13th April
2019.
When
I was searching for Sri Somanatheswarar Temple at Kolathur near Villivakkam
& Perambur on the net, the details of this Shiva Temple at Kolathur near
Mambakkam on Vandalur to Kelambakkam route appeared. It was planned to visit
Sri Pozhichaleswarar Temple at Agaramthen after visiting Sri Chenganmal Shiva
Temple Via Mambakkam. Since Kolathur is about 2 KM from Mambakkam, decided to
cover the Shiva and Vishnu temples.
Moolavar : Sri Somanatheswarar
Consort : Sri Amudhambigai
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…
The
temple faces east with balipeedam and Rishaba mandapam in front. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and open mukha mandapam. A
recently built two-tier Vimana is on the sanctum. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy,
and Durgai.
Ambal
Sri Amudhambigai is in a separate sannadhi facing south abutting the open mukha
mandapam. In praharam and mandapam sannidhi for Sri Selva Vinayagar, Sri
Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, Bhairavar, Suryan,
Chandran and Chandran in worshiping posture with Shiva Linga. In the mandapam, there is also an old Ayyanar worshiped as Iyappan ( This Ayyanar is the only
proof that the original temple may belong to the 10th to 12th Century ).
Nagars are under a peepal tree before the South side entrance.
Ayyanar worshipped as Iyyappan
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As
per the known history, in 1917 CE one of Mr. Gangadhara Chettiar’s Sons Raju Chettiar
who came from Kaliya Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars lineage, found
out a Shiva Linga with Ambal, when he tried to remove the bush at Kolathur. He
conducted daily poojas to Ambal and the Shiva Linga. Raju Chettiar decided to
clean and deepen the well for Abhishek's water. In the process of cleaning
the well, they found, Rishabam, Ayyannar, Durgai, Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, and Chandikeswarar. The statues were installed and Kumbhabhishekam was conducted during 1917-18 CE.
Again Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1957
CE after installing Navagrahas. After Raju Chettiar, his son Jayavel Chettiar
took over the temple’s reconstruction and Kumbhabhishekam was also performed in
recent years 2018-19 CE.
Mr
Ki.Va. Jaganathan and Mrs. Visalakshi both sang a hymn in praise of Sri
Amudhambigai of this temple. Mr. Mayilam Sivasubramanian has written a book
called “Amudhambigai Pathigam”. Apart from regular poojas, Pournami poojas, and
Somavara poojas are also conducted.
LEGENDS
The legend of this temple is associated with the Chandran who married 27 daughters of Prajapati Daksha ( Aswini to Revathi ). But he was very much affectionate with Rohini and Kiruthigai. When the other daughters complained, Prajapati Daksha cursed Chandran to lose his light slowly. As per the advice of Devas, Chandran worshipped Lord Shiva and he gave him to gain and lose power every 15 days. Hence Shiva is called Sri Somanatheswarar.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS:
The
temple will be kept open between 08.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs.
HOW
TO REACH
Kolathur
may be reached through town bus No M51V from T Nagar via Saidapet- Medavakkam.
About
2 KM from Mambakkam, which is on the Kelambakkam Vandalur Road.
Kolathur
is about 18 KM from Vandalur and 8 KM from Kelambakkam through Mambakkam.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
Enthirakal ( Found at the east side entrance )
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
its near kalyana rANGANATHA TEMPLE SIR ?
ReplyDeleteYes Ma..about 500 meters
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