26th
May 2019.
After
Completing the Visit of Koozhamandal and Perunagar temples, our next destination
was to Devikapuram. When we reached Devikapuram it was around 11.30 Hrs and it
was told that the Hill temple was closed and the Gurukal left just 5 minutes
before our arrival. It was learned that the Hill temple will be kept opened
between 08.00 hrs to.10.00 hrs only and on Mondays the closing time will be extended
up to 14.00 hrs. So we rushed to Sri
Periyanayagi Amman Temple, before closure around 12.00 hrs.
Had been to this temple second time a part of Thirumukkudal Temples Visit
scheduled on 16th and 17th
November 2019 along with Mr Gandhi Rajan and Mrs Sakthi Prakash. This temple
also it was around 12.00 hrs, when we reached the temple and we are lucky to
have the darshan before closure.
Consort : Sri Periyanayagi Amman.
Some
of the important features of this temple are…
The
temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram. A 4 pillar mandapa and a
mandapa adjacent to Temple chariot is in front of Rajagopuram. In the Rajagopuram entrance both
side walls has the reliefs of Ayyanar, Bhikshatana / Pichadanar. Bhairavar, Sugamuni,
Rishabanthikar, Vishnu, Lingothbavar, Narasimhar, Ashtabhuja Durgai, etc,. In
addition to this there were about 5 honey combs hanging from the ceiling. Balipeedam,
Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram.
In
the outer prakaram sannadhi for Kasi Viswanathar and Vinayagar. In the inner
prakaram sannadhi for Vinayagar, Nagalingam, Thirugnanasambandar, A Shiva Linga,
Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Sandikeswari, Durgai. The temple premises has Nataraja mandapam, 4 pillar mandapam, Navagraha mandapam, Yagasala mandapa, Kalyana
mandapa.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. Amman is in standing posture, holding Pasa & angusam in the upper hands and lower hands are in abhaya varada hastham. The sanctum base continues up to Prastaram. The Koshtams are empty, But reliefs of Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durgai are in the makara thoranam. The Vimanam is of vesara style on the top.
A 3 tier second level Rajagopuram with 36 Pillar mandapam is after Rishabam. On the left of the 36 pillar mandapam a Vinayagar sannidhi on the left and Subramaniyar Sannadhi on the right. The 36 Mandapa pillars has the reliefs Hindu deities. Shiva’s & Vishnu’s various form are done on the pillars.
The Temple walls out side has the rows of reliefs of elephants, Horses and Boars. The boars are with Kattar, sun and Moon with Boar. This forms the emblem of Vijayanagara Dynasty.
Rajagopuram entrance wall bass-relief.
A Vijayanaga emblem
HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS:
There are 55 inscriptions available in this temple. The inscriptions belongs to Vijayanagaras, Thanjavur Marathas, Arani Jagirdars. The inscriptions are in Tamil, Sanskrit, Marathi languages. From the inscriptions this place was called as Devakkapuram and latter turned to the present name of Devikapuram. In Census of India-1961 report, it was mentioned that the temple was built during Pallava Period, but, there is no evidence available. The earliest inscription available belongs to 1477 CE Vijayanagara period. The max inscriptions belongs to Krishna Devaraya ( 1509 - 1529 CE), Achyutaraya ( 1530-1542 CE) and Sadasiva Raya ( 1542 – 1570 CE).
There are 55 inscriptions available in this temple. The inscriptions belongs to Vijayanagaras, Thanjavur Marathas, Arani Jagirdars. The inscriptions are in Tamil, Sanskrit, Marathi languages. From the inscriptions this place was called as Devakkapuram and latter turned to the present name of Devikapuram. In Census of India-1961 report, it was mentioned that the temple was built during Pallava Period, but, there is no evidence available. The earliest inscription available belongs to 1477 CE Vijayanagara period. The max inscriptions belongs to Krishna Devaraya ( 1509 - 1529 CE), Achyutaraya ( 1530-1542 CE) and Sadasiva Raya ( 1542 – 1570 CE).
The
Inscriptions mentions the Ambals name as Periyanachiyar. The other details
mentioned are Days as Sunday, Monday. Etc, Castes, Coins, Name of the madams and
Nakshatras. The Inscriptions mainly
speaks about donations in terms of land, money, Coin, etc towards burning of
perpetual lamps, Poojas, Naivedyam etc.
There was a mention of temple lands are
leased to public and income from the lands are used for function of poojas and
function/ celebrations etc,.
As per the
inscription this place was called as Devakkapuram. The 16th Century
inscriptions mentions about Mutts like Picsha Mutt, was functioning headed by
Visweswara Sivachariyar, Eesana Sivachariyar. These heads also controls the
temple activities also. It was interesting to note that there was a Mutt called
Kolaki mutt was also functioned.
FESTIVALS:
The following festivals are celebrated. Chithirai 1st Day, the starting of Tamil New Year, Appar Guru pooja, Vaikasi Visakam, Navarathri, Karthigai Deepam, 10days festival during Panguni, etc,.
The following festivals are celebrated. Chithirai 1st Day, the starting of Tamil New Year, Appar Guru pooja, Vaikasi Visakam, Navarathri, Karthigai Deepam, 10days festival during Panguni, etc,.
LEGEND:
As per the legend Devaki, the sister of Kamsan came here and worshiped Lord Kanakagiriswarar and gave birth of Krishna. Hence this place was called as Devikapuram.
As per the legend Devaki, the sister of Kamsan came here and worshiped Lord Kanakagiriswarar and gave birth of Krishna. Hence this place was called as Devikapuram.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The
temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Gurukkal
K S Guruprasath Sivam may be contacted on his mobile 9952576444 for further
details
HOW TO REACH:
The
temple is in the middle of Devikapuram.
All
the buses from various places to Polur Via Chetpet passes through Devikapuram.
Devikapuram
is 150 KM from Chennai, 50 KM from Thiruvannamalai, 21 KM from Arani, 14 KM
from Polur and 60 KM from Vellore.
Nearest
Railway station is Polur.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
Makara thorana relief
Pickshadanar & Gangalars
Ashttabhuja Durgai & Kamakshi doing penance
Rajagopuram entrance wall bass-relief.
Rajagopuram entrance wall bass-relief.
Rajagopuram entrance wall bass-relief.
Rows of Elephants, Horses & Boars
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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