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 a little tired due to too much walking around the Sri Brihadeeswarar temple Complex, yesterday. Got up a little late and proceeded to Punnainallur Mariamman temple. The temple was constructed by the Maratha Kings, and Marathi inscriptions are on 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 faces east with a level Rajagopuram, Mukha mandapam, maha mandapam, mandapam, and artha mandapam.

In the outer praharam temple tank, Kosalai, Vilakku Etrum place, and mandapam, stay the devotees who come with smallpox. In the inside mandapam (2^nd level Rajagopuram), the stucco image of Rajah Sri Thulaji and Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra faces Amman.

Dwajasthambam and Balipeedam are in the mandapam after the 2nd-level Rajagopuram under the mandapam. In the pillars, Ashta Lakshmis stucco images.

In the inner prakaram, only the mandapam with Sri Padakachery Ramalinga Swamy’s Stucco image. 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 are on the left, facing south.

THE HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE

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

During 1763 – 1787 CE, Thulaja Raja’s daughter’s eyesight was gone due to smallpox disease, 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 eyesight, and the King built a shrine around Ant Hill, and he also constructed the praharam. He also shaped Ant Hill to form Amman with the help of Siddhar Sri Brahmendra, and a chakra was also installed.

During 1739 - 1763 CE, King Pratap donated a village called Arulmozhi Pettai and constructed the Kothandaramar temple also. The images 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 praharam, and performed kumbhabhishekam to Amman. King Shivaji constructed the outer praharam. In the year 1892, King Shivaji’s wife Kamtchiamba Bayi Saheb constructed the outer praharam, 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 Murtis 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 of smallpox (Vaisuri). During the summer seasons, it was observed that sweating on Amman’s face and head to date. Hence, Amman is also called Muthu Mari Amman. Every year during the Tamil months Adi, Avani, and Puratasi, the annual festival is 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 performed 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 the mottai gopuram into a 7-tier Rajagopuram with Stucco images. This thirupani was carried out with the help of Singavala 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 the Tamil Nadu Government.

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple is kept open between 06.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs without a break.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The temple website is

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

The phone number is +91 4362267740

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is about 5 km from the old bus stand.

A lot of town buses, both private and Govt, are available from the old Bus stand with stops at the Mariamman temple.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

The temple tank - Preparation for the Puratasi month’s Theppa Utsavam

The 7-tier Rajagopuram, the first-level and second-level Rajagopuram are partially visible. This second-level Rajagopuram was built with stucco images.

The Tamil inscriptions of the Maratha period

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

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

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

Sanctum Sanctorum Vimanam

The east side entrance arch

The temple’s chariot

The devotee's offerings, cock, and hens.

After the darshan at Mariamman temple came back to Thanjavur Sri Brihadeeswarar temple to take a photo of the kalasam shadow falling on the ground. It was 10.00 hrs, I left for the Palace and Saraswathi Mahal. On the way, I 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 Watchtower

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