Sri Chokkanathar Temple, Kolinjivadi, Dharapuram, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu. – A PART OF KONGU NADU TEMPLES

07^th December 2018.

This Shiva temple is at Kottaimedu, a part of Dharapuram and a part of Kongu Temples. The temple is about a km from the Amaravathi River.

Moolavar    : Sri Chokkanathar (Sokanadhar)

Consort      : Sri Meenakshi

Some of the important features of this temple are….

The temple faces east without any entrance arch or Rajagopuram. The palipedam and Rishabam are in the mukha mandapam. Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Durgai are in the koshtam. Navagrahas and Natarajar are in the artha mandapam.

In the praharam, a temple like a sannidhi for Sri Meenakshi Amman facing east, Chandikeswarar, and Nagars under a peepal tree. Old sculptures of Amman, Vinayagar, and Murugan Raishabam are kept under the peepal tree.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of the Sanctum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam with an arch on the top. The sanctum is built on a pirati bandha adhistanam, and a stucco Vesara vimana is on the sanctum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The Adhistanam has the 13^th Century, 13^th Century Veera Pandiyan, Vikrama Chozha-III, and 15th-century Vijayanagara King Mahadevarayar inscriptions. The inscriptions mainly record the donation of lands to this temple. It is interesting to note that the donated land names like Kaathoonkani, Aparapayangara Mannari, Kulothunga Chozha Mannarai, and Kumanarayan Parru are mentioned in the inscriptions. 

The 15^th Vijayanagara King Mahadevarayan’s inscription mentions that an old, gifted land was re-gifted to the temple to rectify the damage caused by the invasion of Muhamadiyars. 

The 14th-century Sundarapandian period inscription records about 2 doors donated by Rajarajapuram Vellazhan’s wife, Sadaiyammai.

Thiribhuvana Chakravathy Konerimaikondan’s 30^th year and 51^st day's reign inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum records a gift of six ma of land, free of all taxes, in Anukam-pallam alias Amaranankamamanarai in Udaiya-piratti-chaturvēdimangalam in Natalyanür-nadu for daily worship to the goddess firakkamaköttattu-nachohiyar alias Alagiyaśokkıyār in the temple.

Thiribhuvana Chakravathy Konerimaikondan’s 30^th year and 56^th day's reign inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum records another gift of 2 ma of land, Virasolamannanai, Kumanarayan patru and Kulottongasölumannarai to the same goddess.

Thiribhuvana Chakravathy Konerimaikondan’s 29^th year and 235^th day reign inscription on the west wall of the sanctum sanctorum records a gift of 3/16 veli of land free of certain taxes to the god Alagiyasukkanar in the same temple.

Reference

Annual Report on south Indian epigraphy, Year 1920

The temple was maintained by a Siddhar, Sri Balasubramanian Gurukkal, and after his demise, his wife is taking care of the temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Mr. K S Harihara Sivachariyar may be contacted on his mobile at 98657 04780 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

This Shiva temple is in Dharapuram in the Kottaimedu area, and the place is called Kolinjivadi.

The temple is about 4 km from Dharapuram Bus Stand.

Dharapuram is about 80 km from Erode and 35 km from Palani.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---