The third visit to this Sri Gangaikonda Chozheeswarar
Temple at Koolamandal was a part of the 610th week Gangajal abhishekam by the Ancient Shiva Temples and Sivamayam Group on 12th th July 2026.
26th May
2019.
After
the darshan of Sri Pesum Perumal, we went to this Shiva Temple in the
isolated northeast corner of the village, Koozham Pandal, otherwise known as
Koolamandal in Thiruvannamalai District near Kanchipuram. This place was called Vikrama
Chozhapuram under Jayangonda Chozha Mandalam, Kazhiyur Kottam Bakoor
Nadu. Rajendra Chozha-I was also called Vikrama Chozha. The temple was
reconstructed and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The second time I visited this temple was on 16th November 2019, a part of the Thirumukkudal Temples Visit along with Mr Gandhi Rajan and Mrs Sakthi Prakash.
Moolavar :
Sri Gangaikonda Choleswarar, also called as
Sri Jagannatheeswarar.
Consort : Sri Visalakshi
Some of the salient features of this temple are...
The
temple faces east with a Rishabam and cylindrical Pillars (a mandapa might
have existed earlier). The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and an artha mandapam/maha mandapam. Moolavar is a little taller. The maha mandapa has entrances from the south with dwarapalakas and the east side, which are
a special feature of this temple. The south side entrance has the steps called
Gajahastha Shobana steps. Ambal sannadhi is in the maha mandapa, believed to be
before the Kulothunga period. Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, and Bairavar are in the maha mandapam.
In the outer praharam, loose sculptures, which include Dakshinamurthy, are installed on a pedestal at the south side entrance, and Navagrahas (installed in recent years).
Utsavar
Dwarapalakas at the entrance of ardha mandapam
Dwarapalakas at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum
ARCHITECTURE
The temple was built with stone from adhistanam to sigaram. The temple was built with upanam, and prati bandha adhistanam (Padma jagathy, vrudha kumudam, Yazhi vari,
pattikai, bitti, etc.), Prastaram, Greevam, sigaram, and stupi. The adhistanam is called Prti bandha adhistanam. The vimana is of the vesara style. The hara also has six parts. In koshtam, Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. As per ASI, the Koshta images and Dwarapalakas belong to the Rajendra Chozha period.
The prastaram consists of valapi with bhuta ganas, kapotam with nasi kudus & Chandra mandalam, and Yazhivari. The vimana is of two tiers. The greevam
consists of Rishabamandi and Karna Koodu, which is a special feature of this temple.
As per the experts, the style of construction of this temple was adopted in Gangaikonda
Chozhapuram, and the same was borrowed from the Chalukya, Sangameswarar temple. On the
vimana's north side, Ardhanareeswara, in a sitting posture, is also a special
feature of this temple.
Bhutaganas in the valapi
Rishabam and a female Rishabam in the valapi
Brahma
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTION
As per the inscriptions, this temple was built by Chozha King Rajendran-I’s (1012 – 1044 CE) spiritual Guru Eesana Siva Pandithar after the Victory of land up to the Ganga by Rajendran-I. The Eesana Siva Pandithar, who was also Rajaguru for Rajaraja Chozha-I.
As
per the inscription, this place, Koozham pandal, was called Vikrama chozha puram,
which was a part of Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Kazhiyur Kottathu
Baakoor /Paakur Nadu.
The
Rajendra Chozha-I, 22nd-year rule, 1034 CE period inscription records the
gift of land as Devathanam to this temple at Akkur.
In
addition to Chozha-period inscriptions, Vijayanagara-period inscriptions are
also found in this temple. The inscriptions mainly record the donations of
land, Goats, Cows, Gold, etc. The income from the land and interest for the money
was utilised towards daily poojas, celebrations, and the burning of perpetual
lamps.
Ref:
South Indian Inscriptions Volume
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, etc.
Pradosha pooja Utsavar procession
Gangajal Abhishekam
Gangajal Abhishekam
Pradosha pooja Utsavar procession
HOW
TO REACH:
The
temple is about 500 meters off the Kanchipuram to Vandavasi main road.
The
village Koolamandal is 18 km from Kanchipuram, 22 km from Vandavasi, and 100 km from Chennai.
All
the route buses from Kanchipuram to Polur via Dhusi, Vandavasi pass through the village of Koolamandal.
Town
bus route No 35 from Kanchipuram to Manamathi passes through this village.
Dakshinamurthy in the koshtam
A Chozha-period Dakshinamurthy, kept as a loose sculpture
Part of the Sivamayam team on 12th July 2026, 610th week pradosham and Gangajal abhishekam
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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