiped Lord Shiva there was no Navagraha sannidhi during old period and the present Navagraha sannidhi was built during recent years.

In koshtam Sri Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Vishnu Durgai.

When we enter through east side mandapam  we have to enter through south side entrance to the moolavar artha mandapam.

In the inner prakaram sannadhi for Sri Murugan with valli and deivanai, Naalvar. The murugan has six faces sitting on his vahana  peacock with Ohm arch behind.  All this are chiseled  from a single sand stone.   Murugan sannidhi is on the left side facing North ( A rare position).  Latter addition of walls, his vahana and balipeedam are forced to out to the outer prakaram. The additional wall constructed  also obstructs the direct Circumference path to moolavar  Sanctum. 

We found that in the naalvar,  Sundarar moortham  is not matching the regular moortham available in many temples. ( Headgear – kireedam  - is missing. ). Gurukkal told us the nalvar previously out side and brought during recent years, which are very old.

There is no regular Dwarapalakas and the recent period sudhai dwarapalakas in standing posture.

Moolavar looks cute with nagabrana alangaram/ decoration. 

Amman Sri Vandarkuzhali  is in a separate temple facing east in standing posture. Her vahanam simham is in front.  Amman with four hands. Rudraksha mala, Kamandalam in the upper hands and  abhaya and vara hastham in the lower hands.

Theertha well is dry now and was not utilized for long period.

It was very sad to hear that the temple has many lands and are swallowed by the  rogues who are not inclined to offer any thing to this temple.

CONTACT DETAILS
Gurukkal Sri P S Ekambaram, Sannadhi street, Palur can be reached through his land line 044 27437011. 

HOW TO REACH
PALUR is on the Chengalpattu to Kanchipuram bus ( Get down at Railway station stop ) and train route.  The Beach to Thirumalpur passes through Palur and the ticket is Rs 15.00 from beach. And Rs 5 from Chengalpattu both fares are in train.
Lot of buses both private and Govt buses available from Chengalpattu  to Kanchipuram, Arakkonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

THE FOLLOWING PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TAKEN BEFORE UZHAVARAPANI

Balipeedam, Rishabam mandapam  with 2nd level Rajagopuram
a beautifully chiseled Rishabam under the simha muga pillar mandapam

Moolavar vimanam - see the vegetation growth - The vimanam was built with stone up to nandhi then with sudhai. 
View of the temple complex 
Entrance to the main shrine - through the front mandapam 

THE FOLLOWING PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TAKEN DURING UZHAVARAPANI
Suryan & Ganapathy  sannadhi  and 2nd level rajagopuram painting in progress
Painting of compound wall Vinayagar sannadhi
Rishabam mandapam cleaning is in progress
2nd level rajagopuram
2nd level Rajagopuram
Moolavar vimanam 
THE FOLLOWING PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TAKEN AFTER UZHVARAPANI.
Balipeedam with simha vahana mandapam of Ambal sannadhi
Moolavar vimanam view from west side
Ambal temple vimanam
View of moolavar vimanam from south side
Kaala Bairavar Temple with wall paintings
Back side of rajagopuram
Rishabam mandapam with simha face pillars
Shiva painting in the Ambal temple mandapam wall - drawn by the real artist.
SIVA - SIVA Written on the compound walls by the real artist

KOSHTA MURTIS & NAALVAR 

Lingothbavar
Brahma
Vishnu Durgai - see the frills of the sari
Kala Bairavar
Nalvar - நால்வர் 

As per Gurukkal  this is the moortham of Sundarar installed in the old period. Originally Naalvar was in the outer prakaram and latter brought inside- During this period the moortham might have changed. Please see that the head gear is missing to Sundarar - Kireedam (கிரீடம்)


An abandoned Hero Stone of a warrior in the ground on southeast corner of the temple outside compound wall – This is a Hero Stone / Nadukal who ends his life by cutting his head through his own sword. The practice is called Navakandam

TAMIL INSCRIPTIONS

These Tamil inscriptions belongs to Pallava, Chozha and kadavar period and some of them has the details of land donated to this temple  

IOC SIVANADIYAR's THIRUKKAYILAYA VATHYAM - MUSIC
See the two girls are playing the  drums on the right side 

It was learnt that the Nandhi mandapam pillars are made of sand stone. and outer plaster was applied.
--- OM SIVAYA NAMA---

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