VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Viyagrapadheswarar Temple, Sithalingamadam / Sirringur / சிற்றிங்கூர், Kallakurichi District, Tamil Nadu.

Sunday, 5 May 2019

Sri Viyagrapadheswarar Temple, Sithalingamadam / Sirringur / சிற்றிங்கூர், Kallakurichi District, Tamil Nadu.

17^th April 2019.

After witnessing the Koovagam Koothandavar Temple Aravan Chariot procession, on 17^th April 2019, had went to this temple at Sithalingamadam. This place was called Sirringur – சிற்றிங்கூர்- during Chozha period and how it changed to Sithalingamadam is not known. This temple is one of the Thevara Vaippu sthalam.

Moolavar : Sri Viyagrapadheswarar

Consort : Sri Neela Visalakshi

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Temple Pond is on the right side. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram. Next is the vahana mandapa. Dwarapalakas are in the artha mandapam. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In praharam, Naalvar, Kalinga Narthanar, a Donar idol, Dakshinamurthy, Vinayagar, Saptamatrikas, A Shiva Linga with Ambal, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Murugan, Nagars, Viyagrapada Maharishi, Gajalakshmi, Sani Bhagavan, Bairavar, Suryan, and Chandran.

Saptamatrikas

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is about 3 feet below the ground level. The sanctum Sanctorum is on a pada bandha dhistanam with 3 patta kumudam. The Pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters. The prastaram consists of Valapi, Kapotam with Nasi Kudus and Viyyala vari. Bhuta ganas are in the valapi. A 3-Tier Nagara- Vesara bricks Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.

Ambal Sri Neela Visalakshi is in a temple like sannadhi with sanctum, antarala, and artha mandapam.

Lagulesar..... In the outer praharam immediately after the Rajagopuram, on the right side, there is a Lagulesar bas-relief panel. The Lagulesar is in Rajaleelasana sitting posture. He holds the laguda or dhandam in his right hand with a snake curled. This Lagulesa bas-relief indicates that the Lagulesa Pasupata cult in Shiva worship was practiced in this region.

Lakuleesar in the outer prakaram

History and Inscriptions:

The temple has more than 80 inscriptions. The presence of Madurai Konda Parakesari Varman Parantaka-I (907 – 985 CE) indicates that the temple was built before the 10^th century. As per the inscriptions Sri Shiva is mentioned as Tiruppulippagavadevar and Thiruppulisvara Maha devar and the place as Sirringur, a Brahmadeyam in Kurukkaik-kurram in Maladu also called Jananatha-Valanadu.

The inscriptions belongs to Parantaka-I (Mathirai Konda Parakesari varman), Rajaraja-I, II & III, Rajendran-I, RajadhiRajan-II (1173-74 CE), Kannaradeva also called as Krishna-III, Kulothunga-I & III, Vikrama Chozha ( Parakesarivarman), Pandya Kings Vikrama Pandydeva-II (1274 CE), Maravarman Vira Pandian (1347 CE), Konerimaikondan Sundara Pandyan, Sundara Pandyan –I (1263 CE), Vijayanagar Kings Virupaksha Maharaya (1485 CE), Krishna Raya Maharaya (1513 CE) and Rajanarayana Sambuvarayar. The inscriptions are mainly in Tamil. Kulothunga-I period Sanskrit inscription is also available.

The inscriptions mainly speak about a donation of tax fee land, money, and Gold, towards the burning of Perpetual lamps, conducting regular poojas like Thirupalliyezhuchi, Artha jama Pooja, etc. During Kannaradevan’s period, land was donated to a Thevaradiyar to stage a drama.

Ref:

1. South Indian Inscriptions Volume 12 - 207.

2. South Indian Inscriptions Volume 13 - 41.

3. South Indian Inscriptions Volume 19 - 47, 94, 126, 182, 227, and 260.

4. South Indian Inscriptions Volume 26 - 388 - 454.

A sample inscription

LEGENDS

This temple is one of the Thevara Vaippu sthalam. Vinayagar argued with Sundarar and made him sing a hymn at this temple hence Vinayagar is called “Vathadum Vinayagar”. Viyagrapadar got Lord Shiva’s darshan in this temple, hence Lord Shiva is called Viyagrapadheswarar. Sri Gnanananda Swamigal, before settling in Thirukovilur Tapovanam, stayed here for quite some time.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Maha Shivaratri days, Pradosham, Vinayagar Chaturthi, etc. During Annual Celebrations / Brahmotsavam, Utsavar and temple chariot will be pulled around the temple.