Sri Sakthipureeswarar Temple / Sathyapureeswarar Temple, Ponmar, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

 26^th April 2016.

After the darshan of Sri Dandeeswarar on Sunday 24^th April 2016, thought of Visiting Ponmar, which is on the way to Medavakkam to Mambakkam bus route. Whenever I used to cross the Ponmar Sri Sakthipureeswarar temple, I could see the doors of the temple were in closed condition. Today the Gurukal was opening the door while crossing the temple. Finally, Sri Shiva gave me a darshan this Sunday. Even though I had seen outside many times, this was the first time I could see the inside of the sanctum sanctorum.

Moolavar    : Sri Sakthi Pureeswarar, Sri Sathya Pureeswarar

Consort      : Sri Sakthi Pureeswari.

Some of the important details are...

The temple faces east without Rajagopuram or Dwajasthambam. The Koshtas are empty and letter period Murtis are kept below the niches.In the artha mandapam Utsavars and Natarajar.

Ambal is  in a separate sannadhi  in front mandapam facing south. In the mandapam Vinayagar, Sri Subramaniar, Kala Bhairavar and Rishabam. Kasi Viswanathar sannadhi is back side of Ambal sannadhi. 

ARCHITECTURE

The Temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a maha mandapam. The entrance to the maha mandapam is from the south side. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple kapota bandha adhisthanam with Jagathy on a padama peedam, Vrutha kumudam, Kapotam. The Bhitti starts with Vedika. Th pilasters are with square base, thamaraikattu, kalasam, thadi, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palaka, veerakandam, poo mottu pothyal. The prastaram is with valapi, kapotam with Nasis and viyyalavari. Kumbha panjaras are on the Bhitti and Koshtas are sala style. 

The Vimanam is of two tiers, built with bricks on the bhoomi desam. Brahma and Maha Vishnu are with their consorts. The Vimana is of Nagara- Vesara style. Maha nasis are on the 4 cardinal directions of Sigaram. The mandapa pillars has the bas reliefs of saints, gandaberunda, donors etc,. 

 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that this temple was constructed during Vijayanagar King Sadasivarayar and his inscription is on the ( 1520 CE ). As per the inscription this place was called Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Puliyur Kottathu Kalvainattu / Kalvoy Nattu Thiyaga Vinotha Nallur alias Ponmar and Lord Shiva was called "Poyileechuramudaya Nayanar". The inscription also records the gift of Village "Poyyilichery".

Sadasivaraya: Saka Year: 1442 (:1520 CE ) inscription Records the gift of certain taxes collected from Poyilicheri for the worship and renovations to the deities of Virabhadra Nayanar and Poyilisvaramudaiya Nayanar at the village of Ponmaru alias Thyagavinodha Nallur of Kalvay -nadu in Puliyur-Kottam, a subdivision of Jayankonda chola mandala, by Srirangarayan and the Nattars of chengalunirpattu for the merit of Sadasivarayar and Ramarayar.

விஜயநகர சதாசிவராயர் ( 1520  CE ) காலத்தைச் சார்ந்த கல்வெட்டு இவ்வூர் ஜெயங்கொண்ட சோழமண்டலத்து புலியூர் கோட்டத்து கால்வாய் நாட்டு தியாவினோதநல்லூரான பொன்மாறு என்ற ஊரில் உள்ள பொயிலீசுரமுடைய நாயனார்க்கும் வீரபத்திர நாயனார்க்கும் பூசை மற்றும் திருப்பணிகளுக்கு சதாசிவராயர் மற்றும் இராமராயர் பெயரில் சிங்கராயர் என்பவரும் செங்கழுநீர்பட்டு நாட்டவரும் பொயிலச்சேரியை தன்மமாக விட்ட செய்தியை பதிவு செய்கின்றது. 

A 16th to 17th Century incomplete inscription ( ARE 1934 - 35 nos 17-118 ), mentions Srimathrangarayan Ratyan and Payirkudikal  Palapattaikal.  This inscription records the cleaning of Amaneri ( clearing the vandal ) by Chinna Chetty's son Vedagiri.

ஸ்ரீமத்ரங்கராயர் ரட்டியன் மற்றும் பயிர்க்குடிகள் பலப்பட்டடைகள் ஆகியோர் கூறப்படுகின்றனர். சிந்னாசெட்டி மகன் வேதகிரி என்பவர் அமணே(ரி) குளம் என்ற குளத்தில் வண்டல் வெட்டித் தூர் எடுத்ததை இக்கல்வெட்டு குறிப்பிடு கிது. இக்குளம் கோயிலின் அருகிலேயே அமைந்துள்ளது. கல்வெட்டு முற்றுப் பெறவில்லை.

Ref

Kanchipura Mavatta kalvettukkal Volume - 2.

  

Inscriptions 

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple will be kept open for darshan  during morning and evening and there is no fixed time. Gurukal may be contacted for darshan.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Gurukal Ramanujam may be contacted on his mobile at 9176067723.

HOW TO REACH :

All the buses from T Nagar, ( 51J, J51 and 51T )  via Medavakkam passes through the Village Ponmar.

The temple is about a KM off main road on Malai Street. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

After Ponmar had been to Ottiambakkam and had the darshan of Sri Otteeswarar  ( my previous visit details click ) and returned home

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMAHA:---