24th
March 2019.
After
Sri Kailasanathar temple’s visit, Mr Manoj and I went to this Shiva
Temple at Kolathur near Villivakkam.
Moolavar : Sri Somanatha Eswar
Consort : Sri Amuthambigai
The
salient features of this temple are…
The
temple is facing east with a mottai gopuram with a Nayak period mandapam. The balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are immediately after the entrance. The
sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu,
Brahma and Durgai. Ambal sannidhi is in
the artha mandapam facing south.
In
the inner praharam sannidhi for Somaskandar, Urchavars, Siddhi Puthi
Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Naalvar, Kasi Viswanathar with
Visalakshi, Bairavar, Nataraja with Sivagami, Chandran, Suryan and Chandikeswarar. In the outer prakaram
sannadhi for Vannimara (Vanni Tree) Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Navagrahas.
Immediately after the temple entrance on
the left, there is a sannidhi for Sridevi & Bhudevi samedha Sri
Amirtharaja Perumal with Utsavars.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As
per unconfirmed sources, the temple was constructed in the year 1745 CE by Mr
Muthukumarappa Mudaliar, who served as a
Diwan under Arcot Nawab. He discovered a Shiva Linga at Kolathur and
constructed a Temple using the money, collected as Tax, which is supposed to be
handed over to Nawab. On hearing this Nawab ordered Mudaliar to be imprisoned. Before
the arrest, Shiva came in the form of a human and gave him a bowl to beg and
collect money. Mudaliar begged and managed to collect a sum that was more
than what he spent on constructing the temple. He gave it to Nawab and realizing
the power of Lord Shiva the Nawab gifted three Villages in the Kolathur area to
this Shiva Temple.
Madhava Gana yogi has sung "Kolathur Pathitrupathu" on Lord Shiva of this temple
LEGENDS
From
another legend Chandran the moon also called Soman, gets relieved of his
curse after worshiping Lord Shiva of
this temple. Hence Shiva obtained the name of Somanatha Eswar.
As per another legend, the Asuras Vilvan and Vadapi with
Agasthiyar are also associated with this temple.
Agasthiyar also worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS:
The
temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to
20.00 hrs.
HOW TO REACH:
Very
close to the Ganga Cinema Theater of Kolathur.
About
a KM from Rettai Eri and Kolathur Metro water stations.
About
2,2 KM from Villivakkam Railway Station.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Vannimara Vinayagar Sannadhi
Nandhi is playing Miruthangam and Veena
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
very nice
ReplyDeleteThanks Ravi
DeleteWant to know about Amirtharaja Perumal Story here. How he relate to the sthala purana. I am a resident of Kolathur.
ReplyDeleteSince You are a resident of Kolathur, please enquire the sthalapurana from the Gurukkal or with some elderly persons and share...
Delete