5th March
2015.
On 27th February and 1st March
2015, I went to Vijayamangalam, Seenapuram, and Thingalaur, once dominated
by Jains. Visited to these places utilizing the opportunity of a tour of my
native place.
VIJAYAMANGALAM
Vijayamangalam
was once the capital of Kongu Nadu and it was also the capital of Kuruppa
Nadu, one of the 24 sub-divisions ( as Nadu ) of Kongu mandalam. Kuruppa Nadu once flourished with Jains and their Culture. The purpose of my visit
was to peep into the old culture. Once the Jains-dominated places in Kuruppa
Nadu were Vijayamangalam, Thingalur, Seenapuram, Chengapalli, and Nirambaiyur. Of
these Chengapalli does not have a trace of Jainism and Nirambaiyur
has vanished from the map. The Tamil grammar ‘Nannul’ was written by
Bhavanandhi from Seenapuram, ‘Silapathikaram Urai’ author Adiyarku
Nallar was from Nirambaiyur, ‘Perungadhai’ was written by Kongu Velir, and "Kongu Sathagam" was written by ‘Karmeka Pulavar’. All are from Kongu mandalam,
Kuruppa Nadu. Also, Silamurtis of 5 sanga Pulavars with Palm leaves suvadi in their hands
are available at the Vijayamangalam Jain temple. Hence present Tamil scholars
strongly believe that there might be a Tamil Sangam at Vijayamangalam.
The ‘Kurupa Nadu’ has an influence on today’s culture also. This is used
during Betrothal ceremonies and also in worshiping of Kuladeivam. ( One such
recent inscription photo is uploaded in this post. )
In the olden days, it was a business center. The foreign coins were unearthed during the ASI excavation. Latter the main profession in Vijayamangalam was weaving. About 50 years before the handloom weaving was in full swing in Velliraveli, Devanampalayam, Veerasankali, Vijayamangalam, Kaikolapalayam, etc. The weaving was mainly done by the Mudaliars, a caste in Tamil Nadu. The Mudaliars are also called ‘Kaikolar’ and the place Kaikolapalayam was named after them. My father as a carpenter was associated with the weavers for the rectification of hand looms. I still remember during my school days I used to make accessories like ‘Thari kattai’ and sell the same @ 1 ana per pair. After the Industrial Revolution, the handlooms became obsolete. From My native Pappavalasu, reached Vijayamangalam through the above places, where I heard the power looms sound.
In the olden days, it was a business center. The foreign coins were unearthed during the ASI excavation. Latter the main profession in Vijayamangalam was weaving. About 50 years before the handloom weaving was in full swing in Velliraveli, Devanampalayam, Veerasankali, Vijayamangalam, Kaikolapalayam, etc. The weaving was mainly done by the Mudaliars, a caste in Tamil Nadu. The Mudaliars are also called ‘Kaikolar’ and the place Kaikolapalayam was named after them. My father as a carpenter was associated with the weavers for the rectification of hand looms. I still remember during my school days I used to make accessories like ‘Thari kattai’ and sell the same @ 1 ana per pair. After the Industrial Revolution, the handlooms became obsolete. From My native Pappavalasu, reached Vijayamangalam through the above places, where I heard the power looms sound.
SRI CHANDRAPRABHU TIRTHANKAR JINALAYA
3-tier Rajagopuram with Garuda Toon ( Damaged ) - People used to call this Nettai gopuram
Some of the important features of this temple are...
The temple faces south with a 3-tier Rajagopuram on the south side. ( Local people used to call this nettai gopuram and the temple Amneeswrar temple ). Deepasthambam or the Garuda thoon ( Top portion damaged ) believed to be Manasthambam is at the entrance of the temple. In the sanctum Sri Chandra paraba Tirthankara ( the moortham was stolen and presently there is no moortham ). In the front maha mandapam Adhinathar’s birth story is carved in the form of relief or bas-relief.
In the inner mandapam
sannidhi for Kushmandini ( Dharma Devi). Moothangal of 5 sanga Pulavargal with
palm leaves in their left hand. In the artha mandapam sannidhi for Mahavir and
Adinath Tirthankaras.
There is a pillar (
relocated ) installed with inscriptions on one side and Mahavira and Puliammai’s
reliefs on the other side. The inscription says ‘Sri Samundarayan ‘s thangai
Puliammai Nisethigai Kal’. Jain munis/ monks attained mukti after (
sallekhana/ anasana) observing fast.
There is a mandapam
without a roof on the east side. There is an uninstalled Nagar image on the
east side wall.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple was built
during the 10th century.
The temple is under the control of ASI and poojas are conducted from the Tamil Nadu Govt’s one kala pooja scheme.
East side door epigraph
East side door- epigraph
Puliammai's Nesithigaikal- epigraph
HOW TO REACH :
Vijayamangalam is on
the way to Erode, Perundurai to Coimbatore.
Town bus facility is
available from Perundurai.
CONTACT
DETAILS :
Akshay Kumar and V S
Nagakumar +91 873175546
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
Temple view from Mandapam
Sri Candra Prabhu Sannadhi Vimanam
A single stone window Jolly (Jala) works
Mandapam base relief
Relief
Dilapidated mandapam
Mahaveera?
An Uninstalled Nagar Relief
East side entrance - in front of Dharma Devi Sannadhi
Adhi Nathar in Artha mandapam
Kodungai reliefs - Adhinathars History
Kodungai reliefs - Adhinathars History
Kodungai reliefs - Adhinathars History
Kodungai reliefs - Adhinathars History
Kodungai reliefs - Adhinathars History
Rajagopuram ceiling relief
Balipeedam with mandapam
Reliefs of Kodipenkal- Rajagopuram side columns
SRI NAGESWARA SWAMY SHIVA TEMPLE
Ambal Temple Vimanam with Moolavar vimanam
Moolavar: Sri Nageswara Swamy
Consort: Sri Govarthanambigai
Some of the important features of this temple are...
Nagars under a Bodhi ( Arasamaram ) tree in front of the temple. The Rajagopuram is under construction and in front there is a Vilakkuthoon or Garuda thoon. The temple faces west since the temple was built by a Kerala
Chera king. (To face their direction).
In maha mandapam Sannidhi for Sri Valli Deivanai sametha Sri
Subramaniar, Bairavar, a Big size Nagar and 5 Shiva Lingams of Pancha Bootha sthalangal and Chandikeswarar.
In koshtam Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Durgai, Lingothbavar, Brahma. Dwarapalakas are beautiful. Man and Mazhu on the left side dwarapalaka and soolam and damaru are on the right side dwarapalaka. Urchava murtis and Saba are in the front mandapam.
The temple is under renovation and Saptamatrikas are removed and kept separately. Ambal is in a separate temple and facing west.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
This was built during the 12th
century. A lot of epigraphs around the sanctum wall. The temple was built during the 11th
century.
Epigraph
Epigraph
Town bus facility is available from Perundurai.
Moolavar Vimanam
Ambal Temple Vimanam with moolavar vimanam
Southeast corner mandapam
Saptamatrikas
Chandikeswarar
Nagars
Vinayagar with Dwarapalaka
Garuda Thoon
Rajagopuram under construction
Vinayagar and nagars under Arasamaram
Old Compound wall
SRI KARIVARADHARAJA PERUMAL TEMPLE
Front mandapam
Moolavar: Sri Karivaradharaja Perumal
Some
of the important features of this temple are...
This
temple is called as Chithramezhi Vinnagaram Arulmigu Sridevi Boodevi Samedha
Sri karivaradharajaperumal. The temple faces east with Garuda Thoon in front. There is no Rajagopuram and only a small mandapam with an arch. The
temple is at a lower place than the outside.
Garuda
is in a small mandapam. In the front mandapam only Ganapathy.
In
the maha mandapam Veera Anjaneyar, Thirumangai Alwar, Sri Vishwaksena, Sri
Nammalvar and Sri Ramanujar.
In
the artha mandapam dwarapalakas are only big size Nagars. This shows that the
Kongu region Nagars are worshiped generally. In the sanctum Sridevi and
Bhoodevi Samedha Sri Karivaradharaja Perumal.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The
temple was constructed during the 12th century.
Epigraphs are available at the base of the sanctum outside the wall.
Epigraphs
Epigraphs
HOW TO REACH
Vijayamangalam
is on the way to Erode, Perundurai to Coimbatore.
Town bus facility is available from Perundurai.
CONTACT DETAILS
Sri
N T Narayanan, Mobile number 9844841901
LOCATION OF
THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
Main shrine
Moolavar vimanam
Balipeedam with Periya Thiruvadi- Garudalvar
Vilakku Thoon / Garuda Thoon
SRI VIJAYAPURI AMMAN TEMPLE
Recently constructed Rajagopuram
Main Diety : Sri Vijayapuri Amman.
Some of the important features of this temple are...
This temple was built after the Vishnu temple. The Rajagopuram and Vimanam were built recently keeping the
original sanctum wall and Kumbhabhishekam was also conducted. The Garuda Tthoon and Oonjal are in front of Rajagopuram. The Rajagopuram is
of 5 tiers. The temple faces north.
In
the prakaram sannadhi for Kannimoola Ganapathi and karupparayan. In
outer mandapam there is no silamoorthangal. In the artha mandapam Adhi Amman and
Saptamatrikas are in a single stone. The bas-relief sculptures or the
reliefs of various forms are on the sanctum outside the wall.
The sanctum walls have reliefs related to the epic Mahabharata. When Pancha Pandavas were forced into exile for one year, they lived in Dharapuram near this place. Arjuna gave his bow to this Vijayapuri Amman’s custody. The same was mentioned in Kongu Mandala Sathangam. The reliefs shows that Arjuna came to this temple through the Chariot and gave his bow to this Vijayapuri Amman.
கொங்கு மண்டல சதங்கம்,
" துளைமணி ரத்ன மகுடா சலத்தைவர் சூதில்நொந்தே
கிளையினை நீங்கி வனவாசம் செய்கையில் கீர்த்திபெற்ற
விளைவயல் சூழ்மங்கைப் பத்தினிக் கோட்டத்தில் வில்விசயன்
வளைவில் அடைக்கலம் வைத்தது வும்கொங்கு மண்டலமே "
" துளைமணி ரத்ன மகுடா சலத்தைவர் சூதில்நொந்தே
கிளையினை நீங்கி வனவாசம் செய்கையில் கீர்த்திபெற்ற
விளைவயல் சூழ்மங்கைப் பத்தினிக் கோட்டத்தில் வில்விசயன்
வளைவில் அடைக்கலம் வைத்தது வும்கொங்கு மண்டலமே "
In
addition to this on the back side of the temple Navakanda statues and Simha - Lion
Pillars – were removed during renovations and kept here separately. These
Navakanda statues are part of Kongu Nadu Karkal erected in memory of those who
cut their heads and died. This is to win in the battle or for a King or for
their family's well-being.
HOW TO REACH :
Vijayamangalam is on the way to Erode, Perundurai to Coimbatore.
Town bus facility is available from Perundurai.
CONTACT
DETAILS :
Garuda Thoon
Nagars & Vinayagar under banyan tree
Vimanam
Reliefs on outside Sanctum Sanctorum wall
Reliefs on outside Sanctum Sanctorum wall- related to the Mahabharat Epic
Reliefs on outside Sanctum Sanctorum wall- related to the Mahabharat Epic
Reliefs on outside Sanctum Sanctorum wall - Related to sthala purana of Avinashi Temple
Reliefs on outside Sanctum Sanctorum wall
Reliefs on outside Sanctum Sanctorum wall
Reliefs on outside Sanctum Sanctorum wall
Reliefs on outside Sanctum Sanctorum wall
Reliefs on outside Sanctum Sanctorum wall
HERO STONES
To be continued...
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA :---
Amazing insight. Grateful. May God bless you with all energy and support to explore many such temples and share your experiences to the Believers and History lovers. Seenapuram mentioned in your article could probably have been "Jeenapuram" meaning city of Jains, which later would have become Seenapuram. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteJeenapuram, makes sense. Thx ARK.
ReplyDeleteMr.Velu, thanks for sharing details of your temple visits & so much of information that's not very well known. These temples need to be preserved & renovated by ASI & donators for the sake of our ancient roots.