18th August 2015
This temple is at Villivakkam a part of Chennai City and close to Bus terminus and Railway station.
நாடகமா டிடநந்தி கேச்சுரமா
காளேச்
சுரநாகேச் சுரநாக
ளேச்சுரநன் கான
கோடீச் சுரங் கொண்டீச்
சுரந்திண் டீச்
சுரங்
குக்குடேச் சுரமகத்தீச்
சுரங்கூறுங்கால்
ஆடகேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரமய
னீச்சுர
மத்தீக்சுரஞ் சித்தீக்சுர
மந்தண் கானல்
ஈடுதிரை யிராமேசசுர மென்றென்
றேத்தி
யிறைவனுறை சுரம்பலவு
மியம்பு வோமே.
….. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் ( 6-71-8 )
Moolavar Gajabirusta Vimanam
Moolavar : Sri Agastheeswarar
Consort : Sri Swarnambigai
Some of the important features of this temple are...
The main entrance is from south with a Mottai Rajagopuram and the arch above was built in recent years.
Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam are at the east entrance in the outer prakaram. Sannadhi for Nagars, Lingas, Vilvambigai, Aadhi Sankarar and Navagrahas.
In the inner prakaram sannadhi for Surayan, Nandeeswarar ( with nandhi head ), Naalvar, Ganapathy, Urchavars, Kasi Viswanathar, Agasthiyar, Palani Andavar, Lakshmi, Saraswathy, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar and Chandran.
Vinayagar and Subramaniar are at the entrance of sanctum. Dwarapalakas are little big in size and cute.
In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai. Sanctum is of Gajabrushta type and Agazhi / Moat type of construction ( may be due to raise of ground level ). Moolavar is in an elevated position. In nagabharanam looks cute.
Ambal sannadhi is in the same prakaram facing south. Lord Shiva permitted Ambal to give darshan to Agasthiyar with gold ornaments, hence Ambal is called as Sri Swarnambika. This sthalam is one of the 108 Sakthi sthalam.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, Maha mandapam and Mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum to Sigaram, the temple was built in Gajaprishta/ Gajabrushta style with two talas. The adhistanam is with jagathy, Threepatta kumudam and Pattigai. the Bhitti starts with vedika. The Pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with square base, kalasam, kudam Lotus petals mandi, palakai, and poo mottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus. The Open mukha mandapa pillars has exquisitely carved pillars.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple has Chozha Period inscriptions and proves that the temple exists more than 1000 years. ( A separate post is written about the inscriptions ). The original temple may be built with bricks. It is believed that the temple was constructed with stone during Kulothunga Chozha.
The stones with inscription ( only a portion of the epigraph) on the wall in the inner prakaram. Could not identify, in which language it was written. With little light I found that the stone was kept up side down. Some of inscription blocks are used for the out side wall. We cannot trace under whose period the temple was constructed. Totally it was a mesh. There are some inscriptions on the base of Ambal sanctum also in a unreadable condition.
Epigraph details are not mentioned in the temple web site also. In the name of renovation, with out knowing the importance of the epigraph details the identity and authenticity of the temple was destroyed and the future generations will be kept in dark. Here are some of the epigraphs / inscriptions...
This is inscription stone is kept up side down.
The inscription on the base of Ambal sanctum base
The inscription on the base of Ambal sanctum base
This inscription is on the outside wall
LEGENDS
The history says that Agasthiyar Killed demons Vilvalan and Vatapi. To get rid of brahmahathi dosha Sri Veerabhadra helped Agasthiyar and got relieved. Hence Sri Veerabhadra's sannadhi is opposite to South side entrance and facing north.
Mars created a spring and worshipped Lord Shiva. Naagars are around Neem and Peepal tree on a raised platform. Devotees worship during Aadi Tamil month.
TEMPLE TIMINGS :
The temple is kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs with 4 Kala poojas.
CONTACT DETAILS :
The telephone number is 044 26172326
TNHRCE Dept Executive officer 9790996743 & Clerk 9952038155
Temple web site
HOW TO REACH :
Villivakkam is well connected with various parts of Chennai city and a KM from Bus terminus and Railway station.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE
The south side entrance of the temple
The south side entrance of the temple Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam on east side small entrance from Temple tank
Moolavar Gajaprishta Vimanam - an another view
Temple tank
Devotees worship Nagars under Neem and peepal /Arasa trees.
From the previous post
SRI SORNAMBIGAI SAMEDHA SRI
AGASTHEESWARAR TEMPLE
On 16th August I had been to
Purasawalkam Sri Gangadeeswarar Temple and had the darshan of Sri
Gangadeeswarar and Sri Oondreswarar ( Sri Oondreswarar of Thiruvenpakkam,
where Lord Shiva gave Oontrukol to Sundarar when he lost his eyes. The original
moorthams were brought to this temple while constructing the Poondi reservoir.
Lord Shiva wishes to stay here itself even after
constructing a new temple at Thiruvenpakkam, the present Poondi. ( For details
of my Thiruvenpakkam Visit -CLICK HERE )
After darshan of Sri
Gangadeeswarar and Sri Oondreswarar, thought of worshiping Sri
Agastheeswarar at Villivakkam. I had been to this temple once and we used
to cross the temple around 05.00 Hrs on the way to Thirupathi Patha
yathra every year on 1st January. The temple looks new
and lot of renovations has been carried out. Since the temple was old
searched for epigraph around sanctum wall. But I could not find any.
To my surprise
a stones with inscription ( only a portion of the epigraph) on the wall in the
inner prakaram. Could not identify, in which language it was written.
With little light I found that the stone was kept up side down. Some of
inscription blocks are used for the out side wall. We cannot trace under
whose period the temple was constructed. Totally it was a mesh. There are some
inscriptions on the base of Ambal sanctum also in a un readable condition.
Tried to get the
sthala puranam, ( for knowing epigraph details ) but the book shop
was not open. Epigraph details are not mentioned in the temple web site
also. In the name of renovation, with out knowing the importance of the
epigraph details the identity and authenticity of the temple was
destroyed and the future generations will be kept in dark. Here are some
of the epigraphs / inscriptions...
This epigraphic stone is kept up side
down.
The epigraph on the base of
Ambal sanctum base
The epigraph on the base of
Ambal sanctum base
This epigraph is on the outside wall
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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