Swastika Well, Thiruvellarai, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu.

05^th November 2017.

One of the main attractions of this Trichy, Srirangam Heritage Walk is the Swastika Well, at Thiruvellarai close to Sri Pundarikaksha Perumal Temple. This well-digging work was started during the 4^th year of the rule of Pallava King Dhandhi varman (800 CE) and completed in his 5^th year of rule to a depth of about 35 feet and with 45 steps. The well was dug by Alambakkathu Vijayanallulan Thambi ( brother ) Kamban Aryan.  The well is also called “Marbidigu Kinaru”. The well was reconstructed during the 13th century by Posala (maybe Hoysala ) Veera Ramanathan's period a Kudanthai ( Kumbakonam ) vanikan ( Merchant ) Uyyaneri Kaattinaan.

 

 The Panoramic view of the Swastika well 

The bottom of the well can be approached from four directions with L-shaped steps. This shape shortens the length of the steps and makes it easy to climb up and down.  The four arms of the steps join the side of the well forming the shape of the symbol Swastika. The swastika is considered a sign of good fortune came from ancient Aryans. ( This symbol was also adopted by Hitler, the dictator of Germany ).  During our visit, there was no water inside the well and we could climb down to the bottom.  The well is being maintained by the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department.  The steps have two intermediate supports with reliefs of Hindu deities.

On the east side parapet semi-circular wall rail stone blocks, has two Tamil inscriptions.  One is in the form of text and the other is in the form of a poem. The Tamil version of the inscriptions and the meanings are as follows.

THE INSCRIPTION – 1.
ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீ பாரத்வாஜ கோத்ரத்தின் வழித்தோன்றிய பல்லவ திலக குலோத்பவன் தந்திவர்மற்கு யாண்டு நான்காவதெடுத்துக் கொண்டு ஐந்தாவது முற்றுவித்தான்

ஆலம்பாக்க விசையநல்லுழான் தம்பி கம்பன் அரையன் திருவெள்ளறை தென்னூற்ப் பெருங்கிணறு இதன்பியர் மார்ப்பிடுகு பெருங்கிணறென்பது இது ரக்ஷிப்பார் இவ்வூர் மூவாயிரத்தெழு நூற்றுவரோம் ( In some  books this is not mentioned ) 

The inscription records that the Pallava king Dhandhi Varman belongs to Bharadwaja Gotra and was praised as Thilaka Kulothbavan. The well digging / Excavating work was started during his 4^th year of rule and completed in the 5^th year of rule. The well was dug by Alambakkathu Vijayanallulan Thambi ( brother ) Kamban Aryan.  The well is also called “Marbidigu Kinaru”. The well was taken care of by the business group called “Moovayirathu Thelunutruvar”. This inscription also conveys the message of the unstableness of this world and that we have to do such good deeds for society.

THE INSCRIPTION – 2. This inscription is in the form of Poem.

ஸ்ரீ கண்டார் காணார் உலகத்திற் காதல் செய்து நில்லாதேய் பண்டேய் பரமன் படைத்த நாள்பார்த்து நின்று நையாதேய்

தண்டார் மூப்பு வந்துன்னை-த்தளரச்செய்து நில்லாமுன் உண்டேல் உண்டு மிக்குது உலகமும் அறைய வைமிந்நேய்

The Poem says that people seen today may not be seen tomorrow in this world. This poem also conveys the unstableness of this world, before we get older and die, we have to do good deeds to this society.  (Thanks to Thenkongu Sadasivam & Dr Ma. Bhavani for the Tamil script ).

 Inscriptions 

 Inscriptions 

 Inscriptions 

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is situated between Trichy to Thuraiyur Road, 13 km from the bus stop.

Town bus is available from Srirangam

Since there is no boarding and lodging facility, the devotees are advised to take care before going to this temple.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE 

   View from bottom 

 Bottom of the well

 Reliefs on the lintel support - Yoga Narasimhar 

 Reliefs on the lintel support 

 Reliefs on the lintel support - Perumal with Sridevi and Bhoodevi 

 Reliefs on the lintel support - seems to be Dhakshinamurthy 

 Reliefs on the lintel support - Swan 

 Reliefs on the lintel support - Vinayaga at the center

 Fragments of statues 

 Fragments of statues 

 Fragments of statues 

 Fragments of statues

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---