Thursday 29 November 2018

Sri Thiruveethi Amman Temple / ஸ்ரீ திருவீதி அம்மன் கோயில், வேளச்சேரி / Velachery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

24th November 2018
This is one of the Thiruveethi Amman temple constructed in and around Chennai for a village deity. Usually most of Amman temples in Chennai will have similar features, like sitting postures, the weapons ( Damaru, Soolam, Pasam ), rarely with abhaya varada hastham. In front of the main idol a head of Amman with Snake hood will be installed.


Main Deity : Sri Thiruveethi Amman ( Putru Koyil )

Some of the important features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Stucco images of Padma Nidhi and Sangu Nidhi, two of the 9 nidhis of Kubera are in the Rajagopuram written as Kuberan.

Palipedam, Dwajasthambam and simham are in front immediately after the Rajagopuram.  The Sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum and an artha mandapam. Iraivi Thiruveethi Amman is sitting in sukhasana posture. She is holding the soolam damaru, pasam in the hands. Putru or the ant hill is in the artha mandapam. Amman’s other forms adorn as koshta moorthams.

In the prakaram Sanadhi for Sri Viswanathar Shiva temple with his consort Visalakshi ( facing south ), Gayathri, Saraswaty, Nagars, Saptamatrikas ( facing south ),  Saibaba, Ashta Lakshmi’s on a lotus pedestal and a urchava mandapam.

It was told that the original temple is 150 years old, but renovations were done in the recent years to look as new with concrete / granite and tile floors.

Devotees gather large numbers on Fridays. Aஅdi month 3 days festival will be celebrated in a grand manner with annathanam and Amman will be taken in procession. 
   
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:
The temple office may be contacted for further details on the mobiles 9884896128.

HOW TO REACH:
The temple is off Gandhi Road, in Thiruveethi Amman Koil street.
About 1 KM from Gandhi Road bus stop and Sri Dhandeeswarar Shiva Temple.
Velachery MRTS railway station is about 3 KM and Guindy Sub-urban railway station is about 5 KM.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE


 Ashta Lakshmi's lotus pedestal 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Tuesday 27 November 2018

Sri Selliamman Temple / Sri Chelliamman Temple, a Village Deity, Near Vellore Bus stand, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

18th November 2018.
This Sri Selliamman temple is a part of new Bus stand, of Vellore on the banks of river Palar. This Sri Selliamman is part of a Saptamatrikas and here Chamundi is worshiped as Sri Selliamman. On both sides Veerabhadra and Vinayagar. Usually Sri Selliamman is a Village  or water body guarding deity and she will be having a ferocious look. Selliamman in the temple is in sitting sukhasana posture with jawala mudi, holding damru, soolam, pasam and Kapalam in the 4 hands.


The Temple is facing East with a sanctum and a mukha mandapam. The temple is about 8 feet below the road level. Muniswaran, Vinayagar and Nagar are on the back side of the Amman sanctum. Under a neem tree baked terracotta statues of elephants  with man sitting on it was offered by the devotees.  A bell tower with old bell is on the left side entrance. The sthala vrukshas are Bamboo, Athi and Neem tree. It was told that the original temple was very old may be 1000 years, but no evidences are found in the temple. The temple was renovated in 1983 by TKB Sundaram, a bus owner  as per the instruction of Amman who told this in his dream.

LEGENDS
As per the legend the temple was built by the two brothers namely Bommi & Thimmi who flooded to Vellore from Karnataka fearing the killing by their cousins. The king allotted a land for the temple and their stay. These two brothers chased out the dacoits from the village with the grace of Sri Selliamman. Seeing this, the villagers also started worshiping Sri Selliamman as their kulatheivam. 

Large number of devotees turned on Fridays and Silver Chariot will be pulled around the sanctum. Devotees also tie swings on the bamboo tree for getting a child. It was told that Special poojas will be conducted to this Amman before any celebration at Sri Jalakandeswarar Temple in the fort. Devotees believes that Sri Selliamman will give solutions for all their problems and will never return with empty handed.


TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:
The following numbers  +91 416 2246969, +91 9442379290 and +91 8015333328 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:
The  Temple is on one side of the new bus terminus.
Town buses are available from Old Bus stand.
Nearest Railway station is Katpadi about 5 KM.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE





 Sthala Vrukshas, Bamboo, Athi and Neem.


 Terracotta / suduman images offered by the devotees

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Monday 26 November 2018

Sri Chandramouleeswarar Temple, Brahmadesam, ( NATTERI ) near Arcot, Thiruvannamalai / Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

17th November 2018
I was very curious to see this temple, since some people are referring this temple at Brahmadesam, as a Pallipadai Temple of Rajendra Chozha-I ( False claim and details are given below - Google map also mentions the same as Rajendra Chozha Temple ). When I searched in google map for Brahmadesam, it showed 3 places, one near Esalam & Ennayiram, other one near Ambasamudram and another one near Arcot. Two weeks before we had been to the Brahmadesam Brahmapureeswarar Temple  near Ennayiram and Esalam. This week had the opportunity of visiting this Brahmadesam near Arcot popularly known as Natteri Brahmadesam. This is the one which  I wished to visit.


Moolavar : Sri Chandramouleeswarar /Tiruppondai-Perumanadigal 

Some of important features of this temple are…
The dilapidated temple was reconstructed by the Archaeological Survey of India ( A S I ). The details mentioned here are the present status of the temple. The Temple is facing east.  Rishabam is in the artha mandapam. 

ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, Artha mandapam and an open mukha mandapam. An incomplete entrance Rajagopuram is on the north side of the temple.

The Vimana over the sanctum is of 2 tiers  with images on 4 sides. The 2 tier Vimana is a mixture of Pallava and Ganga architecture.  Here Iraivan name is mentioned Kuzhandhai Mahadevar.The Sanctum devakoshtas are empty now. The sanctum is of simple pathabhandha adhisthana with 3 face kumudha. Boothavari with kabotham is above the koshtam. Square pilasters with kumbam, kalasam, palakai etc., are there on the side walls.



HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The sanctum walls has the Pallava & Chozha period inscriptions. Originally the temple was built by the Pallavas in 9th century and latter Chozhas ( Paranthagar-I, Paarthiventhiran and Rajaraja Kulothunga-I.) expanded the temple. The inscription proves that the temple was built during Vijaya Kampavarma Pallavan ( Son of Nandhivarman-III)  in 9th Century. The adhisthana stones are sand stones, which is a favorite feature in Pallava temples in and around Kanchipuram.

The Place Brahmadesam was called as Rajamalla Chaturvedi Mangalam and latter  from Rajaraja-I’s period this place was called as Parakrama Chaturvedi mangalam. This temple sanctum was built by the Pallavas during 9th Century and latter extended by the Chozhas. There are 77 inscription in this temple belongs to Pallavas & Chozhas. The earliest inscription is the Kambavarman’s 20th year Rule inscription. The rest belongs to  Parantaka –I, Kannaradevan, Parthiventhiran, Rajarajan-I, Rajendran, Kulothungan. Rajarajan-I’s 31st year rule inscription proves that he ruled for 31 years instead 27 years as claimed by some Historians, Also Parthiventhiravarman’s title “Vira Pandyan Thalai Konda” inscription starts only from this temple.

It is a fact that Rajendra Chozha at the age of 80, lived in Brahmadesam and died. His wife Veera Mahadevi also ends her life by jumping in the funeral fire ( Sati). It was told that his brother-in-law had established charities in many places for distributing water ( Thanneer Pandal ) to the people in memory of Rajendra Chozha and his wife and the is inscribed in this temple. To prove the temple was built in 9th century by Pallavas, a sample inscription from South India inscriptions states as...  
No. 107.
(A. R. No. 227 of 1915).
Brahmadesam, Cheyyar Taluk, North Arcot District.

It is stated in this record of Vijaya-Kampavarman, dated in the 20th year, that a member of the alum-ganattar of Kavadippakkam in Paduvur-kottam made a gift of 11 kalanju of gold for supplying, from the interest on this amount, water to the village may be identified with Brahmadesam itself where the present inscription is found. Since we find an inscription of the Ganga king Rajamalla, the grandson of Sripurusha at Vallimalai[3] not very far from Brahmadesam, Rajamalla-chaturvedimangalam, may have been called so after this Ganga king. It may be mentioned that in the region surrounding Brahmadesam there are villages called Sripurushamangalam[4] and Ranavikrama chaturvedimangalam[5] which must have been named after the Ganga kings Sripurusha and Ranavikrama, the grandfather and father respectively of Rajamalla. The name of the god at Brahmadesam viz., Tiruppondai-Perumanadigal is uncommon in the Tamil country and it is probably to be traced to some Ganga or Western Chalukya[6] princess.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
Since this temple is under the control of Archaeological Survey Of India, kept open all the time.

HOW TO REACH:
Brahmadesam ( Natteri ) is in middle of Arcot ( 27 KM ) and Kanchipuram ( 26 KM )
Town bus facility is available from Kanchipuram No 4 and from Arcot route no 36.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE











 The inner view of entrance gopuram



A small shrine may be for Vinayagar
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sunday 25 November 2018

Sri Thirukandeshwarar Temple at Chakkaramallur, near Arcot, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

17th November 2018.
It was around 13.00 hrs when we are crossing the Chakkaramallur Shiva temple. Knowing that the temple might have closed and want to test our luck. On reaching Chakkaramallur, the temple was found closed as expected. When asked to open the door for us, the trustee accepted with hesitation and open the door for darshan of Lord shiva. Thanks to the Trustee and Lord Shiva.


Moolavar    : Sri Thirukandeshwarar
Consort      : Sri Tripura Sundari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with an entrance arch on south. On the top stucco images of Shiva with Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar and Subramaniyar. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Nandhi are in the outer prakaram.

In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai. In the artha mandapam sannidhi for Kasi Visalakshi  with Kasi Viswanathar and Ganapathy. Ambal Sannidhi is attached to the Maha mandapam facing south. Navagrahas, Subramaniyar and Vinayagar sannidhis are in Maha mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE
The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, Antarala, Artha mandapam, Maha mandapam and front mandapam. A Gajabirushta vimana is on the sanctum built with brick and mortar. The sanctum was built with Green stone is a specialty of this temple.

The pratibandha adhistanam is on a raised upanam and padmabeedam. The Pratibandha adhistanam consists of jagathy, vrutha kumudam and viyyalavari. The Bhitti starts with vedhika. The salas are of padra salas protruding little outside. Brahma kantha pilaster are with malaithongal, kalasam, kudam, plain mandi, palaka, veerakandam and vettu & poo mottu pothyals. Pancharas are on the out side wall of antarala. 

The Prastaram consists of valapi, Kapotham and Viyyalavari. Nasi koodus are on the kapotham. The wall / Bhitti is raised up to the first level. Maha Vishnu, Brahma are in the greeva kostam.  


 Gajabirushta Vimana sanctum built with green stone


HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
This temple might have been built during 12th Century or before. Maximum number of  Vikrama Chozha ( 1118- 1135 CE ) Inscriptions with meikeerthi are found in the sanctum walls, adhistanam and Kumudam. The inscriptions mainly speaks about donations of land given to the temple and the Village. ( Thanks to Saravanan Raja of Incredible Vellore Facebook page )

As per the inscriptions this place was called as "Chakramoothoor" / Chakramudur also called as "Narlokaveera Nallur". ( The Chozha King Vikrama Chozha named one of his Chieftain Arumbakkathu Kalingarayan as "Naralogaveeran" appreciating his bravery and the Village name as Naraloga Veera Nallur ). After completing the thirupani at Thillai as per the King's order, he had done thirupani to this temple also ).

During severe draught in this area a King called Veeraprathaban distributed rice and saved the people. This is inscribed in the form of a song, and the same reads as....

மண்ணி லெங்கும் நெல்லிலா
திருந்தகா விரை எல்லா வழங்கு
சக்கிர புரி தழைக்க வாழி திரந்து விட்டவ
முதுகால்திண்ணில்ம் பரந்த குன்
இராயன் மந்திரி கிரி வை வாழ் சைவ
சக்கிர பிரதாபனே!  

As per ARE 1939 - 44
The Chozha King Tribhuvana Charavarthi Rajarajadeva's 15th reign year inscription records the endowment of 500 Kuli land for the early morning service in the temple of Mukkannadevar ar Chakramudur in Damarkottamof Jayangonda Chozhamandalam, made by the order of the King  through agency of Pillaiyar Padhurantakap-Pottappichcholar alias Gandagopala, by Damodaran Arulalapperumal, the head man of Somangalamin Mangala Nadu a sub division of Tirumunaippadi nadu in Rajaraja vala Nadu. 

Saka 1683 (1761 CE ) year inscription  records the sale of land by the Maudalinar  of Chakramudur to   Pushpanatha nayinar  and to Agastiya(pa) Nayinar son of Kuntiyappa ( Nayinar ) twi Jaina residents of Tirupparambur for 405 Chennapattanam Varaha.

The Pallava King Koperunjingadeva's 22nd reign year records an agreement by thr Sivabrahmnas of the temple, of Mukkandevar to burn twilight lamp in the temple  in return for 300 kasu received by them from Tamattan Arulalaperumal of Somangalam ( evidently the donor mentioned in the 1st inscription )

Tribhuvana Charavarthi Rajarajadeva's 19th reign year inscription records a similar agreement burn three twilight lamps in the temple in return for the gift of a buffalow costing 3 madai by Taluvinan, the son of Devargalsundaran, the pädikappan of the village.

This inscription records an order of Sambuvarayar issued to tho úravar of Chakramüdür to take 100 veli of land in their village as coming under taram (for purpose of taxation) from the 5th year onwards ( of the reign of the king) and to record the fact on the walls of the Mukkannadevar temple.

A Chozha's period 14th reign year inscription records an agreement by the Sivabrahmanas to burn a perpetual lamp before the god in return for 600 kasu endowed by Periyanachchi alias Periyanattunangai, a dévaradiyal of the temple, and the bestowal by the sthanattar on her and her descendants the right of owning the first house in the tiru madaivilagam and of precedence of honour on festival occasions in the temple in consideration of another gift of 500 kāšu made by her.

Vikrama Chozha’s 7th reign year inscription begins with the introduction Pumadu punara, etc. Gives n detailed list of the lands with their extent specified in each case, which had been endowed to the temple for its various requirements and recorded on its wall prior to its renovation by Tiruchchirrambalamudaiyan Tirunagai devan alias Sembiyan-Müvendavēlan of Alattur in Alattür nadu, a subdivision of Nittavinoda-valanadu in Sola-mandalam and which were now confirmed by the ürar of the place. A few donors of the lands mentioned in the list also figure as signatories at the end of the record.

Vikrama Chozha’s 7th reign year inscription records the gift of lands in Naralökaviranallür measuring 13500 kuli in extent as dévadana to god Mukkandēvar by the urar of the village so as to provide for expenses of festivals in the temple with the velikkäiu, vellimuttaiyal and other taxes accruing therefrom. All the signatories of the previous inscription figure in this record also.

Vikrama Chozha’s 11th reign year inscription records the gift of two lamps to the temple, weighing 588 pulam by s certain Siyaradevan. 

Rajakesarivarman…. 6th reign year inscription states that the gold and paddy received as nirvilai from the tax-free lands of the village as well as from the devadana and pallichchandam lands were set apart for the celebration of the festivals in the temple of Somisvaramudaiya-Mahadeva by the urar in lieu of the interest on a lump-sum received by them for the purpose from a certain lady named Achcham arasi, wife of Vikkaladevan.

Tribhuvana Chakrvarti Kulothunga Chozha Deva’s 25th reign year inscription records an agreement by the Sivabrahmanas to burn two twilight lamps in the temple for the two palam-kasu which they had received from Siddaraman, the headman of Punnai, but which had accumulated with the interest thereon to 4 pudukkasu by their default.

Tribhuvana Chakravarti  Allun Tirukkalattideva Gandagopala’s 6th reign year inscription states that the circuit round the temple was built of stone by Surappa-Nayaka of Vinnamalai in Mělaippattai-nadu, chieftain under Tyagasamudrappattai Vimarasar, who also made a gift of all the (ayam) income (due to him) from the dévadana (lands) of the temple and of the taxes on looms working in the tirumadaivilagam area and also of the fee in oil realised from the oil-presses in the village, for the sacred cloth and other requirements of the god and for burning 4 twilight lamps in the temple. 

Tribhuvana Chakrvarti Kulothunga Chozha Deva’s 14th reign year inscription records remission of certain taxes like antarayam, kättigaikasu, kaikkuli and kurradandam due to the chief Sengeni Virasani Ammal-Appan Tirumendan Kannudaiperumal alias Vira vinoda-Vikramachola-Sambuvaraya in favour of the temple.

Tribhuvanachakravati Jatavarman alias Sundara Pandyadeva’s 12th reign year inscription records the gift of two cows left in charge of the Sivabrahmanas for a twilight lamp in the temple of Mukkannadeva by Kariya perumal Champan Jinattaraiyan of Kayirür near Sõlakula vallinallar, the headman of Manarpakkam.

Rajarajadeva’s 1st (2nd ) reign year inscription records the gift of a huffalo for a sayadai (cart?) to the temple by Devagasundaran alias Maddivarayapparaiyan, son of Tondaiman Solapparaiyan, the pädikappan of the village.

In characters of about the 13th century A. D. Praises the liberality of Siddhinatha alias Saivakekerappiratapan, a resident of Mandiradara, who is said to have supplied the people of Chakrapuri with abundance of rice during a severe famine. 

Tribhuvanachakravati Jatavarman alias Sundara Pandyadeva’s 12th reign year inscription records the gift of two cows left in charge of the Sivabrahmanas for a twilight lamp in the temple of Mukkannadeva by Kariya perumal Champan Jinattaraiyan of Kayirür near Sõlakula vallinallar, the headman of Manarpakkam.

Rajarajadeva’s 1st (2nd ) reign year inscription records the gift of a huffalo for a sayadai (cart?) to the temple by Devagasundaran alias Maddivarayapparaiyan, son of Tondaiman Solapparaiyan, the pädikappan of the village.

In characters of about the 13th century A. D. Praises the liberality of Siddhinatha alias Saivakekerappiratapan, a resident of Mandiradara, who is said to have supplied the people of Chakrapuri with abundance of rice during a severe famine. 

Slab on street much Damaged. Kulothunga Chozha’s 29th reign year inscription records an order of (Ammai)-appan Alagiyasola Sambhuvarivan, probably remitting the taxes on some lands in Chakramudur in connection with the formation of a new village called Sittiraméli-Padinen…lunippattinam alias Vijayapattinam.
 
 Vikrama Chozha's inscription
Vikrama Chozha's inscription

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs to  19.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:
This Village Chakkaramallur is 15 KM from Arcot, 48 KM from Vellore and 36 KM from Kanchipuram.
Bus facility is available from Arcot.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Entrance arch
 Gajabrushta Vimanam
 Inner Prakaram entrance
 Ambal Shrine
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---