Sri Kothanda Ramar Temple / ஸ்ரீ கோதண்டராமர் கோயில், நந்தம்பாக்கம் / Nandambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. - Uzhavaram with Sevas.

 18^th October 2015.

Joined the 159^th Uzhavaram of  Sevas at Sri Kothanda Ramar Temple, Nandambakkam on 18^th October 2015.  Planned previously attend both the Uzhavaram and Heritage Volunteers meet. Since the Volunteer's time was postponed to 10.30 Hrs skipped the meeting and joined with Sevas for the Uzhavaram.  This uzhavaram main task was to clean all the sannadhis. The tasks were over by 12.00 Hrs and had our lunch after announcement and Kootu prarthanai.  It was told that  12 years before the first Uzhavaram of Sevas was started in this temple. It was a proud moment for the Sevas who are continuously associated.

SRI KOTHANDARAMAR TEMPLE, NANDAMBAKKAM.

 Sri Alarmel mangai thayar sannidhi Vimanam –Moolavar Vimanam -  Andal Sannadhi vimanam

 The five-tier Rajagopuram ( Constructed during the year 2002 to 2003)

Moolavar   : Srinivasa Perumal.

Thayar      : Sri Alarmelmangai Thayar.

Some of the important features of this temple are…..

The Temple is facing east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Vilakkuthoon ( now adorned with electric bulbs), Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Garudalwar are at the entrance. Moolavar Sri Srinivasa Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhudevi. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the Sanctum. 

In the outer prakaram  sannadhi for  Astashara mandapam, Nammalwar, Anandha Anjaneyar, Nandhavana Kannan, Chakkarathalwar, Pavithra Urchava Mandapam, Maha urchava mandapam, Nandhavanam with Krishna.

In the mukha mandapam sannidhi for Thirukachi Nambigal, Sri Ramanujar, Manavala mamunigal and Kannadi arai.

In the inner mandapam sannidhi for Sri Anjaneyar, Sri Alarmel Mangai Thayar,  Andal, and Sri Ramar Pattabhishekam moortham ( facing south ).

The specialty of this temple is Sri Rama blesses us in pattabhisheka kolam with Seetha on his lap and Lakshman, Bharathan, and Sathrukkan are witnessing.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It was claimed that the temple was built by the prime minister Sanjeevi Rayar of Sri Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara kingdom about 750 years before. There is no inscriptions available to prove the same.

As per the book Kanchipuram mavatta Varalaru, written by A Paa. Thirugnanasambandan, the temple was constructed by Thirukachi Nambigal in 1180 CE. 

In 1890 CE, Nammalwar sannidhi was built by Muthaliappa Mudali.

Before 65 years when Parthasarathy of Triplicane came to Ekkattuthangal, came here also.

 Mukha mandapam.- Vijayanagara period Pillars and ceiling.

LEGENDS

This place was mentioned as Brindaranyam in Valmiki Ramayana and Nandhavanam in Kamba Ramayanam. The name later changed to Nandambakkam. Also, the names of adjacent  Villages are associated with Ramayana like Ramapuram.

While Rama passes through this village in search of Seetha, he stays here as per the request of Sri Bringi Muni ( Bringi Malai – St Thomas mount ), Ramar Stayed here.

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple is kept open between 07.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Sri Balaji of the temple in-charge may be contacted over his mobile 9841195446

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is about a km from Nandambakkam, Chennai Trade Centre.  Nandambakkam is on the way between Guindy to Porur all the buses leading to Porur, and Poonamallee will stop at Chennai Trade Centre.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :   CLICK HERE

 Front view of the temple  Garudathoon, balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Garudalwar Sannadhi 

 Narayana mandapam 

 Front view of the temple  Garudathoon, balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Garudalwar Sannadhi 

 Vasantha mandapam 

 Front view of the temple  Garudathoon, balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Garudalwar Sannadhi 

 Nammalwar

 Entrance to Nandavanam 

 Krishna

 Nagaraja Kannan  

 Chakkarathalwar sannadhi 

 Chakkarathalwar  

 Chakkarathalwar urchavar 

 Chakkarathalwar sannadhi - Urchavars 

 Ramanujar & Manavala Munikal sannadhi vimanam 

 Andal Sannadhi vimanam 

 Anjaneyar under the neem tree 

 An unrealistic elephant relief on the steps of the new Urchavar Kalyana mandapam 

A Vijayanagara Period Pillar in the dump yard 

 South side Rajagopuram behind Anjaneyar sannadhi 

Anjaneyar  

 Anjaneyar - a closer look 

 Ramar sannadhi in Pattabhisheka Kolam – Seetha on the laps of Ramar and Bharathan, Lakshmana and Sathrukkan 

 New Urchavar Kalyana mandapam ceiling painting 

 Urchava Vahanas 

 Urchava Vahanans

 Dakshinamurthy in moolavar vimanam 

 Anjaneyar sannadhi  

  Sorgavasal 

 Deepa mandapam – the details of deepam 

 Sevas at work   

 Sevas at work – boosting the energy 

Sevas at work

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:--- 

Sri Selliamman Temple, Sitrampakkam and Sri Janamejaya Eswar Temple, Senji, A Perumal Temple at Senji, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

 12^th October 2015.

Continuation to the previous post……

SITRAMBAKKAM – SELLIAMMAN TEMPLE

We had our good lunch at Idayarpakkam Shiva temple and  reached Sitrambakkam Selliamman Temple. A patron with inscriptions inscribed on all the sides  around a  flower relief kept as a step stone of a small shrine. I think the patron has relation to this temple selli amman Temple, may belongs to some other temple.  (as per PadmaPriya, it may belongs to Thenkaranai Village. )

The patron is about ”Aalavayil Somasiyar’s son in-law or nephew constructed a Koil during Parameswara Varman’s reign “ .  As per the inscriptions this belongs to 679 CE and the  temple might be  constructed on the banks of River Koovam.

The inscription stone is at Sri Kumbeswarar temple on the back side of this Selli Amman during my Visit on 10th July 2022. This post is also up dated. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

The inscriptions of the patron

Selliamman Temple 

The temple is under reconstruction- Photos taken on 10th July 2022

JANAMEJAYA ESWAR TEMPLE - SENJI

The temple is in bad shape and one kala pooja is conducted under TNHRCE’s aid. The moolavar is of 16 flat surfaced, kept in artha mandapam, fearing of sanctum may crumble at any time. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy and Brahma. In Maharathorana Rishabaroodamurthy, Kannappar, Umasakithar, Kaman & Rathi and Prithvi. Chandikeswarar and Durga as loose sculptures are in the mandapam. All the Koshta images are made of Green stone. This post was updated with more details. Please click this link. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and Maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhisthana with vrutha kumuda. The adhistanam is little elevated. Yazhihastha sobanam is to climb up to mahamandapam. Pillars has the Malai thongal and dancing ladies. The Vimanam is stucco. Bhutaganas are in Valapi 

 

Some more statues lying in the artha mandapam.  We can not judge whether the Vimanam is holding the tree or the tree is holding the Vimanam. Beautiful reliefs like Shiva and Parvathi, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar with bow on his left hand.  Koshta moorthams were in a damaged condition. The colour of the koshta moorthams are in green, which is  different from the main structure. 

There are two more sannadhis on the back side of the sanctum sanctorum. The temple was built like mada koil.  The inscriptions available are not in readable condition. It may belongs to Chozha Period.  The Podhiyals of the mandapam is  of different style from what we used to see.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The inscriptions belongs to Vikrama Chozha, Kulothunga chozha-III and Rajaraja Chozha-III. As per the inscriptions this place was in Jayankonda Chozha mandalathu Manavil Kottathu Manavil nattu senji and Lord shiva was called as Jayamatheeswaramudaya Mahadevar. 

Vikrama Chozha's 10th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning two sandhi lamps by NagangkoRRan Aruveliyan's daughter and Naduvinmalai Perumoor Nattu Venbakkam KoRRamangala Kilan Vadavayirselvan's wife, for the same 2 Kasu was gifted. The same was received by Sivabrahmin Kavusikan Madhurantakadeva Battan, Kavusika Kuzhaintha battan, Kavusika Arulveli battan and Athrayan Eru(Sevaka) battan and agreed to carryout this endowment till sun and moon exists. The original inscription reads as.... 

வீரஸிம்ஹாஸனத்து முக்கோக்கிழாநடிகளோடும் வீற்றிருந்தருளிய கோப்பரகேசரி பந்மரான திரிபுவனச்சக்கரவத்திகள் ஸ்ரீ விக்ரம சோழ தேவற்கு யாண்டு பத்தாவது ஜயங்கொண்ட சோழமண்டலத்து உடையார் திருவேகம்பமுடையார் தேவதாநம் மணவிற் கோட்டத்து மணவில் நாட்டு செஞ்சி ஜயமதீஸ்வரமுடைய மஹாதேவர்க்கு நாகங்கொற்றன் அருவேலி(ய)ன் மகள் நடுவின்மலைப் பெருமூர் நாட்டு வெண்பாக்கத்து கொற்றமங்கலங் கிழான் வடவாயிற் செல்வன் அகமுடையாள் கம்படி நங்கை வைத்த ஸந்தி விளக்கு இரண்டு இரண்டும் வைத்த பரிசாவது இக்கோயிலிற் காணி உடைய சிவபிராஹ்மணந் கவுசிகன் மதுராந்தகதேவ பட்டனும் கவுசிக குழைந்த பட்டனும் கவுசிக அருள்வேலி பட்டனும் ஆதிரயன் எறு(சேவக) பட்டனும் பக்கல் குடுத்த காசு இரண்டு இக்காசு இரண்டுங் கைக்கொண்டு இவர்களும் இவர்கள் வங்ஸத்தாரும் சந்திராதித்தவரை இந்த விளக்கு (இக்)காசிற் பொலிசை கொண்டு விளக்கு எரிக்கக் கடவர்களானமைக்கு"

    

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

 Temple view with balipeedam 

 Waste water stagnating on the north side of the sanctum 

 A separate Structure – in crumbling state 

 Mada type entrance 

 Beautiful carvings - Shiva and Parvathy 

 Beautiful carvings

 Vimanam looking from south- Dakshinamurthy in koshtam

 Vinayagar – in green stone 

 A wonderful carving 

 Dakshinamurthy -in green stone 

 Lingothbavar 

 Trees on the Vimanam 

 Trees on the Vimanam 

 Trees on the Vimanam 

 Shrine at the back sanctum – May be Sri Valli Devanai Subramaniyar sannadhi 

 Moolavar - 16 flat faced Dhara Linga - was shifted to the mandapam 

 The Podhiyals of the mandapam is of different style 

May be of Ambal idol

 Beautiful carvings

PERUMAL TEMPLE - SENJI

This Perumal Temple is on the next street of the Village Senji. One Kala Pooja is  performed in this temple also. The temple is with sanctum, artha mandapam and mukha mandapam. Karudalwar is at front. In artha mandapam  Alwars and in sanctum Thayar is on the laps of Perumal. The person in-charge  said moolavar name is Karivarada Perumal. Since thayar is on the laps of moolavar, this may be Lakshmi Narayanar.  In Koshtam  Paramapatha nathar looks cute with out much damage sculptured in green stone like in Shiva Temple.

We are not sure that this temple is a reconstructed one or somebody would have done some exercise to rebuild, since numbers in Tamil are engraved on each stones. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

 Temple view

 Temple view Palipedam and Garudathoon

  Loose Sculptures 

 Beautiful view of Paramapada Nathar - in green stone 

 Thayar on the laps of Perumal - may be Lakshmi Narayanan

Alwars in artha mandapam 

Inscriptions are not legible to read.

I extend my sincere thanks to Mr Vaidhyanathan, Mr Venkatesh, Mrs Padmapriya allowed me join this trip, Mr Ramanath, Mr Saswath, Mr Mohan Hariharan, other participants of this tour and many unknown faces who helped  for this excellent visit  with good breakfast ( without rava kesari) and Lunch to the Cultural and heritage sites on the banks of Koovam river. Thanks to all once again.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---