Monday 7 October 2013

“Thirukoil Uzhavarapani at Arulmigu Sri Sornambigai Udanuraai Sri Thokkeeswarar Temple, Villiambakkam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

 06, October 2013
This October 2013, months’ Uzhavarapani was at Arulmigu Sri Thokeeswarar Shiva Temple at Villiambakkam, near Chengalpattu. Lord Shiva has given me another opportunity last  week on  06-10-2013 to join with “Thirukkovil Uzhavarapani Mandram “(திருகோயில் உழவாரப்பணி மன்றம்-வேளச்சேரிசென்னை -600042 ), under the head of thiru Adalarasan.  The Villiambakkam is  on Chengalpattu to Kanchipuram Train and bus route. The Thirupani was painting and removal of vegetation on the unused land inside the temple. The morning breakfast and lunch was organized through donors.  About 500 Shiva devotees participated from various places. It was like star in the sky, could not count when looked from sky. Most of the devotees  are regular participants  and  very few are new comers like me.  With the Iraivan’s blessing I was lucky enough to participate in October month’s thirupani with out any phone calls.

After reaching Chengalpattu around 06.45 Hrs through train, boarded in a private bus to Villiambakkam, which is about 7 KM. The temple was about a KM from bus stop after crossing the railway line. The temple is small but the area is little large. The total area of the temple was protected through compound wall and Temple Tank is in front on the east side.  The temple was a reconstructed temple and looks like new. Kumbhabhishekam was performed about 5 years before. The Vimanas and stucco images were painted with gold colour. These were not painted during this uzhavarapani.

I joined with a group to clean the cobwebs in the mandapams and cleaning of mandapams kodungai built with concrete. Started little earlier before the breakfast. After the breakfast we continued our job. I was very tired due to sun’s heat  and we worked till 11.30 Hrs. Could not take rest inside the temple due to rush ( devotees are everywhere ) and rested out side. Since I was too tired, after a good lunch pushed off from the temple around 14.00 Hrs. Missed the Kailaya Vathiyam with drums and old horn instruments, sung by the IOC devotees. A devote dropped me in his car at Villiambakkam Railway station to catch train to Guindy where I kept my Motor cycle.

VILLIAMBAKKAM NEAR CHENGALPATTU
 
Moolavar sannadhi with mandapam in front

Moolavar    : Sri Thokkeeswarar
Consort i    : Sri Swarnambigai

Some of the important features of this temple are ....
Only entrance arch from the south side and the temple is facing east with a temple tank is in front. There is also an arch at east side with a small gate. There is no Dwajasthambam.

Sannadi in the outer prakaram for Sri Vijayaganapathy, Sri Vetrivel Murugan with Sri Valli Devasena, Ambal sannadhi with simha vahana, Navagrahas, Sri Bhairavar, Sri Chandran and Sri Suryan. 

In Sri Vijaya Ganapathy sannadhi’s koshtam  Sri Saraswati ( In standing posture - a rare moortham, Sri Lakshmi ( Moortham  is not there ) and Sri Brahmi.

In Vetrivel Murugan’s koshtam, Sri Gugan, Sri Dhandayuthapani and Sri Subramaniar.

In Moolavar sannidhi's koshtam. Sri Dakshinamurthy, Sri Vishnu, Sri Brahma and Sri Durgai.

In Ambal sannidhi’s koshtam Sri Koumari, Sri Vaishnavi, Sri Brahmi, Sri Maheswari and Sri Varahi.

The temple premises have buildings for a store room, an office room and a class room for the Night study.

It was sad to see a epigraph with old Tamil inscriptions was lying near the gate and is being used for different purposes. Looking at it the temple must be  200 to 300 years old. It was told there is a 15th century Vijayanagara period inscription about donation of Land, which we couldn't trace. It was also told that as per the inscription Iraivan was called as Koteeswarar  

HOW TO REACH :
On the Chengalpattu to Kanchipuram route on bus as well as on train the place called Villiambakkam and the temple is about 1 KM off main road and station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Entrance arch - on the south side

Moolavar sannadhi east side entrance arch
Ambal sannadhi
Moolavar sannadhi vimanam
Navagrahas with their vahanas
Thirukkulam / pond
Entrance arch on the east side
Rishabam with balipeedam
Sri Saraswathi in Vinayagar sannadhi's koshtam in standing posture - A rare moortham
Old Tamil inscription / Kalvettu lying near the gate - proper care is not taken
Moolavar vimanam view from terrace - looks cute
Ambal vimanam view from terrace
Sri Vetrivel murugan sannidhi - view from Ambal sannidhi 

PHOTOS TAKEN DURING UZHAVARAPANI
Preparing for the Uzhavarapani and breakfast
Uzhavarapani in progress - Clearing of vegetation 
Uzhavarapani in progress - Cleaning of moolavar sannadhi mandapam - kodungai 
                                                            Uzhavarapani in progress
                                        Uzhavarapani in progress- Painting of Ambal sannidhi 
                                                           Uzhavarapani in progress
Uzhavarapani in progress - Cleaning of compound wall  with high pressure water jet 
Uzhavarapani in progress - Cleaning with  high pressure water jet
Uzhavarapani in progress - Cleaning of Ambal sannadhi 
Uzhavarapani in progress - Cleaning of Moolavar vimanam with high pressure water jet 
Preparation of lunch in progress

PHOTOS TAKEN AFTER UZHAVARAPANI 
Chandran sannadhi - with half pirai ( half moon ) behind his head
Navagrahas sannadhi and Bairavar sannidhi in front 
Ambal sannidhi after painting 
Sri Murugan  sannidhi after painting 
Entrance arch - south side 
Compound wall  with temple, view from outside

Next month’s Uzhavarapani will be at Arulmigu Thirupurasundari  udan urai Arulmigu Ilavapureeswarar temple at Vilangadupakkam, Near Redhills on 03-11-2013. All are requested to join in this uzhavarapani
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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