Arulmigu Azhagu Nachiamman Temple / ஸ்ரீ அழகுநாச்சியம்மன் கோயில், Vellalore / Vellalur, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu.

12^th October 2019

The visit to this 11^th to 12th-century Arulmigu Azhagu Nachi Amman Temple at Vellalore was a part of the Kongu Heritage Walk scheduled on the 12^th and 13^th of October 2019. After the Darshan of Sri Karivaradharaja Perumal, we went to this temple, which is about 500 meters away from the Perumal Temple. Vellalore = Velir + Oor, which means this place belongs to Velir, who engaged themselves in agriculture and cattle/animal husbandry. This Amman temple is right on the banks of river Noyyal, also called as Kanchima River ( காஞ்சிமாநதி ).

The Place Vellalore has existed since ancient times. Megalithic period burial grounds are excavated in the place Vellalore. The Rajakesari Peruvazhi / Trade Route from the West seaside Chera ports to Chozha Nadu Poompuhar passed through this place. It was a Trade city, and more than 500 Roman coins were unearthed on the banks of the  Noyyal River. Out of the Roman Coins found in India, 70%  are from the Kongu region.

Presiding Deity: Arulmigu Azhagu NachiAmman

Some of the important details are…

The temple faces North on the banks of the river Noyyal. Entrances are from the North and South sides. On the north side entrance, Vinayagar and Nagars are under a Peepal Tree. On the South side entrance, Spatha Kannis are under a Peepal tree.

The Deepa Sthambam, Soolam, and Simha vahana are in front. Two female bootha ganas with big bellies in a sitting posture are in front of the artha / mukha mandapam grill gate. Since the temple was found closed during our visit, we could not see the presiding deity. As per the front arch stucco image iconography, the presiding deity must be A Kali or Amman with 8 hands. 

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of the Sanctum sanctorum  and the artha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is rectangular in shape, and it seems this temple may be the saptamatrikas. (The temple was found closed during our visit.) The adhisthana is of pathabhantha. The sanctum sanctorum does not have any koshta or niches.  A rectangular Vimana with 3 kalasas is in the sanctum sanctorum. Saptamatrikas stucco images are on the Vimana. On top of the artha mandapam, the stucco arch with the image of Amman with 8 hands, probably Kali / Mahisha mardhini (Mahishan was not found below). On both sides, Murugan and Vinayagar.

 Dwarapalaki

HISTORY

It was said that the temple in Amman is a kaval Deivam of the Village Vellalore and was constructed during the Vijayanagara period. But the inscriptions on the walls seem to be much older and may belong to the 11^th to 12^th centuries. Ashta Bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 2011.

11th to 12th Century inscription

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

Since oru kala pooja is conducted, the opening and closing times are unpredictable.

HOW TO TEACH:

Vellalore/ Vellalur is about 6 km from Podanur / Pothanur, 16 km from Ukkadam Bus Stand, and 12.6 km from Coimbatore Railway Station.

Town buses are available from Ukkadam and Gandhipuram City bus terminus.

The nearest Railway station is Coimbatore Junction.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 Sapthakanniyars

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---