Tuesday, 24 April 2018

Thirukachi Nambigal & Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil nadu.

----a continuation post to  Schools of Poonamallee - Exploring Poonamallee - A Heritage Walk
15th April 2018.
The usually locked  avatar mandapa of Thirukachi Nambigal was opened during our heritage walk. Thanks to Temple authorities. Had the darshan of Sri Varadharajar during our recce and skipped during the walk for want of time.


Moolavar : Sri Varadharaja Perumal
Thayar    : Sri Pushpavalli Thayar.

Some of the important details are...
The temple faces west with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are immediately after the Rajagopuram entrance. The entrance to the main sanctum is from the south. In the Prakaram sannadhi for Venkatesa Perumal, Ranganathar, Pushpavalli Thayar,  Andal, and Sri Thirukachi Nambigal. It was believed that Sri Varadharaja Perumal and Sri Ranganathar gave darshan to Sri Thirukachi Nambigal simultaneously in this temple.

LEGENDS
As per the legend Thirukachi Nambigal was born in 1009 AD to Veeraragava  Chetty and Kamalayar as fourth son and his original name was Gajendra Dasar. As per the instruction of Lord Sri Varadharaja Perumal of Kanchipuram, created a Nandhavanam and did Pushpa Kainkaryam daily walking all the way to Kanchipuram. He also done “alavatta Seva’ at Kanchipuram, Srirangam and Tirupati. At one point in time, when he couldn’t walk to do the pushpa Kainkaryam to lord Varadaraja Perumal  of Kanchipuram,  he was dragged to his knees. On seeing his devotion Lord Varadaraja Perumal gave moksha. It is also believed that the Sun and Mars (Angaraga) worshiped Lord Sri Varadharaja Perumal of this temple.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is not known when the temple was constructed and it is believed that the temple might have been built during the Parantaka Chozha –I ( 907 to 954 CE ) period. From the 10th century Parantaka –I’s  inscription, this place was called Nedunjezhiya Vinnagar and the name of this place was called “Poonthanmallai” of Puliyur Kottam.  Also from a 13th-century inscription this place was called Kuzhukaanipakkathuagaram, under Mangadu Nadu of  Jayankonda Cholamandalam, and the temple was called Perumal Koil or Pillaikoil.

One of the 13th-century inscriptions speaks about Cheran Ravivarman Kulasekaran defeating the Pandya king Sadayavarman Sundara Pandiyan-II and bifurcated Kaliyuga Ramanallur from Agaram and named it  Chera Pandiya Chaturvedi Mangalam and granted to Marayur.

The temple also has the contributions of the Vijayanagara Dynasty and Nayaks. The  unjal mandapam was built by Achuthappa nayakar. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS  
Annual Brahmotsavam will be conducted from May- to June and Thirukachi Nambigal utsav will be conducted from Feb to March.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept open between 06.30 hrs to 11.30 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:
The temple website:
The landline number is +91 44 26272066

HOW TO REACH:
Very close to Poonamallee Bus stand. Lot of Town buses are available from major part of the city.
Poonamallee is on the way to Kanchipuram from Chennai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE




 An abandoned Pillar 
 The Pillars available at Arignar Anna School may belong to this mandapam 



 Vijayanagara period trade mark Herdsman 
 Avathara mandapa of Thirukachi Nambigal,
 Avathara mandapa of Thirukachi Nambigal,
Avathara mandapa of Thirukachi Nambigal,
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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