VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Thirukandeshwarar Temple at Chakkaramallur, near Arcot, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

Sunday 25 November 2018

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

17^th 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 12^th 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 7^th 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 7^th 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 11^th reign year inscription records the gift of two lamps to the temple, weighing 588 pulam by s certain Siyaradevan.

Rajakesarivarman…. 6^th 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 25^th 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 6^th 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 14^th 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 12^th 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 1^st (2^nd ) 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 29^th 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