Sri Sthambeswarar Temple / Avanibhajana Pallaveshwaram Temple - a Rock Cut cave Temple at Seeyamangalam, near Vandavasi, Thiruvannamalai / Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu. NEAR VANDAVASI, THIRUVANNAMALAI.

26^th November 2017.

Visit to this cave temple was a part of the Heritage Visit to Vallam, Seeyamangalam, Thirumalpadi, and Kanchipuram temples, caves, and Heritage structures. After visiting Thirumalpadi Sri Ranganathar Temple headed towards this rock cut Cave Temple at Seeyamangalam. Visited this cave temple earlier along with the R.E.A.C.H. Foundation, a part of the epigraphy field Visit.  11 heritage enthusiasts led by Mr. Venkatesh visited this rock-cut cave temple on 26^th November 2017.

It was drizzling when we landed and stopped after we came out of the cave. When we reached it was around 13.00 hrs and the Gurukal was kind enough to open the temple and explained us.

Moolavar    : Sri Sthambeswarar

Consort      : Sri Maragathavalli

Some of the important features of this temple are…

An early period Vinayagar facing east at the entrance of the Gate welcomes us. The temple faces west with a 4-tier Rajagopuram on the north side. There is a mandapam abutting the rajagopuram. There are two empty shrines built before the mukha mandapam. Rishabam mandapam and balipeedam are in front of Mukha mandapam.

Ambal,  Bairavar, Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar and Navagrahas are in the maha mandapam.  There is also a Vamana statue in the mandapam. A Murugan Sannidhi is on a small boulder with steps chiseled on the rock to climb.

Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the cave sanctum. The left side of dwarapalakas headgear has the horn and it was said that Yama guards Shiva in the form of Dwarapalaka. The mandapa pillars have the relief of Natarajar, Rishabandhikar, and warriors. The details of Natarajar's relief are worth watching. The warrior's facial expressions are like before and after the war. It was not known how the Shiva Linga was moved inside the sanctum with a small doorway.

 

Dwarapalakas, similar to Vallam rock-cut cave 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of a Sanctum sanctorum, a sanctum, an artha mandapam ( both are rock-cut caves), a maha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam (which are built separately at a later stage ). Above the sanctum rock is a three-tier vimana like a Raja Gopuram.

LEGENDS  

According to the legend, Shiva is in the form of a sthambam, and Gurukkal showed us a sthambam in the midst of a small lake by the side of this rock-cut cave temple. (According to the experts, this is a menhir, which will be written separately.) 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

According to the inscriptions, this temple was called "Avanibhajana Pallaveshwaram" Temple. This rock-cut cave was excavated during the 7th century by Mahendravarman I ( 600 to 630 AD). This rock-cut cave temple is under the control of the Archeological Survey of India ( ASI ). 

One of the Rajaraja-III's 12th reign-year Tamil poem inscriptions on a boulder below the Murugan temple reads as...

"திருமன்னு சீராச ராசதே வற்குத்

திருந்தியஆண்டு ஆறிரண்டில் சீயமங் கலத்தில்

தருமன்னு பொழில்தன்மீச் சரத்துறைவார் தமக்குத்

தனியானை மலைசூழத் திருவீதி கண்டான்

மருமன்னு நந்தவனம் கோபுரமும் வாவி

மதகுமதிள் திருவெடுத்துக் கட்டிமத்தும் செய்தான்

அருள்மன்னு கொடைப்பாரி அம்மையப்பன் செம்மை

அடைந்தவா ரலையன்கிளி வைஅதிக மானே".

மூன்றாம் இராசராச சோழரின் பன்னிரண்டாம் ஆட்சியாண்டில் கிளிவை அதிகமான் என்பவர் தன்மீச்வரம் என்ற அந்தக் கோவிலுக்குக் கொடுத்த கொடைகளை விவரிக்கிறது இந்தப் பாடல் கல்வெட்டு. கிளிவை அதிகமான் பாரியைப் போன்றவர் என்று புகழப்படுகிறார். அம்மையப்பன் என்ற பெயரும் அவருக்கு உண்டு.

யானை உலாவரும் திருவீதி, நந்தவனம், கோபுரம், மதகு, திரு எடுத்துக்கட்டி ஆகியவைகளை உருவாக்கினார்.

தகவல் : தமிழ்க் கல்வெட்டுப் பாடல்கள்

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Rajasekara Gurukkal, mobile number 9578160058, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

Seeyamangalam is about 130 KM from Chennai and 66 KM from Kanchipuram and 25 km from Vandavasi via Mazhaiyur and Desur.

Town bus Route No 144  from Vandavasi to Gingee and a private Bus from Desur to Gingee pass through the Village and this Jain cave is about a KM from the Village.

Auto is also available from Desur.

LOCATION OF THE CAVE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Rishabhanthikar

head crown with horns - may be soolam but the Gurukkal claims as Yama.

It was said that this relief of Nataraja in Anandha thandavam is the first and earliest. Natarajar is not dancing on muyalakan and the cobra is on the ground with its raised hood. One Shiva gana is playing a musical instrument muzhavu sitting on a stool and the other is worshiping Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is with 4 hands, the upper hand holds fire and Mazhu and the lower right hand in abhaya hastham and othe ther in dola hastham.  The waving of hair to the rhythm of dance was beautifully chiseled.   

Vamana statue

The warrior's expression before and after the war

 The warrior's expression before and after the war

Murugan temple

The Sthambam in the middle of the lake is a part of the Hill (Some of the Experts of the opinion that this may be a  menhir)

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Ranganathar Temple / ஸ்ரீ ரங்கநாத பெருமாள் கோவில், திருமால்பாடி / Thirumalpadi, Vandavasi, Thiruvannamalai / Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

26^th November 2017.

The visit to this Perumal temple was a part of Heritage Visit to Vallam, Thirumalpadi, Seeyamangalam and Kanchipuram. We reached the temple one hour behind the scheduled time of 11.00 hrs and the Bhattar was waiting for us. The Temple is on a small hill and the village spreads around it. A Technical person turned to priest  explained to us the details  of the temple and finally distributed prasad to all of us. 

Moolavar : Sri Ranganathar

Thayar    : Sri Ranganayaki

Some of the important features of this temple are...

The temple on a small hill with 106 steps ( which reminds the 108 divya desams excepting Thiruparkadal and Paramapadham ),  facing  east. The 3 tier Rajagopuram is on the south. There is a urchava mandapam on the left side of Rajagopuram.  The mandapam may belongs to 16^th to 17^th century. The pillars has the reliefs of, Krishna, Iyannar, Vinayagar, dancing ladies, Yazhi, man, clown etc,.

The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam and a maha mandapam. Sri Ranganathar is in reclining posture on Adhiseshan. Thayar’s symbol srivatsam, a triangle is on Sri Ranganathar’s chest. Perumal’s head is resting on a marakal  like in Srirangam. While his right hand's three fingers are touching  head, the other two fingers are in folded condition. His face is not looking up but, little inclined towards devotees, ie Perumal in  blessing posture and this type of sayana is called as boga sayana. Sridevi & Bhudevi are sitting by the side of perumal, Bhaktha Prahalada and Suka Brahma Rishi are in worshiping posture. Urchavaras Perumal with Sridevi, Bhoodevi and Lakshmi are in front of moolavar.

Separate sannidhis for Thayar Sri Ranganayaki, Andal, Anjaneyar and Alwars.

  

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS

There are inscriptions on the base of the sanctum. From the inscriptions the temple was built during 1136 CE. ( During this period Kulothunga Chozha - II ruled Chozha dynasty and he is against Vaishnavism. Then how come it is mentioned here is not known. Vikrama Chozha is not the son of Parantaka Chozha as claimed. But in the temple it is written as Parantaka Chozha's son Vikrama Chozha, which is wrong ). 

LEGENDS

It was told that devotees used to pray Perumal to remove marriage obstacles, Child boon,  to get a transfer to the people working in Govt. services to a place where they wants, etc,. The perumal is also known as Transfer Perumal in tamil - as அருள்மிகு திருமால்பாடி டிரான்ஸ்ஃபர் பெருமாள்

POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS:
Brahmotsavam is not conducted and only important functions like Chitra Pournami, Garuda seva, Krishna Jayanthi, Karthigai Deepam, Vaikunta ekadasi, Pongal are celebrated.  There is no Vahanas in this temple. Urchavars are taken to veethi uzha  during festival days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will get opened between 07.00 hrs to 10.30 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The contact  Mobile numbers of Chakkaravarthi archakar are +91 8072889957 and +91 98654 54998

Battar Sri Chakkaravarthi may be contacted on his mobile and email address is dchakkaravarthi73@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/Thirumalpadi.SRIRANGANATHAR.Temple

HOW TO REACH:

2 km from Seeyamangalam  and Seeyamangalam is about 130 KM from Chennai and 66 KM from Kanchipuram and 25 km from Vandavasi via Mazhaiyur and Desur.

Town bus Route No 144  from Vandavasi to Gingee and a private Bus from Desur to Gingee  passes through Seeyamangalam.

Autos are also available from Desur.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Stucco image of Pallikonda Perumal on the Rajagopuram

Yazi

  

Krishna

Krishna

 

 Ayyanar 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Vallam - A Pallava Period 7th Century Rock Cut Cave Temple, near Chengalpattu, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

26^th November 2017.

The heritage visit to this 7^th century Mahendra Varman – I ( 600 to 630 CE)  period rock cut caves at Vallam, near Chengalpattu was planned along with Thirumalpadi, Seeyamangalam and Kanchipuram temples about 2 weeks before and could not do it due to rain. The same was materialised on 26^th November 2017 and 11 heritage enthusiasts participated in this visit led by Mr Venkatesh. 

  

The sky was overcast with clouds and not clear throughout the day. Hence the pictures taken are not clearer than expected, but we enjoyed a lot during this heritage visit.  This time the Gurukal responded to our request and was present before our arrival. He also allowed us to take photographs. Had the chance of viewing the Dwarapalakas very close. 

Some of the photos taken are uploaded in this post and The details of this temple, inscriptions, and photos taken during my earlier visit are also uploaded in this blog.

Vinayagar on the left side of the cave – see the posture !!!

Thavvai on the right side of the cave – Jyeshta devi

Dwarapalakas ( see the horns on the headgear )

Vishnu Durgai on the side of the lower cave

The Gurukal showed the ornaments,  of Ambal and claimed that  the anklets are made of metal with a mixture of mercury and the precious stones used in the nose stud are diamond.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA--- 

A Jain cave with tirthankaras Bas-relief Panel, at Seeyamangalam, Vandavasi, Thiruvannamalai / Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu. TAGE VISIT.

26^th November 2017.

This 9^th century ( 892 AD) Jain Rock cut cave Visit was a part of Heritage Visit to Vallam, Pallava Period Rock cut caves, Thirumalpadi  Vishnu Temple Seeyamangamlam Shiva Temple.

After the darshan of Sri Sthambeswarar at  Seeyamangalam Rock cut cave temple, the Gurukkal advised us to visit this Jain’s cave also. This cave is on a small hillock  called Vijayadri. There is a Bas-relief panel above the cave and the cave is about 25 to 30 feet above the ground level, facing east. As per the Grantha inscriptions the bas relief was done during 9^th century by the Ganga King Rajamalla –II. 

The Bas-relief panel consists of Mahavir in Padmasana & meditating posture, Parshvanath under snake hood and Bahubali with his sisters Bhrami and Sundari on both sides. Both Parshvanath and Bahubali are in standing posture. Attendants Padmavati and Dharanendra are shown by the side of Parshvanath. Above Bahubali two gandharvas holding boulders. Indran on an elephant is also shown on the right top of the panel above Bahubali.

 Mahavir in padmasana sitting posture on the left, Parshvanatha with Padmavati & Daranendra  in centre and Bahubali with his sisters on the right.  

From the  Tamil & grantha inscription ( mentioned as Dravida Sangam ), it was under stood that, Nandi Sanga Jain monks lived here. A monk called Vajra nandi, a disciple of Gunaviradevar  built steps to this cave. Those steps has been replaced by concrete in the recent years and a Mahaveer statue was also installed.

HOW TO REACH:

Seeyamangalam is about 130 KM from Chennai and 66 KM fom Kanchipuram and 25 km from Vandavasi via Mazhaiyur and Desur.

Town bus Route No 144  from Vandavasi to Gingee and a private Bus from Desur to Gingee  passes through the Village and this Jain cave is about a KM from the Village.

Auto is also available from Desur. 

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Bahubali with his sisters and Indra on elephant

  Old stone steps has been replaced with Concrete Steps

Mahavir 

The Team ( Pic – Mr Balasubramaniyan)

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Devi Karumari Amman Temple, Vazhaithoppu, Ellai Amman Koil Street, West Mambalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

19^th November 2017

While searching for the Ellai Amman Temples of West Mambalam, I came across this temple in the housing board Colony on Ellaiamman Koil Street.

Main Deity: Sri Devi Karumari Amman.

Some of the important details are as follows...

The entrance arch is on the roadside and the temple faces east. This is a very simple temple with a sanctum and an antarala, which is about 100 meters off the main road. Balipeedam and vahana simham are in front. Urchava murti is in the antarala. Vinayagar and Sri Subramaniar are at the entrance of the sanctum.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Aadi Month's annual function is celebrated in a grand manner. The poojas are conducted by non-Brahmin priests.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple is kept open for darshan between 7.00 Hrs to 10.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is on Ellaiamman Koil Street and is about a km from the Mettupalayam bus stop and about 2 km from the Mambalam Sub-Urban railway station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA--- 

Sri Ilangali Amman / அருள்மிகு இளங்காளியம்மன் கோயில் and Nava Durga Devi Temple, Vazhaithoppu West Mambalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

19^th November 2017.

The name attracts me to visit this temple, on the way to Ellam Amman Koil Street. During my search on Ellai Amman Temples of West Mambalam, came across this Temple.

Main Deity: Sri Ilangali Amman.

Some of the important features of this temple are …

This temple is facing north with a 3 tier Raja gopuram. Soolam, balipeedam and Vahanam Simham are in the mandapam. Amman seems to be old and in a sitting posture. Sannadhis for Iyappan, Navagrahas, Anjaneyar, and Vinayagar, Nagars under peepal / Bodhi tree.  

Nava Durga was installed on a 9-base pedestal with a sthambam and a stucco image of an elephant on the top.  Perumal is in reclining posture on the south side entrance Arch. The temple belongs to mid 20^th century.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is on the Jothi Ramalingam Street of Ellaiamman Koil Street in West Mambalam

Very Near to Srinivasa Theatre, Mettupalayam Bus stop, West Mambalam Sri Kasi Viswanathar, and Kothanda Ramar Temple.

About 2 KM from T Nagar Bus depot and Sub Urban Railway Station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Nava Durgai Pedam with sthambam

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---