Thursday 1 May 2014

Chettinad Sri Sundareswarar Temple, Kailasanathar Temple and Ayyanar Temple, Chettinad aka Kanadukathan, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

1, May 2014.
Thanks to Lord Shiva  for given me the opportunity to meet my readers once again after a gap of 3 months. I am slowly  recovering  from the accident and even though, I was advised not to take long trips, I had taken this long trip by bus. Due to official compulsion, I was forced to take this trip to Chettinad.  Also my job was to inspect  a job carried out at Chettinad Shiva Temple.  All the temples I visited are about 2 to 3 KMs apart,  hired an auto to travel to these temples.

I extend my thanks to Mr Muthu Arunachalam of Kanadukathan for providing me the details of Sri Karaimel Azhagar Ayyanar Temple through a 1995 Kumbhabhishekam Malar. 

SHIVA TEMPLE AT CHETTINAD


Moolavar    : Sri Sundareswarar
Consort      : Sri Meenakshi

Some of important features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram and there is Rajagopuram on the south side too. Moolavar is little taller. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing south. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In parakaram sannadhi for Chandikeswarar, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Saba mandapam, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Chandran and Suriyan. Temple pond is on the east side with unique construction. There is a separate temple for Sri Muthu Ganapathy on the left side of main temple facing east.

Inside  mandapam ceiling were with lot of paintings. On the south side Ambal’s  Nine avatars ( NAVRATRI FESTIVAL ). All the paintings were done with herbal paints. ( Moolikai  ).

 Sri Mahishasuramardhini
Shiva and Parvathi's marriage
HOW TO REACH :
The temple is at Kanadukathan also called as Chettinad. .5 KM away from the by pass road.
Buses are available from Karaikudi, Pudukottai, Trichy. From Kanadukathan bus-stand one can an auto to reach the temple.
CONTACT DETAILS :

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Sri Muthu Ganapathy Temple 
The temple Pond/ Thirukulam - An unique construction
Rajagopuram with newly installed lightning arrestor
Moolavar Vimanam after restoration 
 Mooligai painting of Gajalakshmi
 Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar
 Sri Abirami Amman
 Sri Rajarajeswari


SHIVA TEMPLE – PERIYA KOIL ,  AT MELUR, KANADUKATHAN.

The three tier Rajagopuram 

Moolavar    :  Sri Kailasanathar.
Consort      :  Sri Soundarya Nayaki.

Some of the important features of this temple are ……
The temple was built by Nattukottai Nagarathars.  The statues of Nagalinga Chettiar, Annamalai Chettiar, Subramanian Chettiar, Manickam Chettiar, Perichiappa Chettiar, Muthappa Chettiar  are along with the mandapa pillars, who had contributed to this temple construction.

The temple is facing east with two 3 tier Rajagopurams, one is in front of moolavar and other in front of Ambal Sannadhi. Ambal is also facing east. The temple is of stone structure with vast parakarams with lot of minute carving pillars.  Dwarapalakas looks cute. A stone chain is hanging  from the entrance ceiling.

Moolavar is suyambu and short. In koshtam moortham of Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy,  Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. In the prakaram ( between Moolavar and Ambal sannadhi ) Somaskandar and Chandikeswarar. In prakaram,  sannidhi for Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Maha Lakshmi, Hanuman ( a relief on the pillar ), Palliyarai, Bairavar ( in a separate sannadhi ), Saneeswarar, Navagrahas, Chandran and Suriyan.
HOW TO REACH :
About a KM distance from Kanadukathan.
CONTACT DETAILS :
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

The Arch sudhai sirpangal between the two Rajagopurams
The Rajagopuram in front of moolavar sannadhi
The corridor - beautifully chiseled  stone Pillars
The entrance to moolavar sannadhi 
The stone chain is hanging from the ceiling 
Beautifully chiseled pillar pothiyals and above yazhi
Beautifully chiseled Pillar  for the Dakshinamurthy mandapam

KARAIMEL  AZHAGAR AYYANAR TEMPLE

( Some of the details given  below are taken from the Year 1995 Kumbhabhishekam  Malar – In that Sri Ayyanar was mentioned as Sri Poorna Pushkala Ambal Sametha  Hariharaputra Maha Sastha Sri Karaimel Azhagar Ayyanar ). It was believed that  Sri Ayyanar is the next incarnation of Lord Sri Ayyappa of Sabarimala. We can see a similarity  of Parivara theivangal, when compared with Sabarimala.

Stucco Horse with stucco images

Moolavar    : Sri Ayyanar
Consort      : Sri Poornakala, Sri Pushkala

Some of the important features of this temple are……
The temple is facing east with a temple tank on the south side. Moolavar is in sitting posture with a lotus on one hand. 

In parakaram  sannadhi for  Nondi Karuppar, Pechiamman, Paramanur Kali, Periya Karuppar, Chinna Karuppar, 18m padi Karuppan, Pechi Muthamman, Akora Veerapathirar, Saptamatrikas, Muneeswarar, Arasu Mukam, Sannasi ( Sanyasi or a munivar ) and Bairavar.

Balipeedam with vahanam Elephant are in the mandapam. Dwarapalakas are in sudhai installed at the entrance of the temple. Stucco Horse with sirpangal are at the left side of the main temple entrance.

The priests are  non Brahmins (Velalars - Kuyavars – mud pot manufacturers). Goats and Cocks are offered to Ayyanar ( Since Ayyanar is a Non Vegetarian God ).

Entrance to the main shrine with Dwarapalakas on both side 

LEGEND
There was a hear say that Kanadukathan, Sri Sathappa Chettiar’s  family members passed through this place with their daughter, the daughter went for outside and she did not turned up after a long time. When she was called a voice ( அசரீரி ) was heard as “ I had joined with Karuppar ( நான் கருப்பனுடன் கலந்து விட்டேன் )”.  After that Sri Ayyanar has become the Kula Deivam for these people. Annual festival are regularly conducted. Chettiars used tonsured heads of their first sons or daughters in this temple. 

Ayyanar is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Sri Ayyappan ( who was born to Lord Shiva and Sri Vishnu ) married Poornakala and Pushkala and stayed in this temple to bless the Nagarathars as Kaval deivam.

It is believed that this Ayyanar is also a Kula deivam for Kanadukathan Nattukottai Nagarathars and for Madurai Melur Navinipatti, Valladappatti, Kottakudi, Attadaippatti. ( once these people lived in Surakkudi  about 300 years before and moved to Melur – This was disclosed by Sri Ayyanar himself came on priests ( அருள் வாக்கு ) at the time of performing the Kumbhabhishekam. ) Madurai Melur  people also contributed for development of this temple.

Some of the miracles happened are, the thieves  who entered in to this has lost their eye sight.

HISTORY 
Sri Ayyanar was once in the midst of  thorny bush and a thatched shed was constructed by the 5 sons of Ayangudi Vellayan Chettiar. After 200 years a stone temple was re – constructed. Kanadukathan Sri Sathappa Chettiar’s statue is in mandapam, whose predecessors  had done the construction of this temple. 

Now the temple is under the control of a Trust headed by Sri Dr. AC Muthiah, a leading industrialist of South India.
HOW TO REACH :
About a KM from Kanadukathan
CONTACT DETAILS :
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Temple Tank with Temple complex
Moolavar Vimanam 
SRI KANMAI KARAI MEL AYYANAR THUTHI ( This was composed by கவிஞர்  அரு. சுப்ரமணியன்  ) Taken from 1995 Kumbhabhishekam malar.
அழகே  உருவான எம் ஐயனாரே 
அற்புதங்கள் நிகழ்த்திவரும் ஐயனாரே 
கரைமேல் அழகரான ஐயனாரே
காக்கவேணும் எம்குலமே ஐயனாரே

சிலையாக இருந்தாலும் ஐயனாரே
சிறப்பென்ன அறியாமோ ஐயனாரே
கருப்பனுடன் சேர்ந்திங்கு ஐயனாரே
காக்கவேணும் எம்குலமே ஐயனாரே

வளமான வாழ்வெல்லாம் ஐயனாரே (நீ )
வழங்கிய தோர் செல்வமன்றோ ஐயனாரே
நிலையான வாழ்வு தந்து ஐயனாரே
என்றும் வளமோடு காக்கவேணும் ஐயனாரே

பூரணமாய் புட்கலையாய் ஐயனாரே
புகழ்சேர்க்கும் இருமாதர் ஐயனாரே
வலம் இடமாய் காட்சிதந்தே ஐயனாரே
வந்து நலம் சேர்க்கவேணும் ஐயனாரே

பாடிஉனைப் பணிந்திடுவேன்  ஐயனாரே ( நீ )
பக்கபலம் தந்திடுவாய் ஐயனாரே
தேடிஉனைச் சரணடைதோம் ஐயனாரே
திவ்யமுடன் காக்கவேணும் ஐயனாரே

சார்ந்ததொரு கண்மாயும் ஐயனாரே
சாலையுடன்  சேர்ந்த கரை ஐயனாரே
பார்புகழும் உன்பெருமை ஐயனாரே
பாடிநிதம் தொழுதிடுவோம் ஐயனாரே

கேட்டவரம் தந்தருளும் ஐயனாரே - உடன் 
கேடு வினை தீர்த்தருளும் ஐயனாரே
பாட்டினிலே மனம் குளிர்ந்து ஐயனாரே - இந்தப் 
பக்தர் நலம் காத்திடுவாய் ஐயனாரே
--- ஓம் சிவாய நம ---