Sri Vilvanatheswarar Temple, Thiruvalam, Sri Somanatheswarar Temple, Melpadi, Arinjaya Chozhan Pallipadai , Rock Cut Vishnu Temple Mahendravadi and Obliques of Pullalur, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu

 9^th August 2015

While I was searching the Aalayam Kanden website, I understood that Srimathi Padmapriya Baskaran is organizing a one-day trip to Thakkolam (click here), Melpadi, Pullalur, and Thiruvalam on 9^th August 2015 for Ponniyin Selvan Group (Click here  Click Here). Even though I had been earlier to Thakkolam and Thiruvalam temples as a part of pilgrimage yathara to cover 276 Devara Padal Petra shiva Sthalangal (for details, CLICK HERE) thought of doing it once again with a group of heritage enthusiastic people. The process of getting accommodated in this one-day trip was like getting a confirmed ticket under Tatkal (waiting for the confirmed ticket after making payment). Finally, I got through and was eagerly waiting for Sunday.

Landed TTD devasthanam half an hour earlier and had Sri Balaji’s darshan. The tentative schedule given was altered during travel. We could not have our breakfast under the peepal tree (Image given earlier in FB), instead we had it at an abandoned tea shop due to a fault in one of our vans. Again, instead of Melpadi, we reached Thiruvalam temple Via Walajapet – Muthupettai – Ranipettai.

Kolattam by ladies

SRI VILVANATHESWARAR TEMPLE, THIRUVALAM 

Mrs Priya explained the history and reliefs in detail and went round the temple. Had the darshan of Sri Dhanurmathyambal sametha Sri Vilvanatheswarar. (For My Previous Visit details: CLICK HERE).  Once again, this part of the temple was published as a separate post. For details, please click this link.   

The new things learned in this trip are....

The temple has the inscriptions of the Pallava and Chola periods.

The place was called by different names as per the inscriptions. Nandhivarman (793 CE) – Vaanapuram, Rajaraja Cholan (991CE) – Theekkali Vallam, and in Arunagirinathar’s  Thiruppugazh – Thiruvalam,

Lord Shiva is called by different names. Nandhivarma Pallavan-III (CE863) – Theekali Vallamudaya Parameswarar, Mahavali Vaana bana Raja (Vikramathiya I) (CE888) – Theekkali Perumanadikal,  Rajaraja Cholan (991 CE) – Thirutheekkali Alwar, Rajendra Cholan (1015 CE)-Thiruvallamudayar, Vikrama Cholan (1123 CE) –Thiruvallamudaya Mahadevar, Kulothunga Chozhan III (1212 CE) - Thiruvallamudaya Nayanar.

Sri Vinayagar is sitting on his vahana –moonchuru holding a mango in the right hand. The reliefs associated with the history of this temple are highlighted in the front mandapam during the recent renovation. The Adhi Shiva temple is at a lower level with a lot of inscriptions.

As per Mr Venkatesh understood that Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan - Vanthiya Thevan's birthplace is Thiruvalam.

The cow is milking on the Shiva Lingam 

The priest bringing water from the hill for Shiva's abishekam (The history of the temple)

When the demon Kanjan obstruct the way, Rishabam killed the demon and tore it into 64 pieces, which formed as Shiva Lingams on the hill. (History of the temple)

Rishabam turned back to Shiva and watched not be repeated by anybody else (History of the temple) 

 The relief  on the pillar, Bull and elephant- Rishaba Kunjaram 

  Emblem of the Vijayanagar dynasty

Kannappar worshiping Lord Shiva – removing his eyes and keeping his legs on Shiva’s eyes as a location – see the bow’s thread.

A relief on the Adhi Vilvanathar Temple wall

 Adhi Vilvanathar Temple 

 Thiruvilayadal Puranam – Pittukku man sumanthathu 

  Hiranyakasibhu Kasibu and Narasimhar

 Reliefs on Ambal sannadhi wall 

 Reliefs on Ambal sannadhi wall 

 Reliefs on Ambal sannadhi wall

SRI SOMANATHESWARAR TEMPLE, MELPADI 

From Thiruvalam, we reached Melpadi. We are lucky, and the temple was kept open. This temple and Arinjaya Cholan’s Pallipadai are under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Some of the important details are as follows. This part of this post has been written as a separate post. For the details, please click this Link. 

Moolavar    : Sri Somanatheeswarar

Consort      : Sri Thabaskirutha Devi. 

For making this idol, it was believed that Kundavai was the model.

Some of the Important features of this temple are 

The temple faces east with the entrance on the south side. There is no Rajagopuram, but up to the mottai Gopuram level. There is a second-level Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and Rishabam are in the outer prakaram. 

In the outer prakaram Sannadhi for Ambal (No koshta moortham in the sanctum niches), Navagrahas and statues of Pickshadanar, Shiva Parvati, Sapthamatrikas, Vinayagar, excavated at the temple (Kept in an enclosure), Bhairavar, Yagasalai, and madapalli. In the inner praharam, there is no sannadhi except Nandhi.

In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu (in place of Lingothbavar), Brahma, and Vishnu Durgai.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, ardhamandapam, and mukha mandapam. Moolavar vimanam is of eka tala stone vimanam, and the kalasam is also made of stone. The sigaram and the kalsam are dark black/ green colour stones.

HISTORY

A lot of inscriptions around the sanctum wall.  

 Second level 3-tier Rajagopuram view from Mottai Gopuram entrance

 The left side mandapam

 Moolavar Vimanam - Complete stone structure  

 Outer praharam 

 Dwajasthambam, Rishabam, and balipeedam 

Ambal sannadhi in the outer praharam

 In koshtam – Dakshinamurthy 

 In koshtam – Vinayagar 

 In koshtam – Durga

 Relief at the entrance of Mottaigopuram

 Saptamatrikas (Not full set)  & Vinayagar 

 Saptamatrikas (Not full set)  & Vinayagar 

 Relief of Subramaniyar 

A Pallava Style Pillar

 A stone bowl and Shiva Lingam with broken avudayar

A hero stone facing on the right side, holding a shield and an angusa-like weapon. 

ARINJAYA CHOZHAN PALLIPADAI TEMPLE.

This part of Arinjaya Chozhan Pallipadai was written as a separate post. For the details, please click the Link. 

This temple is also maintained by ASI. This was built in the year 1014 CE by King RajaRaja I,  over the mortal remains of his grandfather Arinjaya Chola (956 – 967 CE), who died in a war at Arur near Thakkolam. The temple is called Choleswaram. There are many inscriptions all over the sanctum wall. The vimanam is made of dark green stone with kalasam (point is missing). The same colour stone is used for the Pothiyal (Pillar support). In koshtam Vinayagar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Vishnu, Brahma, and Durgai. The moorthams were damaged in many parts, but still, the beauty is worth seeing. 

The inscriptions are mainly about donations made in the form of ewe to supply ghee to burn the perpetual lamp in the temple till moon and sun endure, Rajaran’s meikeerthi, the boundaries of the land given for construction of the temple, watering to the illuppai field (from the seeds oil is extracted to burn the lamps).

From the inscriptions, the place Merpadi belongs to Tunadu, a subdivision of Perumbanapadi in a district of Jayankonda Chola Mandalam. The ancient name of the Melpadi is mentioned as Rajasrayapuram, and the temple Choleswaram was called ArinjigaiIswara or Arinjiswara. The temple is also called Pallipadai (Portion of the inscription image is given below). 

For further reading ... CLICK HERE 

  

Arinjaya Chola’s Pallipadai shrine   

   Dawarapalakas  

 Dakshinamurthy

Dakshinamurthy - a closer look

 Maha Vishnu

Brahma

Durgai 

Durgai - a closer look

 Krishna killing a demon in the form of a bird 

 Rajarajan is worshiping Choleswara 

 Lord Shiva at Tharukavanam 

MAHENDRAVADI – A SINGLE STONE ROCK (A LARGE BOULDER) CUT VISHNU TEMPLE BY PALLAVA KING MAHENDRAVARMAN.  

This part of the post was written as a separate post. For the details, please click the link. 

After visiting Melpadi, we reached Mahendravadi via Sholingur- Banavaram. Mahendravadi is very near to a quite large tank (Mahendravarma tataka) with high raised bunds. Mahendravadi must have been a large city during the Mahendravarman period. Since the time was around 14.00 hrs decided to have our lunch before visiting the rock cut Vishnu temple (incidentally, the lunch also suited for Vishnu – Puliotharai).

The rock-cut shrine was dedicated to Lord Vishnu (from the grantha inscriptions – the god's name was Murari). The Narasimha statue available is of very recent one. The cave consists of 4 pillars with 4 pilasters. Between the front two Pillars and the inner two pillars form the mukha mandapa, and the inner two pillars up to the wall form the ardha mandapa. The four pillars are of cubical shape at the top and bottom and octagonal at the center. The pothiyal / capital (Pillar support to the ceiling is not artistically carved. The front two pillar cubical portions and pilasters are carved with Lotus medallions on all four sides of the top and bottom.

The Dwarapalakas are on either side of the sanctum, standing in tribhanga posture without thandam and resting their hands on the waist. Both are eroded or worn out. On the right side, dwarapalaka is wearing a necklace, mukuta, and yajnopavita.  

For further reading, please ....CLICK HERE.

LOCATION OF THE ROCK CUT CAVE: CLICK HERE 

 A Name board on the road

The Rock cut temple

 The Rock cut temple - A closer look 

 The Rock cut temple - still a closer look 

 Narasimhar

 Dwarapalakas

Un eroded Dwarabalaka – on the right – see the necklace  and padra kundalam on his ears 

 Ardha mandapam 

 Mukha mandapam 

Muka mandapam Pillar with pothyal

lotus medallion

The translation of the grantha inscription is – Splitting the rock, Gunabhara caused to be made on (the bank of) the "mehendra tataka" (tank) in the great city of  Mahendrapura this solid, spacious temple of Murari (Vishnu), named Mahendra-vishnugriha, which is highly praised by good people, (and which is) an abode of beauty pleasing the eyes of men.

After a visit to the Rock Cut Vishnu temple, we saw a Vinayagar temple on the opposite side of the road in a dilapidated condition. Trees were grown on the vimanam, and roots split the side walls. The walls are constructed on a rock, and a relief of Vinayagar is carved on the surface of the rock. 

The crumbling treasure 

The crumbling treasure 

Vinayagar relief in the sanctum - carved on the surface of the boulder

PULLALUR OR POLLILUR.

This part of this post was written as a separate post. Please click this link for the updated post.

The Pullalur area had witnessed many wars, of which the wars otherwise called as Mysore wars between the Britishers and Hyder Ali & Tippu Sultan are important. Another important one is the war between Pulakesi-II and  Pallavas. This place is also referred to in a historical novel written by Kalki’s Sivagamiyin Sabatham. The Monuments 2 obelisks were erected in the midst of paddy fields by the British.

The first war was in 1780 CE, in which Hyder Ali /Tippu Sultan captured Colonel William Baillie and took him to Mysore, and kept him in a dungeon. The obelisk is dedicated to Lieutenant Colonel George Brown.

 The Mysore war monuments erected by the English  – two obelisks 

Sacred to the Memory of Lieutenant Colonel George Brown

When Lieutenant of Grenadiers in ??? Regiment

He lost his Right Arm

On the storm of the Conjevearam Pagoda occupied by Ye French

on the 18th of April????

and fell

In a general Action fought on this Field between the English

Forces and the Troops of Hyder Ally??? Bahaduer

on the 27th of August 1781

esteemed by every Rank

a gallant Soldier,

an able Officer,

and ???? ??? an Honest

Man ???

In the second war on 27th August 1781, led by Sir Eyre Coote, defeated Hyder and Tippu. In both wars, English soldiers suffered many casualties. The first obelisk erected at Pullalur was in memory of Colonel George Brown, who lost his right arm, and the second obelisk was in memory of Captain James Hislop, who lost his life.  

The 

second obelisk was in memory of Captain James Hislop, who lost his life.  

 Sacred to the memory of Captain James Hislop

who was killed by a cannonball
from the Enemy near this Spot,
The Field of Battle,
27th August 1781
while serving as aide-de-camp to
Lieut. General Sir Eyre Coote KBE
Commander in Chief
------------------
His professional Abilities
and private Virtues,
Were felt and acknowledged by all his
Contemporaries.

Mr Anwar explains the sequence of the war with the location map.  For further reading, please:  CLICK HERE     CLICK HERE 

It was around 16.30 hrs when we completed the Pullalur visit and decided to call off the day’s visit, skipping Thakkolam. From Pullalur, we reached Sunguvar Chatram and had coffee. The van dropped me off around 19.00 hrs at Guindy with unforgettable memories.

I extend my sincere thanks to Srimathi Padmapriya Baskaran, Mr Venkatesh, Mr Vaidyanathan Ramamurthy, and other organizers, Photo walkers (who published in the media before we returned home) for organizing a wonderful one-day trip without any flaw. I really appreciate the efforts put in organizing such a tour. The breakfast and lunch were very excellent, and the arrangements were very good. Hope you organize may tours like this in the future. See you all bye till the next tour. Hope we will meet once again with Lord Shiva’s blessings.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---