Thursday 20 June 2019

Sri Arthanareeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ அர்தநாரீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Rishivandiyam, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

09th June 2019.
After the darshan of Sri Vennayappar / Sri Swarnakadeswarar of Thirunelvennai, We thought of  winding our Villupuram temples visit with this Rishivandiyam Shiva temple, considering the distance to be traveled back to Chennai. It was around 18.00 hrs when we landed Rishivandiyam Temple. Rishis worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Hence the ancient name of Rishi Vantha vanam was corrupted to the present name of Rashivandiyam.


Moolavar  : Sri Arthanareeswarar
Consort    : Sri Mukthambigai.

Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with a 5  tier Rajagopuram. A Rishabam with a mandapam is in-front of the Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram. Moolavar is swayambhu. ( Parvati in standing posture can be seen during honey Abhishekam on the Shiva Linga. A two tier Vimana is on the sanctum. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. The Urchavars are in the artha mandapam. Bhairavar, Suryan, Natarajar, Palliyarai and Vinayagar are in artha mandapam.

In prakaram sannadhi for 63var, Vinayagar, Agastheeswarar & Agastheeswari, Nagars, Chandikeswarar, Viswanathar & Visalakshi, Annamalaiyar, Unnamulai Ammai, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar Stucco image of Arthanareeswarar and Navagrahas.

Ambal is in a separate temple like sannadhi. The temple consists of sanctum, antarala and ardha mandapa. A Nandhi mandapam is in front of the sanctum. The stucco image of Sthala purana, in which a Shiva Lingam with Parvathi inside in standing posture. Since Ambal Mukthambigai gives Mukthi, She is being called by that name.

ARCHITECTURE
The Temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, Antarala, artha mandapam and a maha mandapam. 

On the left is the Vasantha mandapam ( with musical Pillars )  and on the right is the vahana mandapa ( there are two Yazhi pillars, in one of the Yazhi’s mouth a stone rolling ball was carved by the sculptor.
 
 Yazhi Pillars
 Yazhi Pillars 
 The rolling ball in Yazhi's mouth
The musical pillars
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION:
The temple was built by Jadavarma Sundara Pandyan  in 1282 CE and latter contributions by the Vijayanagaras and Nayaks. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted during 2007. 

LEGENDS
Indra had done abhishekam only Lord Shiva ignoring Sri Parvati. Parvati got angry and hide all the pots. Lord Shiva offers his left side of his body. While doing the Abhishekam, Indra had seen Parvati on the left side of the Shiva Linga. Realizing the mistake he had done, he sought forgiveness from Sri Parvati.
   
In another Legend, Agasthiyar was sent to South to balance the earth, during Shiva’s marriage with Parvati marriage. Since he couldn’t attend the marriage, Shiva gave Kalyana kola Darshan in this temple.

This temple is famous for the marriage boon and children could not speak, do abhishekam with honey and the honey to be consumed for speech.

POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, important functions like, Mahashivaratri , In Aani month 10 days annual festival will be celebrated in a grand manner.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT:
Mr. Somu Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile +919865369493  for further details.

HOW TO REACH:
Rishivandiyam is about 26 KM from Thirukovilur, 73 KM from Villupuram, 25 KM from Kallakurichi and 250 KM from Chennai.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE



 Arthanareeswarar Stucco image 
The Mandapa opposite to Ambal's Sannadhi. on the top stucco image of Parvati on Shiva Linga
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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