16th
April 2019.
After
Ulundandar Temple’s visit, our next destination was Parikal. On the way to
Parikal, it was suggested to visit an old Shiva and a Perumal Temple at
Padur. Since Padur is on the way to
Parikal, I visited the Shiva temple first and then the Perumal Temple. Local people guide us to this temple when we ask for the Sri Prathyangira Devi Temple.
Moolavar : Sri Agastheswar
Consort : Sri Abithakusambigai
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…
The
temple faces east with an entrance arch on the south side. The temple does not
have a Rajagopuram. Ambal
sannidhi is facing south in the abutting ardha mandapam.
In
the praharam, Ganapathy, Valli Deivanai sametha Subramaniar, Thirugnanasambandar in dance posture, and a donor statue. The Prathyangira
Devi sannadhi is near the south side entrance. The Local people know more about Prathyangira Devi than Lord Shiva of this temple. On no moon day, "Nikumbalaa" Homam will be conducted in which Red Chilli, fruits, and vasthram are offered.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. There is a 2-pillar mandapam at the south side entrance of the main sanctum. The sanctum is on a prati bandha adhistanam with virutha kumudam. A vesara vimanam is over the sanctum. A viyyalavari is above the Kumudam.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Parantaka Chozha-I’s brother and the Rashtrakuta King Kannara Devan (to be checked), Kulothungan-II, Rajarajan-III, Seenatharayan, and Krishnappa Nayaka, who ruled the Senji period, inscriptions mention the donation of Lands, Villages, differences of Taxes, and burning of perpetual lamps. The Chozha King Kulothunga Chozha donated the village Padur to Brahmins and called as Chaturvedi Mangalam. From the above details, this temple might have existed before the 11th century. 14th to 16th century Vijayanagara Nayak period inscriptions are also found on the kumudam, inscribed during renovations/ Thirupani.
Parantaka Chozha-I’s brother and the Rashtrakuta King Kannara Devan (to be checked), Kulothungan-II, Rajarajan-III, Seenatharayan, and Krishnappa Nayaka, who ruled the Senji period, inscriptions mention the donation of Lands, Villages, differences of Taxes, and burning of perpetual lamps. The Chozha King Kulothunga Chozha donated the village Padur to Brahmins and called as Chaturvedi Mangalam. From the above details, this temple might have existed before the 11th century. 14th to 16th century Vijayanagara Nayak period inscriptions are also found on the kumudam, inscribed during renovations/ Thirupani.
Ashta Bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was held in 1988, in which Kanchi mutt Sri Jayendra Saraswathi
Swamigal also participated.
Vijayanagara/ Nayak period inscriptions
LEGENDS
Agasthiyar and Shukracharya worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple. As per the legend, Shukracharya was the Kulaguru for the Mabali Chakravarthi. When Vishnu, in the Vamana avatar, was about to get the three feet of land, Shukracharya advised Mabali not to give, even after knowing that Vishnu would only come as Vamana. As per the law of Sin, obstructing the giving gift to someone is also a sin.
To get rid of the sin caused Shukracharya worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple. The stucco image of this sthala purana is on the south side wall of the prakara. Agasthiyar found out this swayambhu Shiva Linga, installed and worshiped. Hence, Lord Shiva is called Agastheeswarar.
Sthalapurana
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The
temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to
19.00 hrs.
HOW TO REACH:
Padur village is on the Villupuram to
Kallakurichi Road.
The
temple & the village of Padur are about 28 km from Viluppuram and 10 km from
Ulundurpet.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Stucco Gajalakshmi
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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