VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Thanthondreeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ தான்தோன்றீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Belur, Salem district, Tamil Nadu.

Wednesday, 22 February 2017

Sri Thanthondreeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ தான்தோன்றீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Belur, Salem district, Tamil Nadu.

19^th February 2017.

Utilizing the opportunity to attend the inauguration of the Salem Historical Research Centre, which functioned as Salem Varalaru Thedal Kuzhu, visited the heritage sites around Belur near Salem on 19^th February 2017. More than 100 participants which includes, Scholars, enthusiasts and College & School students attended this Heritage walk. After the inauguration function, visited the Historical important sites like Sri Thanthondreeswarar Temple, Sri Theerthagireeswarar temple, an inscription stone which speaks about the village Kurichi donated to Sri Theerthagireeswarar at Kurichi, an inscription pillar in the midst of field at Chekkadipattu, which is the evidence of Nayakas direct rule in this area, a Thannasi/ Komari Kal, Mookkaruppu battle the only evidence inscription pillar standing in the midst of a millet field, a Parantaka Chozha – I, inscription at Angala Parameswari Temple and Sri Ashtabuja Bala Madhana Venugopala Swamy temple.

A Royal treatment was given to all the participants by the organizers. I extend my sincere thanks to the organizers Mr. Aragalur Venkatesan Pon, Mr. Kalaiselvan, Mr. Srinivasan, Dr. Ponnambalam, Mr. Jeevanarayanan, Mr. Periyar Mannan, and other organizers. It was a nice experience to interact with history Scholars like Mr. Veeramani Veeraswamy, Mr. Sugavana Murugan, Mr. Mani, Mr. Edappadi Amudhan, and his Facebook friends.

SRI THANTHONDREESWARAR TEMPLE, BELUR

This temple is the earth Sthalam, one of the Pancha bhuta Sthalams, on the banks of river Vashista aka Neevaa aka Vellaru in Salem district. ( The other Pancha bhuta Sthalangal are water – Ethappur, Sri Sambamurtheeswarar, Fire – Attur, Sri Karya Nirmaleswarar, Air- Aarakazhur, Sri Kamanatha Eswarar and Space - Kookaiyur, Sri Swarnapureeswarar ).

Moolavar : Sri Thanthondreeswarar ( Swayambhu )

Consort : Sri Dharmasamvardhini.

Some of the important features of this temple are …

The temple faces east with a 7-tier Rajagopuram. In front of the Rajagopuram, there is a 4 pillar mandapam, a Garuda thoon and a mandapam ( This may be Sri Pachai Kandha Swamigal’s madam, which has to be explored ).

In the outer praharam sannidhi for Pancha bhuta Lingas, Nayanmars, Kalyana Vinayagar, Nagars under dried Sthala Vruksham, Subramanyar, Jyeshta Devi with Manthan and Manthi, Kaliyuga Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Navagrahas, Dhandayuthapani with Vinayagars on both sides under Vanni tree, Kanampulla Nayanar (it was believed that he is one of the 63 Nayanmars who lived here and worshiped lord Than Thontreeswarar), Pichadanar, Bhairavar, Chandran and Suriyan.

Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sannidhi and look cute. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. In artha mandapam urchava murtis. Everyone is a masterpiece of its kind ( it was believed that the icons, Chandrasekar, Uma Maheswarar, Saba Nayagar, and Vinayagar were unearthed while Ploughing the land behind the temple ). In Saba mandapam, Nearby Vazhapadi Shiva temple’s Nataraja looks very nice and the Muyalakan holds a knife, which is very unique, The lamp lady looks awesome. Moolavar is about 3 feet in height, a little rough, and believed to be swayambhu.

Ambal is in a temple like Sannadhi on the left side of Shiva facing east. Stucco dwarapalakis are at the entrance. Ambal is in a standing posture with four hands. The upper hand holds the flowers and lower right hand in abhaya hastha and the left hand in vara hastha.

This relief is above the Palipeedam on the ceiling, is a rare one, which represents to leave aanavam, kanmam, maayai, maamayai and thirothaayi before entering the temple. ( பலிபீடத்திற்கு நேர் மேலே உள்ள சிற்பம், வேறுகோயிலில் காணமுடியாத அபூர்வ சிற்பம். இது ஆணவம், கன்மம், மாயை, மாமாயை, திரோதாயி என்ற இம்மலங்களின் உருவகம் இது ) .

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, maha mandapam and Vasantha mandapam. In maha mandapam Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Rishabam Idabam The special feature of the Rishabam is both front legs are folded, which is very unique). The front mandapam pillars have the reliefs of Jwarakeswarar, Milaku Chettiar, Pachai Kandha Swamigal, Vasistha Muni, Adhikara Nandhi, etc,. The front maha mandapam pillars are of Nayak period Yazhi pillars and a rotating stone ball inside its mouth is a special attraction.

Mr Veeramani Veeraswamy and his ancestor Sri Pachai Kandha Swamy

A relief of a lady on the Artha mandapam pillar – see the hairstyle

HISTORY & INSCRIPTION

Even though it is claimed that the temple is 5000 years old, from evidence found in the form of inscriptions, the temple must be more or less 1200 years old. The sanctum was constructed by Chozhas and the front mandapam was constructed by Nayaks.

There are 5 inscriptions documented so far inside the temple complex. The inscriptions belong to the period of Athithan- II aka Athitha Karikalan, ( 959 CE ), 3 nos of the 11^th century and the 20^th century. As per the inscription the Belur was called Veliyur. The inscriptions mainly speak about the donations given to the temple.

LEGENDS

As per the legend Arjuna had done penance here and prayed to lord shiva, for water to worship him. Lord Shiva shoots an arrow which hits the hill in front of Belur. Water flowed from the place called Vellaru and the hill was called Arunutru Hill. Vashista Maharishi established 5 temples (later called Pancha bhuta Temples) along the river and worshiped Lord Shiva, hence the river was called Vashista River.

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Siva Gurukkal may be contacted through his mobile at +91 96296 07409

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is about 30 KM from Salem and 6 Km from Vazhapadi.

Town buses and share autos are available from Vazhapadi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Dwarabalakar

Jeyeshta Devi with Manthan and Agni matha ( Jyeshta has the trimmed stomach )

The original sthala virukasham was jack fruit tree, which changed to Kattu iluppai due to curse of Vashista Maharishi ( பலா மரமாக இருந்து வசிஷ்டர் சாபத்தால் காட்டிலுப்பையாக மாறியது )

Bhirungi Muni

Natarajar – on the left Manickavasagar

This Natarajar belongs to Vazhapadi Shiva Temple, kept here for safety reasons. . Please note that muyalakan is holding a knife similar to the Natarajar & Muyalakan available at Nallur, which is a rare one. ( இந்த நடராசர் வாழப்பாடி சிவன் கோவிலை சேர்ந்தது. பாதுகாப்பு கருதி இங்கு வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. முயலகன் கையில் கத்தி, நல்லூர் நடராஜர் சிலையில் உள்ள முயலகன் போன்று உள்ளது ) .