3rd
February 2019.
It
was planned to Visit the Kongu Chozha and Pandya period temples in Erode and
Tiruppur District as a part of the Kongu Temples Heritage Visit on 3rd February 2019. Mr. Ramamurti and
his daughter along with his Teacher friend Mr. Ramalingam of Malayapalayam took us to all the heritage sites in and around Malayapalayam with great enthusiasm. We are very much thankful to them for sparing their valuable time in
the midst of their Sunday Schedule. The top of all was the Kongu Hospitality
extended to us, by providing breakfast, no words to express our feelings, and speechless.
DOLMEN
A Dolmen was on the west side of Sri Velayutha Swamy temple in the midst of the field and we had seen the same during our previous Visit.
CAIRN CIRCLE
As per the plan, we first visited the Cairn Circle. This was a
prehistoric burial site. Mr Ramamurti said that he had seen many such circles
during his younger days. But now, except one, the rest are disturbed in the
process of developing the land for cultivation. The cairn circle was formed by
using granite stones/boulders and is big in size. The diameter of the cairn circle was approximately 21
feet.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE (CLICK HERE)
LOCATION: CLICK HERE (CLICK HERE)
INSCRIPTION STONE ( நிவந்தக் கல்வெட்டு )
Our next visit was to the inscription stone installed at Vinayagar Temple at the foothills of Sri Muthu Velayutha Swami Temple, under a peepal tree. ( Sri Muthu Velayutha Swamy Temple details are recorded in my blog ). On the top portion of the stone, the reliefs of Shivalinga, Nandhi, Sun, and Moon are carved. From the style of inscription, this inscription stone belongs to 16th Century. The inscription mentions about donation made to Udayagiri Sri Muthu Velayutha Swamy temple. The Sun and Moon represent that this endowment should continue till the Sun and Moon exist.
LOCATION OF THE INSCRIPTION STONE: CLICK HERE
Our next visit was to the inscription stone installed at Vinayagar Temple at the foothills of Sri Muthu Velayutha Swami Temple, under a peepal tree. ( Sri Muthu Velayutha Swamy Temple details are recorded in my blog ). On the top portion of the stone, the reliefs of Shivalinga, Nandhi, Sun, and Moon are carved. From the style of inscription, this inscription stone belongs to 16th Century. The inscription mentions about donation made to Udayagiri Sri Muthu Velayutha Swamy temple. The Sun and Moon represent that this endowment should continue till the Sun and Moon exist.
LOCATION OF THE INSCRIPTION STONE: CLICK HERE
DONAR STONES
Next, we saw a donor stone in which a lady and a man are in a worshiping posture. The statue may belong to the 16th to 17th Century. The statue is half buried inside the weekly market. Initially, it was told that this was a sati stone. On seeing the details it was confirmed that it is a donor stone. Might have donated for the construction of a temple or a structure to the nearby Perumal temple or the Hilltop Sri Muthu Velayutha Swamy temple.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
Next, we saw a donor stone in which a lady and a man are in a worshiping posture. The statue may belong to the 16th to 17th Century. The statue is half buried inside the weekly market. Initially, it was told that this was a sati stone. On seeing the details it was confirmed that it is a donor stone. Might have donated for the construction of a temple or a structure to the nearby Perumal temple or the Hilltop Sri Muthu Velayutha Swamy temple.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
INSCRIPTION STONE
Next, we went to an inscription stone half buried, near Chellandi Amman Temple. This inscription stone belongs to 14th Century Hoysala King Veera Vallalabha -III, period. The inscription mentions this place as Erumapalayam of Vada Parisara Nadu ( one of the 24 Nadus of Kongu region ) and a tank was excavated to store rainwater for agriculture. The locals previously worshiped this stone as Vatha kal and the paralysis attack would be cured if one worshiped this stone.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE ( 11.275840, 77.333111 )
Next, we went to an inscription stone half buried, near Chellandi Amman Temple. This inscription stone belongs to 14th Century Hoysala King Veera Vallalabha -III, period. The inscription mentions this place as Erumapalayam of Vada Parisara Nadu ( one of the 24 Nadus of Kongu region ) and a tank was excavated to store rainwater for agriculture. The locals previously worshiped this stone as Vatha kal and the paralysis attack would be cured if one worshiped this stone.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE ( 11.275840, 77.333111 )
HERO
STONE.
A
hero stone and a Soola kal are installed
inside the premises of Malayapalayam High School. In the hero stone, the Hero is shown in
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 a fight between two
groups. From the hairstyle, this hero
stone may belong to the 16th to 17th century.
VINAYAGAR TEMPLE
On
the way back to Malayapalayam Village had seen two temples. One was a Nayak period Vinayagar temple with Garuda Sthambam or a Deepasthambam. The
Pillar has the donor’s relief.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
HERDS WOMAN MEMORIAL STONE ( THAI NADUKAL )
Next to the Vinayagar temple, there is a small shrine, and the main deity seems to be an interesting one. The bas-relief was carved on a flat stone. A lady with a child on her hip is shown. Below cattle are shown. As per the experts, this is a memorial stone erected for a lady, from the Idayar ( herdsmen ) community. The Lady herds woman might have done some brave acts or might have been attacked by the wild animals and died while herding cattle.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
Next to the Vinayagar temple, there is a small shrine, and the main deity seems to be an interesting one. The bas-relief was carved on a flat stone. A lady with a child on her hip is shown. Below cattle are shown. As per the experts, this is a memorial stone erected for a lady, from the Idayar ( herdsmen ) community. The Lady herds woman might have done some brave acts or might have been attacked by the wild animals and died while herding cattle.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
SRI THILLAI ESWARAR TEMPLE.
Our
final visit in and around Malayapalayam was to this temple which is about 2 KM from Malayapalayam. The
temple is facing east with a sanctum and a small artha mandapam. Rishabam and
Palipedam are under the asbestos sheet mandapa. There is no vimana over the
sanctum. The adhisthana is simple with
jagathy and Kumudam. The sanctum walls have the Koshta niches without any images.
No inscriptions are found. The temple was built in Kongu Chozha style
architecture and may belong to the 13th to 14th century
Kongu Chozha period. The Moolavar Thillai Eswarar is under worship.
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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