Thursday 22 August 2019

Sri Gangadeeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ கங்காதீஸ்வரர் கோயில், புரசைவாக்கம் / Purasaiwakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. ( SRI GANGADEESWARAR TEMPLE, PURASAWALKAM, CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU )

22, August 2019.
This temple is at Purasaiwakkam / Purasawalkam, a part of Chennai City close to Egmore. This Post was updated with History, Legends, and Poojas and celebrations. Please Click the link for the Old post. 


Moolavar    : Sri Gangadeeswarar
Consort      : Sri Pangajambal

Some of the important features of this temple are....
The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and Rishabam are at the front side.

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Urchavar Mandapam with 63var,  Siddhi Vinayagar, Vaitheeswarar, Sri Balasubramaniar, Kuruntha Malleeswarar ( North Indians do abhishekam on their own hands), Ambal Temple Simha vahanam with balipeedam and Dwajasthambam,  Sathya Narayana Perumal, Bana lingam without avudayar, Yaha salai, Navagrahas, and Sri Ramalinga Vallalar.

In the outer prakaram walls stucco reliefs of Shiva’s leela. They are Shiva’s ananda thandava, Carried mud to stop the water of vaigai for Pittu, Shiva kicking  Yama for Markandeyar, Kannappar applying his eyes of Shiva, Burning Muppuram / Tripurantaka, Ravana lifting Kailash, Shiva gave darshan to Karaikal Ammaiyar.




The sthala purana stucco images are Bhakirathan not respecting  Narada and Narada giving a curse, Bhagirathan worshiping Lord Shiva, and Lord Shiva giving darshan to Bhagirathan.


The temple sthala puranam -   Bhakirathan Worshiping Lord Shiva – Ganga flowed from Shiva’s head and Bhagirathan got relieved from the decease. ( In another version Bhakirathan got Ganga water to get rid of his ancestor's sin ).

Ravana Lifting Mount Kailash

In the inner prakaram sannadhi for Ambal, Naalvar, Maha Ganapathy, Nagars, Bhagirathan, Kasi Viswanathar, Sekkizhar, Kulachirai Nayanar, Suryan, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Uchishta Ganapathy, Sri Oondreswarar, Minnoli Ammai, Shanmugar, Durgai, Bhairavar, Dakshinamurthy,  Palliyarai,  Bhairavar, Chandran, Suriyan, Natarajar Saba.

Poondi Temple Moolavar Oontreeswarar, Rishabam, Ambal, Vinayagar and Arumugar

Nalvar Reliefs is on the pillar in front of Moolavar Sannidhi. Once this place was with a large number of Purasu trees, hence this place was called Purasawalkam

Around the Sanctum is in the form of a moat/ agazhi type. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.


HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As per the inscriptions, this place was in Puliyur Nadu a sub-division in Jayangonda Chozha mandalam during the Chozha period.) 

The 13th-century inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp at Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Puliyur Nattu Thiruvanmiyur Ulakaludaya Nayanar Temple, by Neelakangaraiyan.

The 15th Century Vijayanagara period inscription ( may be Devarayar ), is found much damaged. the letters like kanda kanda, Samudrathi, Kesavettai, Sri Veeraprathapa,  Raya maha rayar etc. The details couldn't be identified. 

The 16th Century Vijayanagara period inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp daily, for the same Kong.... kon Azhagu Perumal, one of the mandradis kudi amarthappattathu  - settlement ( may be given to this temple ), belongs to Jayangonda Chozha mandalam. 

Another 16th Century Vijayanagara period inscription is much damaged and words like taxes, and Kanikkai are mentioned. 

Ref:
Chennai Mavatta Kalvettukal, Tamil Nadu, Archaeological Department

LEGENDS
The legends like Tripura samharam, Ravana Lifting Mount Kailash, Vinayagar get Gnanapazham, and Bakiratha's penance to bring the Ganga River is in the form of stucco images on the wall. 

CONTACT DETAILS :
The office telephone number is 044 26422487

POOJA TIMINGS:
The temple is kept open for darshan between 07.00 Hrs to 11.00 Hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 21.00 Hrs

HOW TO REACH :
Bus facilities are available from various parts of the city.
2 KM from Egmore station via Gandhi Irvin Road – Nair Road – Dr Alagappa Chettiar Road – Gangadeeswarar temple road.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE 




--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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