VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Sundareswarar Temple, Thiruloki, near Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

Wednesday 14 August 2019

Sri Sundareswarar Temple, Thiruloki, near Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

27^th July 2019.

The visit to this Thiruloki 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. I will post the details of the temples not covered during my previous visits / Padal Petra Sthalangal visit. This temple Shiva was praised in Thiruvisaippa and Kasi Kalambagam.

நீரோங்கி வளர்கமல நீர்பொருந்தாத் தன்மையன்றே

ஆரோங்கி முகமலர்ந்தாங் கருவினையேன் திறமறந்தின்று

உரோங்கும் பழிபாரா துன்பாலே விழிந்தொழிந்தேன்

சிரோங்கும் பொழிற்கோடைத் திரைலோக்கிய சுந்தரனே

நையாத மனத்தினனை நைவிப்பான் இத்தெருவே

ஐயாநீ உலாப்போந்த அன்றுமுதல் இன்றுவரை

கையாரத் தொழுதருவி கண்ணாரச் சொரிந்தாலும்

செய்யாயோ அருள் கோடைத் திரைலோக்கிய சுந்தரனே

..... திருவிசைப்பா 9ஆம் திருமுறை

Moolavar : Sri Sundareswarar

Consort : Sri Akilandeswari

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Rishhabam with Balipeedam are in the mukha mandapam and in the artha mandapam. Ambal Sri Akilandeswari is in Maha mandapam facing east. Dwarapalakas are in the antarala entrance.

The Sanctum Moolavar is small in koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai. Nulamba-style sculptures of Rathi with Manmathan are in the artha mandapam and Shiva with Parvati on Rishabam ( Rishabaroodar ) is in the outer praharam ( It was told these two Nulamba sculptures are brought by Rajendran-I after defeating Nulambas).

In the outer prakaram, Chandikeswarar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Thirikala Bhairavar, Bickshadanar, Chandran, Shaniswar and Suryan.

Durga in Koshtam

ARCHITECTURE:

The Sanctum sanctorum consists of a sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam, and Maha mandapam.

The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple padma bandha adhisthana. A single tier Vesara vimana is over the prastaram. The prastaram is of kapotha style with nasi. The stucco images of Brahma and Vishnu are with their consorts on the Vimana.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was built by Chozhas and later expanded by Marathas. As per the inscription this place was called Trilokya Mahadevi Chaturvedi Mangalam, which was corrupted to the present name of Thiruloki. The temple has Varaguna Pandiyan, Rajendran-I, Rajarajan-II and Kulothunga-I inscriptions. As per the Kulothunga-I inscription, land was donated to this temple ( previously donated by Varaguna Pandya ) for the celebration. Rajarajan-II, inscription speaks about the taxing of Brahmadeya, Pallisantham, and Devathanam. Also, a Siva Brahmanar received gold to burn a lamp in this temple.

Nulamba-style sculptures of Rathi with Manmathan are in the artha mandapam and Shiva with Parvati on Rishabam ( Rishabaroodar ) is in the outer praharam ( It was told these two Nulamba sculptures are brought by Rajendran-I after defeating Nulambas).

The temple is under the control of the HR & CE Department. A Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 26th October 2015 after a gap of 50 years.