Sri Mashapureeswarar Temple / Sri Ulundandar Temple at Ulundurpet, Kallakurichi District, 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 the 16^th and 17^th is not planned earlier. It was said that this is one of the oldest temples in and around Villupuram. The temple is a 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 faces east with an entrance arch. The temple tank is on the right side of the 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 the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. A moat or agazhi formation is around the sanctum sanctorum due to the rise of the ground level. The sanctum sanctorum was built on a kapota bandha adhistanam, and the walls are supported by Vishnu kantha pilasters. The kostas are sala style. The pilasters consist of a square base with nagabandam, kalasam, kumbam, paali, palakai, etc. Boothavari is at the top. The Vimanam is a combination of the Nagara and Vesara styles.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

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

LEGENDS

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

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

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from  06.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs, and from 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.

The nearest Railway Station is Ulundurpet, about 3 km.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---