Kongu Nadukarkal / Hero Stones of Kongu / Veerakallu / Pulikuthikal & Thai Nadukal Temple at Malayapalayam, Kariyagoundanur and Vadakkalur, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

03^rd February 2019.

During our Kongu Temples Heritage Visit, we came across Hero Stones, Pulikuthikal, and Thai Nadukal. These are part of Kongu Nadukarkal, and the details with photographs are given in this post.

HERO STONE, AT MALAYAPALAYAM.

A hero stone and a Soola kal are installed inside the premises of Malayapalayam Higher Secondary School as a part of the Heritage Monuments collection. In the hero stone, the Hero is shown in a standing posture with his head looking straight. The hero holds a bow in his left hand and a dagger in his right hand. A dress with frills is shown below his waist. The hero might have died in the process of recovering the cattle (தொறு பூசல் - ஆநிரை கவர்தல் அல்லது மீட்டல்) or in a fight between two groups.  From the hairstyle, this hero stone may belong to the 16^th to 17^th century.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE:    CLICK HERE

THAI NADUKAL (தாய் நடுகல்) HERDS WOMAN MEMORIAL STONE AT MALAYAPALAYAM

Next to the Vinayagar temple at Malayapalayam, near Sevur in the Erode district, there was a small shrine, and the main deity seemed to be an interesting one. The bas-relief was carved on a flat stone. A lady with a child on her hip is shown. The cattle below are shown. As per the experts, this is a memorial stone erected for a lady, from the Idayar (herdsmen) community. The Lady might have done some brave acts or might have killed wild animals while herding the cattle. This Thai Nadukal may belong to the 16^th to 17^th centuries.

LOCATION OF THE THAI NADUKAL:    CLICK HERE

HERO STONE AT KARIYAGOUNDANUR

When we are on the lookout for a Pandya period inscription stone or Soolakal (mentioned as Kuthukal in the inscription book) at Kariyagoundanur, we came across this hero stone in front of a temporary shed erected for  Shiva near Kuliamman Temple. The hero is in a standing posture facing straight. The hero is holding a bow in his left hand, and his right hand is touching his hip, holding a dagger (KuRuval). The details are not clearly seen. The hero stone may belong to the 16^th Century.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: CLICK HERE

PULIKUTHI NADUKAL, VADAKKALUR.

The local people guided us that there is a Pulikuthi Viran nadukal at Vadakkalur. This Pulikuthi Nadukal is installed inside the Sri Pongaliamman Temple. The Hero is shown in a standing posture, killing a tiger with a spear, holding it in both hands. The hero wears a dress with frills below his waist. Wears a ring in his ears and anklets on his hands and legs. He is also wearing an ornament on his neck, which hangs up to the Chest. His hat seemed to be a little different. The Tiger is also shown equal in height to the hero. This hero stone belongs to the 17^th or 18^th centuries.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: CLICK HERE

PULIKUTHIKAL AT KANJIKOVIL.

On 4^th February, had went to Kanjikovil to visit Shiva, Vishnu, and Amman Kovil at Kanjikovil. This Pulikuthi Viran Nadukal is in the Sri Sedevi Amman Temple. Both the hero and the Tiger are shown in a standing posture. The hero holds a knife and kills the tiger. The other details are known since the Pulikuthi Viran Nadukal was covered with cloth. This Pulikuthi Viran Nadukal belongs to the 16^th to 17th centuries. கல்வெட்டின் பாடம்

1. ன் மகன் ச
2. டைய மூப்பன் ப
3. ண்ணி வச்ச சி
4. லை
5. செம்பனு(ம) கண்
6. ணனுக் குடுத்த
7. காணியாச்சி
8. சிண்ணா மூப்ப

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Valeeswarar Temple / Kapaleeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ கபாலீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Sevur, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

3^rd February 2019.

We decided to close our  3^rd Feb 2019, day’s  Kongu Temples Heritage Visit with Sri Valeeswarar temple at Sevur. It was around 16.00 hrs when we reached Sevur, and the temple was not open. A nearby flour grinding shop owner helped us get Sivachariyar’s mobile number and called him. We sat in front of the temple, with a decision to visit inside the temple and go back home. At last, around 17.30 hrs, the Sivachariyar came and opened the temple. During the  13th Century, the Hoysala King Vira Someswaran's period, the place was called Chembiyan Kizhanadi Nallur. 

Presiding deity   : Sri Valeeswarar, Sri Kapaleeswarar

Ambal               : Sri Aram Valartha Nayaki or Araperunselvi

The salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. A Garuda thoon or Deepasthambam is in front. A bas-relief of Vali worshiping Lord Shiva is at the base of the Deepa Sthambam. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of  Sri Kapaleeswarar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, and Ambal Aramvalartha Nayaki. In Shiva Sannidhi’s koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Brahma.

In the outer prakaram, sannadhi for Thiruthala Vinayagar, Natarajar Mandapa, Naalvar, Bala Dhandayuthapani, Saneeswarar, Navagrahas, Kalabairavar, Suryan, and Chandran.

ARCHITECTURE

All these main sanctums are in parallel to each other with a common muka mandapam and facing east with balipeedam and Vahanas. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was reconstructed in recent years, and most of the inscriptions were lost. Only a few that are too grounded, and the letters are not legible. The details of the inscriptions are taken from the inscription book. The original Temple had 12 inscriptions. The inscriptions belong to 12th-century Kulothunga Chozha-I & Veerachozhan, 13th-century Virarajendra, Hoysala King Vira Someswaran & Kongu Pandiyar Vira Pandyan, and 16th-century Mysore ViraNanjaiyar. As per the inscriptions, Moolavar was called "Kapaleeswarar" and Ambal was called "Araperun Selvi". During the 13th Century, Hoysala King Vira Someswaran's period the place was called "Chembiyan Kizhanadi Nallur". 

The inscriptions mainly mention donations of gold, money, materials like pillars ( by Thattan  Sirukooththan Maaran), etc, towards the burning of Temple Lamps,  Neivedyam, and Pooja. The Servant maid Araiyan Valli of Vanavan Kokizhaanadikal (maybe from Chera princes), the wife of Vira Rajendran, also donated gold towards the burning of the Lamp.

The Murugan Sannidhi was built during the Veerapandiyan period, and the Vinayagar Sannidhi was built during the 12th-century Veerachozhan period. A Tripuranthakar statue was also donated during the Virarajendra period.

The Taxes levied on Soola (Soola, a Kannada word that means Dhasi) were removed during the Mysore king ViraNiranjaiyar. Also, during the Chozha period, caste discrimination existed as Idangai and Valangai.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, the Sthala Purana story is related to Vali and Sugriva. Both meditated, and Vali got the boon of getting the half-power of his opponent. By killing a Brahmin, Vali got the Bramahathi dosha/curse. He was relieved after installing and worshiping Lord Shiva in this temple.

Maha Vishnu and Brahma also worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 16.30 hrs to 19.30 hrs. Since the timings are not strictly followed, the Gurukkal may be contacted before visiting the temple.

CONTACT DETAILS:

This temple is attached to the Sri Venkatesa Perumal Temple and comes under the Tamil Nadu HR & CE Department Control. The HR&CE officer may be contacted on his land line +91 4296 289270, and the Gurukkal's mobile number is 90439 67779.

HOW TO REACH:

Sevur is about 8 km from Avinashi and 48 km from Coimbatore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Manneeswarar Temple / அன்னூர் மன்னீசுவரர் கோயில் / மண்ணீஸ்வரர் கோயில், அன்னூர் / Annur / Anniyur, in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu.

 3rd February 2019.

Unexpected events happened during this Kongu Temple's heritage Visit. It was around 14.00 hrs when we reached Annur, the Shiva temple. To our surprise, the main entrance was kept half open, and cleaning was in progress. When we asked to see at least outside of the sanctums and inscriptions, we were allowed to do so with the restriction of taking photographs. The place Annur was called Anniyur (அந்நியூர்) before the 12th century. This place is also called Then Kalathi and Metralai Thanjavur. (A Part of the Kongu Heritage walk to the Chozha temples, we went to this temple a second time on the 12th and 13th of October 2019). 

Presiding Deity   : Sri Manneeswarar

Consort             : Sri Arunthava Selvi

The Salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing west with a 7-tier Rajagopuram. A Garuda thoon is in front. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram.  In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Brahma. The Koshta Murtis are added at a later date. A mandapa was built in front of Dakshinamurthy to form a separate sanctum.

In praharam Ambal Arunthava Selvi (also facing west direction), Chandran, Suryan, Pradhana Ganapathy, 63var, Nagars, and Pancha Lingas.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, three patta kumudam, and Vyyalavari. The bhitti starts with vedika. Brahmakantha pilasters are on the bhitti with kalasam, thadi, kudam, mandai, palakai, and vettu pothyal. A three-tier Nagara vimana and Dravida sigaram are on the sanctum sanctorum. From Adhistanam to prastaram, built with stone.

 

INSCRIPTIONS AND DETAILS:

There are 41 inscriptions in this temple. The inscriptions belong to  Kokalimoorka Vikrama Chozhan (1004.. 11th century), Kulothunga Chozha I and II (12th and 13th century), Virarajendra Chozha (13th century), Vikrama Chozha II & III (13th century), and Hoysala King Vira Vallalan (15th century).

The inscriptions mention this place as Vada Parisara Nattu Manniyur, Vikrama Chozha Valanattu Mathurantaka Chaturvedi Mangalam, and Kuzha Mangalam alias Virapandyanallur alias Manniyur (Pandya Rule). The 11th Century, incomplete Vattezhuthu inscription on the south wall mentions this place as ‘’Paampuni Kootraththu Pazhaiyatru Manikka…“

Donations were made in terms of Gold, money, land, land with wells and trees, grains, groceries, Ghee, and Oil to this temple for daily pooja, Naivedyam, conducting functions, burning of lamps, and perpetual lamps in the temple, and to feed Travelers (Desandiris), poor, & Sadhus. The place where the food is served is mentioned as Thirugnanasambandar Madam. The account of Lamps donated as existing 114 and additions 15 and total 129 is also recorded.

From the inscriptions, it is understood that the upper caste and lower caste (idangkai & Valangai) existed or were created in the 11th … 12th centuries.

An Interesting inscription of Kongu Pandyas: A Kongu Pandya Sundara Pandya’s 6th-year rule inscription stone – Soolakal- installed in a field at Kariya Goundanur, about 5 km away from Annur, mentions that field land was donated to this Shiva temple. The inscription mentions this place as “Kuzha Mangalam alias Virapandya Nallurana Manniyur”.

Since the inscriptions available are from the beginning of the 11th century, the temple might have existed from the 10th or 9th Century.

 A Vikrama Chozha inscription

The Vattezhuthu inscriptions

LEGEND:

As per the legend, this place was once a beet/tapioca forest (Valli Kizhangu ). Hunters used to dig out the same for eating. A Hunter by the name Anni, in the process of digging with his crowbar, hits the Swayambhu Shiva Linga under the earth. Blood oozed out. After hearing this, the Chera King also tried to pull out through the elephant, assuming that it must be a big beet or Tapioca. Shiva appeared in the form of a thunderous cloud and said that he was under the earth. The Chera King and the Hunter Anni prayed to Lord Shiva for pardon.  The Chera king built a temple at this place, and the place was called after the hunter's name, "Anni," and later corrupted to the present name of Annur.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 05.40 hrs to 12.30 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The landline is 04254262450, and the mobile 9842238564 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The place Annur is 20 km from Sevur, 23 km from Mettupalayam, 35 km from Tiruppur, and 20 km from Avinashi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Ambal sannadi

 63var

The fate of donors

Photos taken during the Second Visit are uploaded to Google Photos. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ALBUM

An Interesting Soolakal with the inscription of Kongu Pandyas: 

A Kongu Pandiya Sundara Pandya’s 6th-year rule inscription stone –Soolakal-- installed in a field at Kariya Goundanur, about 5 km away from Annur, mentions that field land was donated to this Shiva temple. The inscription mentions this place, Karia Goundanur, as “Kuzha Mangalam alias Veerapandiya Nallurana Manniyur”. Thanks to the Landlord and the Shop owner, who showed us this Soolakkal, and in the inscription book, it is mentioned as Kuththukkal." 

LOCATION OF THE SOOLAKKAL: CLICK HERE (11.270597, 77.085038)

An Interesting inscription of Kongu Pandyas: A Kongu Pandiya Sundara Pandya’s 6th-year rule inscription stone – Soolakal-- installed in a field at Kariya Goundanur, about 5 km away from Annur, mentions that the field land was donated to this Shiva temple. The inscription mentions this place, Kari Goundanur, as “Kuzha Mangalam alias Veerapandiya Nallurana Manniyur”. Thanks to the Landlord and the Shop owner, who showed us this Soolakkal, and in the inscription book, it is mentioned as Kuththukal." 

LOCATION OF THE INSCRIPTION STONE: CLICK HERE 

(11.270597, 77.085038)

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Gangadeeswarar Swamy Temple, Karuvalur Near Sevur in Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

A featured post on Indiblogger

03^rd February 2019.

This temple is adjacent to the Sri Karunakara Venkatramana Perumal Temple. The temple’s sthala purana is linked to the Avanashi Shiva Temple. Since the Sivachariyar’s residence is just adjacent to the temple, Sivachariyar’s son helped us visit this temple.

Presiding deity   : Sri Gangadeswarar

Ambal               : Sri Kamalambigai.

The important salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a Gurudathoon or Deepasthambam. Entrance arch instead of Rajagopuram with a stucco image of Shiva and Parvathi on the top. Inside the temple complex, Subramaniyar Sannadhi is between Sri Gangadeeswarar and Kamalambigai Amman temple. All three sannadhis are facing east with respective Vahanas and balipeedam. Moolavar is swayambhu. In Koshtam, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Durgai.

Ambal Sri Kamalambigai is also constructed similarly to the main sanctum, facing east. In koshtam Vaishnavi, Varaaki, and Brahmi. The old Shiva Lingam and a Rishabam are in the artha mandapam.

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Chandran, Vinayagar, Pancha Lingas, Chandikeswarar Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi (Stucco image on the wall). Bairavar, Sani Bhagwan, and Suryan.

ARCHITECTURE

Sri Gangadeeswarar sannadhi was built with sanctum antarala, artha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

There is no inscription found. Since the Perumal temple adjacent to this was constructed before Kongu Chozha Veera Rajendran's period during the 11th to 12th Century, we may take this temple also constructed in the same period, and later expansions or renovations were done by the Vijayanagara Dynasty.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 05.30 hrs to 12.30 hrs, and from 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The HR&CE department official may be contacted on the landline number 04296 288254 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

Karuvalur is 10 km from Sevur.  28 km from Tiruppur and 50 km from Coimbatore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Karunakara Venkataramana Perumal, Karuvalur Near Sevur in Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

3^rd February 2019.

After the Mokkaneswarar temple visit, we tried our luck to visit this temple since it was around 13.00 hrs. To our luck, the temple door was kept open and the sanctum was closed. But to our request, the Battar opened the main door and showed us the artha mandapam and sanctum.

Presiding deity          : Sri Karunakara Venkatramana Perumal Temple.

Thayar                     : Sridevi & Bhudevi

The salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a  Garudathoon or Sthambam. There is no entrance arch or Rajagopuram. In the sanctum, Perumal is in a standing posture with Sridevi and Bhudevi. There is no separate sannidhi for Thayar. 

In the outer praharam sannadhi for Thumbikai alwar, Sudarshana Chakrathalwar, Rahu, Ketu, Lakshmi Hayagriva, and Veera Anjaneyar.

The temple was renovated during recent periods. The pillars and some of the stones are kept in the outer praharam with pedestals, and we hope it may be used as a bench for sitting.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. Jayan and Vijayan dwarapalakas are in the artha mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with 3 patta Kumudam. The Pilasters are Brahmakantha pilasters with Kalasam, Kudam, Mandi, Palakai, Veera kandam, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kotham, and sumha mukhas are on Bhoomi Desam. A two-tier Nagara-Vesara Vimanam is over the sanctum Sanctorum.

 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

1. ஸ்ரீராஜகேசரி கோனேரின்மை கொண்டான் வடபரிசார நாட்டுப்பழங்கருவலூர் வீரராசேந்திர விண்ணகரெம்பெருமான் கோயிலில் ஸ்ரீகாரிய

2. ஞ்செய்வார்களுக்கு நம்மோலை குடுத்தபடியாவது இவ்வெம்பெருமானுக்கு அமுதுபடிக்கும் பலபடி நிமந்தங்களுக்கும் திருவிளக்குக்கும்

3. குடுத்த குளமாவது கருவலூர் புரோசக்குளம் குடுத்தோம் இக்குளம்  தாங்களே அடைத்து இக்குளத்தால் விளைந்த நிலம் இவ்வெம்பெ

4. ருமானுக்குத் திருவிடையாட்டமாக இறையிலி முற்றூட்டும் செல்வதாகவும் இப்படி செம்பிலும் சிலையிலும் வெட்டிக் கொள்வார்களாக நமக்கு இரு

5. பதாவது முதல் நம்மோலை குடுத்தோம் இவை சோழ குலமாணிக்க மூவேந்த வேளான் எழுத்து இவை யிலாடத்தரையன் எழுத்து இவை கோதவராயன் எழுத்து இவை வில்லவராயன் எழுத்து

The above inscription on the adhistanam kumudam belongs to the 13^th Century, Kongu Chozha Veera Rajendran period. During his period, this temple was called “Veera Rajendra Vinnagaram”. The inscription speaks about the donation – Thiruvidayattam -  of  a Purosakulam and cultivated land to this Perumal Temple for daily pooja, burning of Lamps, and Naivedyam. This was allowed to be inscribed on stone and Cheppu Pattayam. The donation was made by Chozha Kula Manicka Mooventhavelan, Eladatharayan,  Gothavarayan, and Villavarayan.  The meaning of the Puroshakulam in Tamil is as follows

புரோக்ஷம்.

காஞ்சிப் பெரியவரின் கருத்துப்படி புரோக்ஷம் என்பது மந்திர நீர்த் தெளித்தலைக் குறிப்பது. இவ்வகைக் குளியல் “பிரம்மக் குளியல்” என்றும் எடுத்துக்கொள்ளலாம். புரோக்ஷம் என்னும் சமஸ்கிருத ஒலிப்புடைய சொல், தமிழ் வடிவில் புரோசம் என்று திரிந்தது எனலாம். எனவே புரோசுக்குளம் என்பதற்கு மந்திரநீர்த் தெளித்தலாகிய குளியலுக்குரிய குளம் என்று பொருள் கொள்வது சரியாகவே இருக்கும். கல்வெட்டில் குறிப்[பிட்ட படி கருவலூர்க் குளம் கருவலூர் விண்ணகர எம்பெருமானுக்கு அமுதுபடி திருவிளக்கு மற்றும் பல்வேறு நிவந்தங்களுக்கு திருவிடையாட்டமாக / இறையிலியாகக் கொடுக்கப்பட்ட குளம் என்பதோடு புரோசக்குளியலுக்கும் உரியதான ஒன்றாக கருதப்படுகின்றது.

The temple might have been built earlier than the above inscription... maybe in the 11th to 12th Century, and Ardha mandapam might have been added at a later date by the Vijayanagara Dynasty.

Inscription Kumudam

LEGENDS

The legend of this temple is associated with the Avinashi Shiva temple. As per the Sthala Purana, when Sundarar prayed to Lord Shiva to give back the boy, who was swallowed by the crocodile. Shiva ordered the clouds to rain and fill the pond. The place where the clouds gathered is called Karuvalur (karumai – black – black clouds will give rain).

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

HOW TO REACH :

Karuvalur is 10 km from Sevur, 11 km from Avinashi, and 50 km from Coimbatore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

 A-Pillar relief of the Vijayanagara period

 Pillar relief of the Vijayanagara period - may be a donor.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---