09th
July 2017.
This 400-year-old Shiva temple is a little off from Adithanar main
Road in the busy market area of old automobile parts, at Komaleeswaranpet, Pudupet on the banks of Vriddha Ksheera River, now called Holy River Koovam.
Moolavar : Sri Komaleeswarar
Consort : Sri Komalavalli
Some
of the important features of this temple are...
The
temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Palipedam, and Rishabami are immediately after the Rajagopuram. Murugan and Vinayagar are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is swayambhu. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, and Durgai.
In the outer praharam Chandikeswarar, Ayyappan, Navagrahas, Bairavar, and Agasthiya Vinayagar. In the
inner praharam sannadhi for Sankatahara
Chaturthi Vinayagar, Naalvar, Natarajar with Sivagami and Sri Kamalambika / Komalavalli.
Ambal is in a separate sannidhi in the maha mandapam. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. A balipeedam and a Rishabam are in front of Ambal sannidhi in the praharam.
The pillars have the relief of a cow shedding milk on
Shiva Linga, The king worshiping Komaleeswara, etc,. The ceiling has the
reliefs of crocodiles and Solar and Lunar eclipse by showing the snakes swallowing the sun and moon. The sthala vruksham is the mahavilvam a rare bilva / vilva tree.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple complex consists of Sanctum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, pushba pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. A two tier brick nagara vimanam is on the bhumi desam. Shiva Dakshinamurhty, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are on the tala and greeva koshtams.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple was constructed by King Chandragiri about 400 years before and later Rajagopuram was added. One of the specialties of this temple is paavai Vilakku (Lady holding a lamp made of brass).
A
saint lady Chakkarathammal / Anandhammal or Sakkarai Ammal, a young widow
lived in a madam outside this temple and gained remarkable powers by
worshiping Lord Shiva and practicing yoga. With the powers she, used to
fly around the temple during nights. On hearing this many people became her
devotees and one Dr. Nanjunda Rao extended support with
materials to her. She attained jeeva Samadhi at the age of 47 and her Samadhi was built near Kalakshetra in
Thiruvanmiyur. Also, it was told that Pachaiyappa Mudaliar takes a bath in the river Koovam before
worshiping Lord Komaleeswarar.
As
per the inscriptions renovation of madappalli was carried out by Mrs Kuppammal, wife of Babu Sah, a
Saurashtrian textile merchant in the year 1818 CE. (Some of the details Ref: The book on 'The Gods of Holy River Koovam' by Priya Baskaran)
LEGENDS
As per the legend, a cow was shedding milk on an anthill on the banks of Vriddha Ksheera River also now called Koovam River. On seeing this the boys herding cows chased the cow. In the process of running the cow’s utter hits the anthill and breaks a portion of it. Hence Shiva Lingam inside the Anthill was called Komadiswara (Ko – cow, Madi – utter), which turned into Komaleeswarar.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The
temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to
21.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Chandrasekara
Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile 9884198142 for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
Just a walkable distance from Pudupet (old automobile shops) bus stop and behind the Police
help booth.
Town
buses are available from Various parts of the city and the bus stop is Pudupet.
Chintadripet suburban Railway station is about 2 km and LIC Metro is just a km.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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