VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Muthu Mariamman Temple, Punnainallur, Thanjavur Palace, & Saraswathi Mahal - Ponniyin Selvan meet 2015, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

Wednesday 7 October 2015

Sri Muthu Mariamman Temple, Punnainallur, Thanjavur Palace, & Saraswathi Mahal - Ponniyin Selvan meet 2015, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

Continuation to the previous post……..

07^th October 2015

I was little tired due to too much walking around Sri Brihadeeswarar temple Complex, yesterday. Got up little late and proceeded to Punnainallur Mariamman temple. The temple was constructed by the Marathi Kings and Marathi inscriptions are there in the mandapa pillars.

PUNNAINALLUR MUTHUMARIAMMAN TEMPLE – THANJAVUR.

The south side ( Main road side ) entrance arch

Amman : Punnainallur Mariamman.

Some of the important details are…

The temple is facing east with two level Rajagopuram, Mukha mandapam, maha mandapam, mandapam and artha mandapam.

In the outer prakaram temple tank, Kosalai, Vilakku etrum place and mandapam to stay the devotees who comes with smallpox. In the in side mandapam ( 2^nd level Rajagopuram ), stucco image of Rajah Sri Thulaji and Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra facing Amman.

Dwajasthambam, balipeedam are in the mandapam after the 2^nd level Rajagopuram under the mandapam. In he pillars Ashta Lakshmis stucco images.

In the inner prakaram only mandapam with Sri Padakachery Ramalinga Swamy’s sudhai sirpam. Paechi amman sannadhi ( Lada sanyasi, Madurai Veerar & Kathavarayan). Rajah Shivaji's stucco image and on the right temple tank.

The sanctum Amman idol and Vishnu Durgai on the left facing south.

THE HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE

As per Chozha Sambu book, the Chozhas established 8 Sakthi temples around Thanjavur in eight directions. This Punnainallur Mariamman is on the east side. In 1680 AD, the Maratha King Venkoji went to Samayapuram yathra to worship Mariamman. In his dream Amman appeared and told that she in the midst of Punnai forest ‘Ant Hill’, 5 KM from Thanjavur. The king came back and found out the ant hill and created a small temple and called the place as Punnainallur and Amman a Mariamman.

During 1763 – 1787 CE, Thulaja Raja’s daughter’s eyesight was gone due to smallpox decease and Amman advised the King to come along with his daughter to worship her. When they worshiped Mariamman, the King’s daughter got back her eye sight and the Kind built a shrine around the Ant Hill and also he constructed the prakarm. He also shaped Ant Hill to form Amman with the hep of the Siddhar Sri Brahmendra and chakra was also installed.

During 1739 - 1763 CE King Pratap donated a village called Arulmozhi Pettai and constructed Kothandaramar temple also. The moorthams of Ramar, Seetha, Laksmana and Sugreeva are made of Salagrama stone ( these are presented to King Pradap Sing by the Nepal King ). Then 1798 to 1832 King Saraboji constructed the Maha mandapam, Narthana mandapam, Front Rajagopuram, Big prakaram and done kumbhabhishekam to Amman. King Shivaji constructed the outer prakaram. In the year 1892 King Shivaji’s wife Kamtchiamba Bayi Saheb constructed the Outer prakarm, Annadhana Hall and North Rajagopuram.

Since Amman is made of Ant Hill daily abhishekam is not done instead, oil with punuku is applied. Abhishekam is conducted to Urchava moorham and Vishnu Durgai. Once in 5 years Thaila kappu with sambrani, Punuku, arakaja and Javadhu are applied. During that time Curd and tender coconut are offered to Amman to reduce the heat.

There are 2 tubs constructed around Amman, devotees pray and fill both with water to get cured from smallpox ( Vaisuri ). During summer seasons it was observed that sweating on Amman’s face and head till date. Hence Amman is also called as Muthu Mari Amman. Every year during Tamil months Adi, Avani and Puratasi, annual festival if conducted. Theppam festival is also conducted in the temple tank.

With the leadership of Sri Siddhar Padakachery Ramalinga Swamigal, the elder Prince Rajasri Rajaram conducted Kumbhabhishekam during the year 1950. The present Parambara Trustee Sri Babaji Rajah Bhonsle also done kumbhabhishekam on 06-07-1987. Gold kavasam weighing 22 kg was offered to Amman through the donations received from the devotees. During the year 1855, Rajah Shivaji constructed the Rajagopuram from mottai gopuram in to a 7 tier Rajagopuram with Stucco images. This thirupani was carried out through the help of Singa vala nattu ( Kulichapattu, Kathirinatham, Thalavapalayam and Marungai peoples) devotees. The Rajagopuram and other sannadhis were consecrated on 27-07-2004.

This is one of the 88 temples maintained by Rajah Sri C Babaji Rajah Bhonsle and Tamil Nadu Govt.

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple is kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs with out break.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The temple web site is

http://www.thanjavurpalacedevasthanam.tnhrce.in/88_temples/2_Mariamman_Temple_Punnainallur.html

Phone number is +91 4362267740

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is about 5 Km distance from old bus stand.

Lot of town buses both private and Govt, are available from old Bus stand with stop as Mariamman temple.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

The temple tank - Preparation for the Puratasi month’s theppa urchavam

The 7 tier rajagopuram first level and second level Rajagopuram partially visible. This second level Rajagopuram was built with stucco images.

The Tamil inscriptions of Marathi Period

Beautiful view of the corridor- Pillars are similar to Marata's period

Padakchery Ramalinga Swamigal – He is the instrumental for many temples kumbabishekam and construction of Rajagopuram. ( Kumbakonam Nageswara Swamy Temple east side Rajagopuram was constructed by him)

Beautiful view of the corridor- Pillars are like Maratha's period

Sanctum Sanctorum Vimanam

The east side entrance arch

The temple’s chariot

The devotees offerings, cock and hens.

After darshan of Mariamman temple came back to Thanjavur Sri Brihadeeswarar temple to take photo of the kalasam shadow falling on the ground. It was 10.00 hrs, I left for Palace and Saraswathi Mahal. On the way, purchased a book about Thanjavur Periya Kovil Santharam from Thanjavur Tamil University with Pictures and temple details of Santharam.

THANJAVUR PALACE AND SARASWATHI MAHAL

Darbar hall

Durbar hall – entrance to museum arch Stucco images

Museum hall Pillars

Jyeshta Devi – on the left manthan with buffalo head and on the right her Mandhi and somebody says it is her mother in-law Agni Devi

Dakshinamurthy - an unusual posture

Navakandam

Museum

Bell Tower or Watch tower

Saraswathi mahal looks like Gopuram – It was told that during war weapons will be stored to fool the enemies.( The enemies will think that this gopuram might be a temple's gopuram )