VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Kampahareswarar Temple, Thirubuvanam, near Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

Thursday, 15 August 2019

Sri Kampahareswarar Temple, Thirubuvanam, near Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

27^th July 2019.

The visit to this Thirubuvanam temple was a part of the Kumbakonam Heritage Walk organized by "Yaaooyaakay" - யாஊயாகே” and "Celebrate Kanchi" on 27^th and 28^th July 2019. In this walk, 13 temples were covered, which included 6 Padal Petra Shiva Temples. Will be posting the details of the temples which are not covered during my previous visits / Padal Petra Sthalangal Visit. This Thirubuvanam is on the Kumbakonam to Mayiladuthurai bus route.

Moolavar : Sri Kampahareswarar

Consort : Sri Dharmasamvardhini

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Kampathadi Vinayagar, Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and Nandi are immediately after the first-level Rajagopuram. There is another 3 tier Rajagopuram on the second level. Adhikara Nandhi is on the left side of the Rajagopuram entrance.

The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam, maha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. This is a Mada style Koyil with 11 steps. In Koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In praharam loose sculptures, Saptamatrikas, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Sandeswarar, Ambal Dharmasamvardhini, A Separate temple like sannadhi for Sarabeswarar, Bhairavar and Navagrahas.

ARCHITECTURE:

The adhistanam is with Vedhi pathra upa pedam. Above the upa peedam a Padma bandha adhistanam with vrutha kumudam. Yazhi vari is shown in three lines up to prastaram. Prastaram is with kodungai. In addition to Koshta Moortis drawings are also done. The Vimana is about 126 feet high with 7 tiers. The vimana is compared to Gangaikonda Chozhapuram, Darasuram and Thirupulla mangai Shiva temple vimanas.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS:

The temple was built by Kulothunga-III in memory of the victory over the Pandyas at Madurai. He assumed the title of Thiribuvana Chakravarthy after defeating Cheras, Sinhalese, and Pandyas. This place was named after his Title Thirubuvanam.

As per the inscription the small temple was expanded and rebuilt by Kulothunga Chozha-III. The temple was consecrated by his Guru Eswara Shiva and the son of SrikandaSambu. The Grantha inscriptions speak about Kulothunga Chozha’s building of Thillai Nataraja Temple Mukha mandapa, The Vimana of Sivakami Amman Temple, thirupani to the Kanchi & Madurai Shiva Temples and he was very much affectionate to the temples of Thiruvidaimaruthur, Thiruvarur, and Darasuram.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

Thirubuvanam is on the bus route from Kumbakonam to Mayiladuthurai and all the busses will stop at Thirubuvanam.

The Thirubuvanam is about 15 KM from Kumbakonam and 2.2 KM from Thiruvidaimaruthur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE