Sri Asthrapureeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ அஸ்தரபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Anoor, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

27^th August, 2017.

After Kumbhabhishekam of  Sri Munkumeeswarar Temple at P.V. Kalathur, Chengalpattu,  we continued our journey to Anoor on the banks of River Palar. The temple is about 12 KM from Chengalpattu.

Moolavar : Sri Asthrapureeswarar
Consort   : Sri Soundara Valli  

The Salient features of this temple are...

The temple faces East with a Deepasthambam and an entrance arch. Nandhi, Palipedam, and the platform for Dwajasthambam are immediately after the entrance arch. 

In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, and Durgai. Came to know that some of the statues were stolen. It was interesting to note that Dwarabalakars, Vinayagar, and Murugan are as reliefs chiseled at the entrance of the sanctum. Pallava and early Chozha period Thavvai /  Jyeshta with Manthan and Manthi /Agni matha and a Vinayagar are found on the south side Praharam wall. Construction of  Vinayagar and Subramaniyar sannadhis is in progress.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of a Sanctum Sanctorum, Antarala, Artha mandapam and a muka mandapam. Now only the pillars are standing in the muka mandapam. The pillars are simple without ornamental capital.

 
The temple was built with stone and Vimana with brick. The Temple and the Praharam walls are in dilapidated condition and renovation is in progress. (Understood R.E.A.C.H Foundation under the leadership of Mr. Sathyamurthy involved in the renovation of this temple). Renovation is being carried out in a traditional way of using lime mortar.

HISTORY

Kootruva Nayanar and Pugazzhendi lived here. The original temple was built by Pallava King Vijaya Kamba Varman during the 7^th century. His son Aparajitha Varman was defeated by the Chozha King Adhithya Chozha-I, this paved the way for the Chozha's regime. After the Pallavas, the temple had the contributions of Chozha kings Pranthaka, Rajaraja, Kulothunga, and Nayakas during the Vijayanagara period. As per the inscription this place was called "Sathyasraya Kulakala Chaturvedi Mangalam" and also Aniyur, Anniyur, and Adhiyur. This place was under Jayankonda Chozha mandalathu Kalathur Kottathu, Kalathur Nadu. Lord Shiva was called "Thiruvampangattu Mahadevar".  

The inscriptions on the sanctum wall belong to 6^th to 7th-century Pallavas, 9th-century Chozhas, and 16th-century Vijayanagara period  The Rajendra Chozha period inscription speaks about musical instruments like Padagam, Thimilai, Karadigai, Kalam, and Sekandi. 

The Pallava King Kamba Varman period inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Aithara Kiramaviththan.  

 

 Inscriptions

 Inscriptions

LEGEND

As per the legend, Arjunan has got the Pasupatha Aasthra from Lord Shiva of this temple. Hence Lord Shiva is called Asthrapureeswarar and the hill nearby is called Asthra Hill.

It is also believed that court cases and encumbrances will be relieved after worshiping Lord Shiva and Ambal of this temple. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 a Lotus panel on the ceiling

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---