26th
May 2019.
After
completing the visit to the Koozhamandal and Perunagar temples, our next destination
was Devikapuram. When we reached Devikapuram, it was around 11.30 hrs, and it
was told that the Hill temple was closed and the Gurukal had left just 5 minutes
before our arrival. It was learned that the Hill temple will be kept open
from 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 a second time as part of the Thirumukkudal Temples Visit
scheduled on 16th and 17th
November 2019, along with Mr. Gandhi Rajan and Mrs. Sakthi Prakash. This temple was also around 12.00 hrs when we reached the temple, and we were lucky to
have the darshan before closure.
Consort : Sri Periyanayagi Amman.
Some
of the important features of this temple are…
The
temple faces east with a 7-tier Rajagopuram. A 4-pillar mandapa and a
mandapa adjacent to the Temple chariot are in front of Rajagopuram. In the Rajagopuram entrance, both
side walls have the reliefs of Ayyanar, Bhikshatana / Pichadanar. Bhairavar, Sugamuni,
Rishabanthikar, Vishnu, Lingothbavar, Narasimhar, Ashtabhuja Durgai, etc. In
addition to this, about 5 honeycombs were hanging from the ceiling. Balipeedam,
Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram.
In
the outer praharam 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 have Nataraja mandapam, 4-pillar mandapam, Navagraha mandapam, Yagasala mandapa, and Kalyana
mandapa.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. Amman is in a standing posture, holding Pasa & angusam in the upper hands and lower hands in abhaya varada hastham. The sanctum base continues up to Prastaram. The Koshtams are empty, but the reliefs of Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai are in the makara torana. 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 have reliefs of Hindu deities. Shiva’s & Vishnu’s various forms are done on the pillars.
The Temple walls outside have rows of reliefs of elephants, Horses, and Boars. The boars are with Kattar, Sun, and Moon with the boar. This forms the emblem of the Vijayanagara Dynasty.
Rajagopuram entrance wall bas-relief.
A Vijayanaga emblem
HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS:
There are 55 inscriptions available in this temple. The inscriptions belong to Vijayanagaras, Thanjavur Marathas, and Arani Jagirdars. The inscriptions are in Tamil, Sanskrit, and Marathi languages. From the inscriptions, this place was called Devakkapuram and later came to be known as Devikapuram. In the Census of India-1961 report, it was mentioned that the temple was built during the Pallava Period, but there is no evidence available. The earliest inscription available belongs to the 1477 CE Vijayanagara period. The max inscriptions belong 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 belong to Vijayanagaras, Thanjavur Marathas, and Arani Jagirdars. The inscriptions are in Tamil, Sanskrit, and Marathi languages. From the inscriptions, this place was called Devakkapuram and later came to be known as Devikapuram. In the Census of India-1961 report, it was mentioned that the temple was built during the Pallava Period, but there is no evidence available. The earliest inscription available belongs to the 1477 CE Vijayanagara period. The max inscriptions belong to Krishna Devaraya (1509 - 1529 CE), Achyutaraya (1530-1542 CE), and Sadasiva Raya (1542 – 1570 CE).
The
Inscriptions mention the Ambal's name as Periyanachiyar. The other details
mentioned are Days as Sunday and Monday. Etc, Castes, Coins, Names of the Madams, and
Nakshatras. The Inscriptions mainly
speak about donations in terms of land, money, coins, towards the burning of
perpetual lamps, Poojas, Naivedyam, etc.
There was a mention of temple lands leased to the public, and income from the lands is used for the function of poojas and
function/celebrations.
As per the
inscription, this place was called Devakkapuram. The 16th-century inscriptions mention Mutts like the Picsha Mutt, which was headed by
Visweswara Sivachariyar, and Eesana Sivachariyar. These heads also control the
temple activities. It was interesting to note that there was a Mutt called
Kolaki, which also functioned.
FESTIVALS:
The following festivals are celebrated. Chithirai 1st Day, the starting of the Tamil New Year, Appar Guru pooja, Vaikasi Visakam, Navarathri, Karthigai Deepam, 10-day festival during Panguni, etc.
The following festivals are celebrated. Chithirai 1st Day, the starting of the Tamil New Year, Appar Guru pooja, Vaikasi Visakam, Navarathri, Karthigai Deepam, 10-day festival during Panguni, etc.
LEGEND:
As per the legend, Devaki, the sister of Kamsan, came here and worshiped Lord Kanakagiriswarar and gave birth to Krishna. Hence, this place was called Devikapuram.
As per the legend, Devaki, the sister of Kamsan, came here and worshiped Lord Kanakagiriswarar and gave birth to Krishna. Hence, this place was called Devikapuram.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The
temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Gurukkal
K S Guruprasath Sivam may be contacted on his mobile at 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 pass 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.
The nearest railway station is Polur.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Makara Torana Relief
Oorthuva Thandavar and Gajasamhara Murthy
Ashttabhuja Durgai & Kamakshi doing penance
Rajagopuram entrance wall bas-relief.
Rajagopuram entrance wall bas-relief.
Rajagopuram entrance wall bas-relief.
Rows of Elephants, Horses & Boars
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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