Sri Mukyachaleswarar / Mukthiyaleeswarar Temple, and Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple, Perumukkal near Tindivanam, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

28^th April 2019.

Since we had enough time to reach Munnur, as scheduled, after Sri Bhoomeeswarar darshan at Marakkanam,  thought of Visiting the Perumukkal Shiva Temple on the hills, before the sun reached the top. It was told that climbing the hill with 470 and odd steps, would take just 20 minutes. Steps were neatly paved since the temple is under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ). While climbing up the temperature was favorable to us. In the middle of the steps, we could find a Vijayanagara-period temple in ruins. The pillars, lintels, roof slabs, and even the idols are strewn around. Little above the temple was built inside a fort. Even, though who built the fort was not known, the ruling power was shuttled between, Hyder Ali & Tippu Sultan and Britishers. The remains of the fort, Vijayanagara Period Temple remind the wars that happened in 1760, 1780, 1783, and 1790. The granite quarrying also did enough damage to the Temple and fort structures. This was stopped now through a court order. I sincerely extend my thanks for providing the details.

Moolavar : Sri Mukyachaleeswarar, Mukthiyaleeswarar

Consort   : Sri Kamakshi Amman ( Base of the hill )

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The Shiva temple is on the top of the Hill facing east. The sanctum sanctorum consists of a sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam, and Maha mandapam. In the maha mandapam balipeedam and old & New Rishabams. There are two Shiva Lingas Kept in front of the entrance.  In the artha mandapam the reliefs of “Periyan Thiruvana Siruthondan” “KakkumNayakan”, and the Archakar “Thiruchitrambalamudayan Anbarkarasu Pattan”, who are involved in the reconstruction of this temple during Vikrama Chozha period. 

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum adhisthana is a simple padma bandha adhisthana with a three-face kumuda. The Pilasters has the Thamaraikattu, Kalasam, Kumbam, Palakai, Kandam Pothyal etc. On the Top Boothavari is below the Kabotham is with nasis, but without kudu. In the bhoothavari / Valabi above Dakshinamurthy koshtam /niche, the sculptures of Seetha in the Ashoka vanam scene. A Vinayagar idol and a Vijayanagara period Hanuman relief are on the south side wall of the outer praharam. On the top is the Yazhivari. There is no vimana over the sanctum.

A level below on the south side there is a shrine for Sri Anjaneyar with sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam.  This Anjaneyar temple was built during the Vijayanagara period.  The Seetha cave with 7^th Century, vattezhuthu inscriptions and more than 6000 years old carvings/petroglyphs are on the east side of the hill.

 Seetha in Ashoka vana scene in Bhuthavari.

6000 years old carvings/petroglyphs at Seetha Cave 

LEGENDS

Seetha cave… it is believed that Sitha lived in this cave and Lava and Kusha were also born in this cave. Valmiki Maharishi worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple after a severe penance.   This hill was also worshiped as Thirumalai, Mukyasailam, Sanjeevi Malai, Gnanamalai, etc,.

In 1906 When Kanchi mutt 66^th Peetadhipathi Sankarachariyar was observing Chaturmasya vratha in this hill temple, he identified Swaminathan alias Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Swamigal as 68^th Kanchi mutt Peetadhipathi.

Aaseevaham one of the Saiva Bhakti cults was at its peak during the 3^rd Century. That one monk called Nandhasiriyan also called Nandhvaacha in Bali language lived here. Since he was an expert in astronomy and Science, he was called Kaninandhaasiriyan. He worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple and attained mukti. Hence Iraivan is called Mukthiyaleeswarar.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS:

As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called Mukthiyaleeswarar, Thiruvanmigai Eswaramudiayar, Perumukkal Udaiyar, etc,. This place was under Jayankonda Chozha Mandalathu, Oyma Nattu, Vijaya Rajendra Vallanattu Perumukkal alias Gangaikonda Nallur. The historians believe that the name “Gangaikonda Nallur” was given during Rajendran-I’s period after the victory of the Ganga region.

It was believed that the original brick temple existed from the 3rd Century CE. The temple has about 60 inscriptions belonging to Chozhas, Pandyas, Kadavarayas, Sambuarayas, and Vijanagaras. The earliest inscription belongs to Uthama Chozha ( 970 CE ), then Kulothunga Chozha ( 1070 -1122 CE ) and Vikrama Chozha. During Vikrama Chozha’s period (1118−35 CE ), the brick temple was reconstructed as a stone temple.

 

Vikrama Chozha’s 3^rd reign year inscription records that the temple was constructed by a person called Kakku Nayakan alias Kanakarayan. This indicates that the temple was existed before Vikrama Chozha and renovated by him.

Vikrama Chozha’s 8^th reign year inscription mentions him as Parakesarivarman alias Thiribhuvana Chakravartin Vikrama Chozha Deva and the place as Palamukkil in Perumukkil Nadu. A 9^th reign year inscription of the same King records the gift of land to this Temple Thiruvanmigai Eswaram.

Kulothunga -II (1148 CE ) period inscription records the sale of land through auction and the money is utilized for burning of perpetual lamp. The inscription also throws light on the measurement scale & procedure. 

Kulothunga Chozha-I's period ( 1070 - 1120 CE ) 16th reign inscription on the boulder starts with his meikeerthi. ( Conquering Pandyas and Cheras ). It mentions the name of his wife as Bhuvanam Muzhuthudayal. This place was mentioned as Oymanadu alias Vijayarajendravalattu Perumukkil and this hill was called Thirumalai. Lord Shiva was called Thiruvanmikai Eswaramudaya Mahadevar.  This inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by a person from Vijayarajendra Valanadu. For the same 30 Savaa moova cows were gifted to this temple. Another inscription in continuation to the first records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 30 cows are gifted by a person Arayan of Kidangil ( now called Kidangu near Tindivanam ). The third inscription continues to the second inscription. This 45th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp by another person Sevur nattu Nulambur with a gift of 12 saavaa moovaa peradu.

Maravarman Vikrama Pandya’s 6^th reign year inscription records the gift of a saltpan to this temple. It seems that this was in use till the Pallava King Koperunsingan’s period. 

  

A 12th-century inscription speaks about Munnur Munnutru kudipalli Sengoni Naalaayiravan Ammaiappan aka Samburarayan’s donation towards the celebration of the annual function / Thiruvizha.  From another inscription, A Land was donated to a servant maid who lost her life to cure the contagious disease of Rajaraja Sambuvarayar.  The inscription also records that a group prayer existed during the Chozha period.

In 2013 Rs 1 crore was allotted for renovation of Hill and base temples. Since the allotted funds were not sufficient, the work was not carried out.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The opening and closing times are unpredictable, so the devotees are advised to contact the pujari before visiting the temple.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Poojari Sampath 9786064598 and his son Ajith 9159395749 may be contacted for further details.

The following mobiles may also be contacted for further details 9442898395  and 9787703262

HOW TO REACH:

The Perumukkal Hill is about 1 KM off the Tindivanam – Marakkanam main road.

Perumukkal is about 12 KM from Tindivanam & Marakkanam, 42.5 KM from Pondicherry.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE

  The ruined Vijayanagara period Temple and mandapa

  Vijayanaka Sculpture - Herdman

 Anjaneyar Temple

SRI KAMAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE.

The Amman temple is mentioned as “Thirukamakotta Nachiyar” in the inscriptions. The Amman temple is also facing east at the base of the hill. There are two mandapas before the 3 tier Rajagopuram.   The base of the Rajagopuram has the reliefs of Hindu deities. On the left inside the Rajagopuram, there is a Kotravai Sculpture. In front of the sanctum is the Rishaba mandapa. 

ARCHITECTURE AND INSCRIPTIONS

The sanctum sanctorum consists of a Shiva sannadhi and an Amman sannadhi. Inscriptions are found in Shiva Sannadhi sanctum adhistanam. The total temple, Vimana, and Rajagopuram are in dilapidated condition.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Till the 3^rd quarter of the 20^th Century, Lord Shiva Urchavar was taken to the base temple after artha jama pooja for palliyarai pooja and taken to the hill temple for Thirupalliyezhuchi pooja. Due to the dilapidated condition of Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple, the practice was discontinued.

   

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The time of opening and closing are unpredictable devotees are advised to contact the Archakar before visiting the temple,.

CONTACT DETAIL:

The Archakar 9786260772 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The Perumukkal Hill is about 1 KM off the Tindivanam – Marakkanam main road.

Perumukkal is about 12 KM from Tindivanam & Marakkanam, 42.5 KM from Pondicherry.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---