Sri Mashapureeswarar Temple / Sri Ulundandar Temple at Ulundurpet, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu. LUNDURPET, TAMIL NADU.

16^th April 2019.

This is the second temple visit after Elavanasur Sri Arthanareeswarar Temple on 16^th April 2019. The temple to be visited on 16^th and 17^th are not planned earlier. It was told this is one of the oldest temples in and around Villupuram. The temple is little away from the main city.

Moolavar   : Sri Ulundandar or Sri Mashapureeswarar

Consort     : Sri Logambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

This temple is facing east with a entrance arch. The temple tank is on the right side of moolavar. A mandapam is immediately after the arch. In the open court balipeedam, Rishabam and Dwajasthambam. These three are not in a straight line with the second level Rajagopuram and the moolavar. The moolavar is Swayambhu. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar and Durgai. 

Ambal Sri Loganayagi is facing east in a separate sannadhi. In the prakaram sannadhi for Bairavar, Vishnu with his consort, Gajalakshmi, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Maha Ganapathy, Saba mandapam and Naalvar.

ARCHITECTURE

The second level Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. A moat or agazhi formation is around the sanctum sanctorum due to raise of the ground level. The Sanctum Sanctorum was built  on a kapota bandha adhistanam and walls are supported by vishnu kantha pilasters. The  kosthtas are Sala style. The pilasters consists of square base with nagabandam, Kalasam, Kumbam, pali, palakai etc. Boothavari is on the top. The Vimanam is the combination of Nagara and Vesara style.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the  details provided, the temple was built during Malaadar Koman period. Since the period is not known, based on the architecture the temple might have been built during latter Chozha period and expanded during Vijayanagaras /Nayak period.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, A pepper merchant happened to pass through this place, had seen this swayambhu Linga  and worshiped. Since it was getting dark, decided to stay in the temple itself. In that night, Lord Shiva wants to test his Bhakthi. He came in the form of old man and asked the merchant some pepper for his head ache. The merchant  lied and said the bag contains only “Ulundu” and not the pepper. Next day when he opened his bag at U. Keeranur Mariamman temple market area found the bag contained  only Ulundu. He heard a voice, this was changed by me said Lord Shiva. The merchant begged to pardon him. Lord Shiva asked him to come back the place where he stayed in the last night. After worship, the merchant found that the Ulundu changed to pepper again. Hence this place is called as Ulundurpet and Still we can see the Mariamman temple bears the name of Ulundu Mariamman. The place is also called as Ulundandar Koil.

Suryan and  Agasthiya worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted during Pradosham, Pancha paruva worship and Bramorchavam during Vaikasi with chariot procession.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between  06.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is about 3 KM from Ulundurpet Town.

Ulundurpet is on the Junction of Thiruvennainallur to Virudhachalam and Villupuram to Kallakurichi.

About 46 KM from Villupuram, 40 KM from Kallakurichi and 28 KM from Virudhachalam.

3 KM from Ulundurpet Railway station.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---