Monday, 7 October 2013

Sri Thokkeeswarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ தொக்கீஸ்வரர் கோவில், Villiambakkam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu (Thirukoil Uzhavarapani)

 
The visit to this Sri Thokkeeswarar Temple at Villiambakkam in Chengalpattu Disitrict was a part of Thirukovil Uzhavarapani, Organised by the “Thirukkovil Uzhavarapani Mandram (திருகோயில் உழவாரப்பணி மன்றம்-வேளச்சேரி, சென்னை -600042), on 06th October 2013. Ancient Shiva Temples and Sivamayam Group also organised their 603rd week abhishekam on 24th May 2026.
 
Moolavar sannadhi east side entrance arch
Moolavar sannadhi with mandapam in front

Moolavar    : Sri Thokkeeswarar
Consort      : Sri Swarnambigai

Some of the important features of this temple are...
The temple faces east with an entrance arch on the south side. The temple tank is in front of the temple. There is also an arch on the east side with a small gate. Moolavar is on a round avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Vinayagar, Sri Dakshinamurthy, Sri Vishnu, Sri Brahma, and Sri Durgai.

In the outer praharam, Sri Vijayaganapathy, Sri Vetrivel Murugan with Sri Valli Devasena (In Vetrivel Murugan’s koshtam, Sri Gugan, Sri Dhandayuthapani, and Sri Subramaniar), Ambal sannadhi with simha vahana, Navagrahas, Sri Bhairavar, Sri Chandran,  Sri Suryan, Storeroom, an office room, and a classroom for night studyIn Sri Vijayaganapathy Sannadhi’s koshtam, Sri Saraswati (In standing posture - a rare moortham, Sri Lakshmi (image is not there), and Sri Brahmi.

Ambal is in a separate temple. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. In the koshtam, Sri Koumari, Sri Vaishnavi, Sri Brahmi, Sri Maheswari, and Sri Varahi.
 
Navagrahas with their vahanas
Sri Saraswati in Vinayagar sannathi's koshtam in standing posture - A rare Murti
Rishabam with balipeedam
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam and adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, mandi, palakai, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. One tala nagara vimanam is over the bhumi desam. Shiva, Dakshinamoorthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams. The sigaram is of the Nagara style.
 
Ambal sannathi
Moolavar sannathi vimanam
Moolavar vimanam view from the terrace
Ambal vimanam view from the terrace
Sri Vetrivel Murugan sannidhi - view from Ambal sannidhi 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It was sad that the inscription stone slabs are lying near the gate and being used for different purposes. Looking at it, the present structure of the temple must be 500 to 600 years old. 

The 15th-century Vijayanagara period inscription records the donation of Land, which we couldn't trace. It was also said that, as per the inscription, Shiva was called Koteeswarar  

An old Tamil inscription / Kalvettu lying near the gate - proper care is not taken

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from oru kala regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri days, Fridays, etc. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

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

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

06, October 2013
In October 2013, 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-வேளச்சேரி, சென்னை -600042), under the head of Thiru Adalarasan.  Villiambakkam is on the Chengalpattu to Kanchipuram Train and bus route. The Thirupani was painting and removing vegetation on the unused land inside the temple. Breakfast and lunch were organized through donors.  About 500 Shiva devotees from various places. It was like a star in the sky; I could not count how many times I looked at it from the sky. Most of the devotees are regular participants, and very few are newcomers like me.  With the Iraivan’s blessing, I was lucky enough to participate in the October month’s thirupani without any phone calls.

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

I joined a group to clean the cobwebs in the mandapams and clean the mandapams' kodungai built with concrete. Started a little earlier, before breakfast. After breakfast, we continued our work. I was very tired due to the sun’s heat, and we worked till 11.30 hrs. Could not rest inside the temple due to the rush (devotees are everywhere) and rested outside. 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 devotee dropped me in his car at Villiambakkam Railway Station to catch the train to Guindy, where I kept my Motorcycle.

Entrance arch - on the south side
Thirukkulam / pond
The entrance arch on the east side


PHOTOS TAKEN DURING UZHAVARAPANI
Preparing for the uzhavarapani, 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 the compound wall  with a high-pressure water jet 
Uzhavarapani in progress - Cleaning with a high-pressure water jet
Uzhavarapani in progress - Cleaning of Ambal sannadhi 
Uzhavarapani in progress - Cleaning of Moolavar vimanam with a high-pressure water jet 
Lunch preparation is 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 udanurai 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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