Sri Somanatheeswarar Temple / Somanatheswarar Temple at Somangalam near Chennai, Chandran Sthalam, one of the Navagraha sthalam around Chennai, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

1^st February 2016.

Participated with Sevas for the Uzhavaram at Sri Kamakshi Samedha Sri Somanatha Eeswarar temple at Somangalam. The work involves cleaning the temple, clearing the bushes on the side of the temple premises, and shifting Dakshinamurthy and Varahi Amman ( both damaged ) to the other Murtis kept adjacent to the south side of the compound wall. We also moved an epigraph tablet near the sthala Vruksham.  It is one of the 108 Gajabirushta Vimana-type temples constructed by Choozhas. This is the Chandran Sthalam and one of the Navagraha sthalams in Thondai Nadu.

Moolavar    : Sri Somanatheeswarar

Consort      : Sri Kamakshi Amman.

Some of the important details of this temple are….

The temple faces east without Rajagopuram and Dwajasthambam. The only entrance arch is on the south side. Sanctum is of Gajabirustam type. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai. Nandhi is facing east opposite Moolavar. The story behind this was, that during the construction of this temple,  Rishabam was sent to fight with enemies of the Chozha King.

In the front mandapam sannidhi for Brahma in sitting posture., Bala Murugan, Mahavishnu and Balasubramaniar.

In the outer Praharam Murtis are positioned on a pedestal (damaged) adjacent to the Compound wall, Chandikeswarar, Subramaniyar, Ambal, Bhairavar, Navagrahas, Chandran, and Suriyan.

LEGENDS

Chandran worshiped Lord Shiva to get rid of the curse given by Dhakshan, hence this is one of the Navagraha Sthalam in Thondai Nadu.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This Gajabirushta Vimana temple is believed to have been built during the 9^th to 10^th century Chozha period. As per the inscriptions this place was called Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Sengattu Kottathu Somangalam alias  Rajasikamani Chathurvedi Mangalam and Lord Shiva was called Someswarar.  The inscriptions belongs to Kulaothunga chozha-I ( 1070 – 1120 CE ), Rajaraja Chozha-II ( 1150 – 1163 CE ), Kulothunga Chozha –III  with his meikeerthi மதிரையும் ஈழமும் கொண்டருளிய  (1178 – 1216 CE ). During the Rajaraja-II period this place Somangalam was under Puliyur Kottam,  Kulothunga Chozhavalanattu, and Kundrathur Nadu. Kulothunga Chozha-III inscription 1192 CE inscription records the ( Adyar ) damage caused due to the ( Adyar ) river flood and the rectification of Eri ( reservoir ).  The inscriptions mainly record the gifts of lands, Cows, money, etc,. towards the burning of perpetual and Sandhi lamps. As per the inscriptions, this place was called Rajasigamani Chathurvedimangalam under Puliyur Kottathu Kulothunga Chozhavalanattu Kundrathur nadu and later changed as Panchanadhivan Chathurvedi Mangalam.

Rajathiraja-II’s ( 1174 CE ) inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp by Ekkattu Kottathu Perumunaiyur Karanaththan Chandrasekaran. For which 2 cows were gifted to this temple.

Kulothunga Chozha-III ( 1190 CE ) Inscription records that the eri breached seven places due to heavy rain. Thiruchurakannappan Thiruvekambamudaiyan alias Kaman Kanda Vanavan rectified the breaches. He also gave a gift of 40 pazhangasu to rectify in case the eri breaches again. Again 1192 CE he rectified the eri bund which breached again.

A 1206 CE inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp by Athipattu merchant ChikkaNdi Chekkar. For which one pazhangasu was gifted to this temple. Another 1209 CE inscription records the gift of 2 Pazhangasu to burn a lamp at Somanathar shrine by Udaiya Pillai.

Another 1244 CE inscription records the cows that were gifted to this temple for Naivedyam by Kulothunga Chozha Kannappan Adhi Nayakan Neelagangarayan and Ullarilnallan Kalingatharaiyan.

Koperusinga-I’s 1257 CE inscription records the Gopuram was built.

 An inscription tablet has been used as a stepping stone. 

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple is kept open between 07.00 Hrs to 10.30 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 19.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Sivachariyar Suresh Gurukkal may be contacted for further details on his mobile at +91 9962003496.

HOW TO REACH :

Town bus facility is available to Kundrathur from various parts of the city. 

And Somangalam may be reached through Town bus nos M89 and 88 R from Kundrathur and 18S from Tambaram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Temple view with temple tank Vinaitheertha Kulam/ Somanatha Theertham 

  Rishabam / Idabam is also facing the same direction as Moolavar 

 Sri Kamakshi Amman sannidhi 

 Sri Kamakshi Amman sannidhi 

 Subramaniar Sannadhi

 Bairavar sannidhi 

 Brahma (in sitting Posture), Subramaniyar, and Maha Vishnu

  Subramaniyar Sannadhi - in Mandapam

 Chandran

 Navagrahas 

 Sthala Vruksham Lingam and Nagar 

Sthala Purana 

 Moorthams kept adjacent to the Compound wall 

 Jyeshta Devi 

 Dakshinamurthy and Varahi damaged Murtis shifted near the other Murtis kept adjacent to the Compound wall 

 Is it Kuberan? –a relief on the pillar of the front mandapam half disappeared under the floor

SEVAS ON THE JOB 

 

 A Vinayagar temple at the entrance of the street

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA: ---