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

 3rd February 2019.

Unexpected events were happened in this Kongu Temples heritage Visit. It was around 14.00 hrs, when we reached Annur, Shiva temple. To our surprise the main entrance was kept half opened and cleaning was in progress. When we asked to see at least out side of the sanctums and inscriptions, we are allowed to do so with the restriction of taking photography. The place Annur was called as Anniyur ( அந்நியூர் ), before 12th Century. This place is also called as Then Kalathi and Metralai Thanjavur. ( A Part of Kongu Heritage walk to the Chozha temples, we had been to this temple second time on 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 moorthams are added at a latter date. A mandapa was built  in front of Dakshinamurthy to form a separate sanctum.

In the prakaram sannadhi for Ambal Arunthava Selvi ( also facing west direction ), Chandran, Suryan, Pradhana Ganapathy, 63var, Nagars, Pancha Lingas.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and an open mukha mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum is on a simple ppati bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, threepatta kumudam and yazhivari. The Bhitti starts with vedhika. Brahmakantha pilasters are on the Bhitti with kalasam, thadi, kudam, mandai, palakai and vettu pothyal. A Three tier Nagara vimana and Dravida sigaram is on the sanctum sanctorum. From Adhistanam to prastaram, built stone.

 

INSCRIPTIONS AND DETAILS:

There are 41 inscription in this temple. The inscriptions belongs 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 mentions this place as Vada parisara Nattu Manniyur, Vikrama Chozha Valanattu Mathurantaka Chathurvedi mangalam, and kuzha mangalamana Virapandyanallur alias Manniyur ( Pandya Rule ). A 11th Century an 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 well and trees, grains, groceries, Ghee, Oil to this temple for daily pooja, Naivedyam, conducting functions, burning of lamp  and perpetual lamps in the temple and   to feed Travelers ( Desandiris ),  poor & Sadhus. The place where the food 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 upper caste and lower caste ( idangkai & Valangai ) exists or created in 11th … 12th Century itself.

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 mangalamana Virapandya Nallurana Manniyur”.

Since the inscriptions available are from beginning of 11th Century, the temple might have existed from 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 name Anni, in the process of  digging his crowbar hits the Swayambhu Shiva Linga under the earth. Blood was oozed out. After hearing this the Chera King  also tried to pull out through elephant assuming that it must be a big beet or Tapioca. Shiva appeared in the form of thunderous cloud and told that he is under the earth. The Chera King and the Hunter Anni prayed Lord Shiva for pardon.  The Chera king built a temple at this place and the place was called after hunter's name as "Anni" and latter corrupted to the present name of Annur.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 05.40 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The land line 04254 262450 and mobile 98422 38564 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:CLICK HERE

 Ambal sannadi

 63var

The fate of donors

Photos taken during the Second Visit is up loaded in the Google Photos. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ALBUM

An Interesting Soolakal with inscription of Kongu Pandyas: 

A Kongu Pandiya Sundara Pandya’s 6^th 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 mangalamana Veerapandiya Nallurana Manniyur”. Thanks to the Land Lord and the Shop owner, who showed us this sulakkal, and in the inscription book it is mentioned as Kuththukkal" 

Location : CLICK HERE ( 11.270597, 77.085038 )

An Interesting inscription of Kongu Pandyas: A Kongu Pandiya Sundara Pandya’s 6^th 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 Kari Goundanur as “Kuzha mangalamana Veerapandiya Nallurana Manniyur”. Thanks to the Land Lord and the Shop owner, who showed us this sulakkal, and in the inscription book it is mentioned as Kuththukal" Location : CLICK HERE ( 11.270597, 77.085038 )

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---