07th April 2016.
This month’s planned temple visits
are 3 hill temples ( Chennimalai, Othimalai, and Velliangiri Hills ) and
Bannari Mari Amman temple. Since I could not get the return ticket to Chennai
from Erode after my official work at Ooty, on Sunday, postponed my travel on
Monday the 4th of April 2016. To utilize the time effectively
plan the above temples on Sunday and Monday.
My first Hill temple visit was to Chennimalai.
During my earlier visit to this temple, the Rajagopuram was under construction.
The Kumbhabhishekam was performed on 07-07-2014 after the construction of
Rajagopuram and renovation works.
This
temple is considered one of the Arupadaiveedu temples of Kongu Nadu. They are.......
1.
Thirumurugan Poondi, Avinashi, Murugan with 6 heads & 12 hands.
2.
Othimalai, Murugan with 5 heads and 08 Hands.
3.
Tindigul Chinnalapatti, Murugan with 4 heads & 8 hands.
4.
Kumaran Karadu, Kasi Palayam, near Gobi, Murugan with 3 heads & 6 hands.
5.
Chennaimalai, Murugan with 3 faces & 4 hands.
6.
Palani, Murugan with one face and two hands as Dhandayuthapani.
SRI CHENNIMALAI ANDAVAR TEMPLE- CHENNIMALAI.
Chennimalai is situated in Erode district and a
part of Kongu Nadu. Weaving is the main activity in and around Chennimalai. The
temple is dedicated to Lord Sri Murugan and people call him Chennimalai Andavar and situated at a height of 1750 feet. The temple is
believed to be 3000 years old. The temple can be approached through a road and
neatly constructed steps. The Kumbhabhishekam was performed on 07-07-2014. The 5-tier Rajagopuram was constructed at Rs 5
crores. Chennimalai was also called Siragiri, Sikaragiri, Pushpagiri and
Magudagiri.
Temple view from the back side
Moolavar : Sri Chennimalai Andavar ( Sri Murugan )
Some of the important features of this temple are….
The story of the temple goes like this… At Kodumanal
village, 5 KM away from Chennimalai, A Cow used to milch in a particular place
daily. On seeing this the Farm owner dug the place and found a
beautiful statue of Lord Muruga. The surface was not smooth below the
hip. While cleaning with chisel, blood was oozed out, so the Farm owner stopped
cleaning and installed on this Chennimalai Hill.
There is a sannidhi for Sri Muthukumara Saavan - a Navakanda
statue / sirpam - which was built by URC educational institutions of Erode.
There is a sannidhi for Sri Athi Vinayagar and
Gurukkal said that a snake worships Pillayar and hides in one of
the holes in the wall.
SRI CHENNIMALAI ANDAVAR TEMPLE
A Vilakkuthoon is in front of Rajagopuram at the end
of the steps. The 5-tier Rajagopuram is at the entrance and
Peacock, balipeedam, and Dwajasthambam are in the praharam. In Chennimalai Andavar sanctum koshtam Sikivahana murthy, Agni Jatha murthy, Sujanma murthy, Sowpeya murthy, and Devasenapathy murthy.
Sannadhi for Vinayagar, Navagrahas, Chandran,
Suryan, Bhairavar. Sri Markandeshwara with Nandhi, mini Kodimaram, and balipeedam
are on the left of the main sanctum with his consort Sri Umayavalli. The Gurukuls of Sri Markandeswara Temple belong to the Markandeya gotra of
Thirukadaiyur and they were brought by Sivalaya Chozhan.
Outside the main sanctum mandapam walls reliefs
of Rahu, Ketu, and Guru, on the right. Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi Sannadhi are on the
right side of Sri Chennimalai Andavar Sanctum.
Sri Chennimalai Andavar sannadhi Vimanam
SRI
VALLI DEIVANAI TEMPLE.
Moorthams of Valli & Deasena are made of a single stone with Shiva Lingam on the base.
It was believed that both were in Thabas to marry Chennimalai Andavar. Sri Valli and Deivanai as Amirthavalli and
Sundaravalli had done dhabas to get married to Chennimalai Andavar.
Chennimalai Andavar assured them that he would marry both when they were born as
Valli & Deivanai.
Valli Deivanai Temple
PINNAKKU
SIDDHAR.
Pinnakku Siddhar is one of the 18 Siddhars and
attained mukti in this Sthalam. He had got his wisdom from his Guru Pambatti Siddhar.
His tongue was split into two parts, so he was
called Pinnakku Siddhar. He was also called Nandeeswarar due to the Tejas
on his body. He advised devotees not to tell lies. There is a small cave in which Pinnakku Siddhar
has done his meditation.
Siddhar sannadhi
ARCHITECTURE
The temple complex consists of the main temple for Sri Chennimalai Andavar, Sri Valli Devasena Temple, and Pinnakku Siddhar jeeva Samadhi.
The temple can be reached from the base through two paths. One is via bus, car, van, etc, which is a 4 km distance, and the other way through footpath with neatly paved 1330 steps and mandapams to take rest.
There are 1330 steps (in some books it was written as 1300 and in some books 1320, etc, ) which denotes the Tamil Thirumarai Thirukural a Tamil literature, which has 1330 verses. At the entrance of the footsteps route sannidhi for Skandar, Kadamban, and Idumban.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As per Mr Raju Head and epigraphist of Tanjore Tamil University, the temple was built by Karikar Chozhan ( proof: Chozhan Poorva pattayam ).
For Chennimalai Andavar’s thirumanjanam water is brought from the base daily through ( Pothi kaalai - பொதிகாளை ) bull. It was an achievement that in 1984 a bullock cart was pulled by two bulls from base to top of the hill through steps.
Adhi Vinayagars Sannidhi Mukha mandapam was constructed by Narayana Swamy Gounder
Aathi Vinayagar sannadhi
Chennimalai is the birthplace of the freedom fighter Tiruppur Kodi Kaatha Kumaran.
The statue of freedom fighter Thirupur Kodi Kaatha Kumaran
LITERATURE
The Sthala Purana was written by Saravana Munivar after referring to Kanchipuram Cheppedu. Kandar Sasti kavasam by Sri Balan Devaraya Swamigal was first sung at this temple.
Arunagirinathar has sung hymn Thiruppugazh and got padikkasu from Chennimalai Andavar.
சிரகிரி (சென்னிமலை)
348
பகலிரவினிற்
றடுமாறா; பதிகுருவெனத் தெளிபோத
ரகசியமுரைத்
தநுபூதி ; ரதநிலை தனை தருவாயே
இகபரமதற்கிறையோனே;
இயலிசையின்முத் தமிழோனே
சகசிரகிரிப்
பதிவேளே ; சரவணபவப் பெருமாளே.
.....அருணகிரிநாதரின் திருபுகழ்
LEGENDS
Sivalaya Chozhan was cured of disease after worshiping Sri Chennimalai Andavar and he is responsible for bringing Thirukadaiyur Markandeya gotra Deivasikamani Pandithar to do pooja at Sri Markandeswara Sannadhi.
Sivalaya Chozha’s other name is Chenni, so the place was named after him as Chennimalai.
Devotees used to do special Poojas to get rid of the obstacles to their marriage.
THE TEMPLE
TIMINGS:
The temple is kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 20.00
hrs without brake and closed after artha jama Pooja.
CONTACT
DETAILS :
The temple website: http://www.chennimalaitemple.tnhrce.in/
The Temple office phone number is 04294-250223 and the
Malaikoil numbers are 04294 – 292595 and 292263
e-mail address is chennkovil@gmail.com
HOW TO REACH :
Chennimalai can be reached by bus from
Erode, and Perundurai.
The nearest Railway station is Perundurai and
express trains will stop at Erode.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
The temple entrance arch on the main roadside
A Vinayagar sannadhi
A Mandapam before the steps.
Vilakkuthoon at the start point of the steps
Skandar- Idumban and Kadambar Sannadhi
Long view of the temple from the steps of the starting point
The beginning of the steps
Long way to go
Long way to go
Long way to go
Long way to go with a resting mandapam
Muthukumara Saavan’s Sannadhi
Muthukumara Saavan’s Navakanda statue
Long way to go
Yes we have reached the temple – view from the 1200th
step
Rajagopuram with Vilakkuthoon
Chains made of single stone- Rajagopuram ceiling
view
Temple view through Rajagopuram
Valli Deivana Temple Vimanam
Siddhar Sannadhi & The left is the cave
For More photos on the Picasa web album: CLICK
HERE
The temperature was very hot and sweating. The back bag
was pulled down and found it extremely difficult to climb up the hill. Almost it
took about 3.30 Hrs for the visit to the hill temple. By 12.30 hrs
Completely exhausted. Happened to see my brother and he dropped me near the Perundurai Bus stand to reach my native Village (Pappavalasu – a tiny Village on
the way from Perundurai to Kunnathur).
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMAHA---
…..To
be Continued with Sri Bannari MariAmman
Amazing details you have provided sir. Rakesh Jain
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Sir
Delete