Uthamalingeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ உத்தமலிங்கேஸ்வரர் கோயில் / Govardanambigai Temple, பெருமாநல்லூர் / Perumanallur, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

13^th October 2019.

The visit to this Perumanallur was a part of Kongu Heritage was scheduled on the 12^th and 13^th of October 2019. This article covers the unique features of the more than 1000-year-old, lesser-known Shiva Temple at Perumanallur. Perumanallur is on the Erode to Coimbatore bus route, in the Kongu region. This place was called Perum Pazhanam ( Perum – big or abundance, and Pazhanam – green fields or full of green trees ). This Perumpazhanam or Perumpazhanallur got corrupted to the present name Perumanallur.

Moolavar : Sri Uthamalingeswarar /Chandrasekaran

Consort   : Sri Govardanambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces west with an entrance arch with a Stucco image of Lord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar. The specialty of the Kongu region,  a Deepasthamba is in front of the temple with Vinayagar and Nagars under a Peepal tree. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are after the entrance arch before the mukha mandapa. Oorthuva thandava murthy, Ardhanareeswarar, Veerabahu, and several other Murtis are on the pillars of mukha mandapa. Natarajar and Urchavars are in ardha mandapa. Shanmugar and Navagrahas are in the mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakas Dhandi and Mundi are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam Durgai, Brahma, Lingothbavar, Dakshinamurthy and Vinayagar.

In praharam, Chandikeswarar, Bhairavar, Pancha Lingas, Suryan, Nalvar, Chozheeswarar ( Believed to be the original Linga, of the original temple ), and Vinayagar.

ARCHITECTURE:

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and a Mukha mandapam. The Sanctum Sanctorum was believed to have been built before the 10^th Century by Chozhas and further expanded during Kongu Chozhas and Pandyas. The Mukha mandapa was built during the Vijayanagara period with their signature sculptures. The Mukha mandapam Pillar capitals are of Simha / Lion type with rolling balls in their mouth. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhisthana with three patta kumuda. The prastaram is of Kapota style with Nasikudu and bhutavari in the valapi. A two tier Nagara Vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum. From Adhishtanam to Bhoomi Desam built with stone and the superstructure was built with stucco.

Ambal Sri Govardanambigai faces west in a separate temple with sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. Ambal temple is on the left side of the main temple. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya and varada hastham. A Rishabam is in front of  the Ambal Temple.

 Mukha mandapa pillar Lion/ Simha capital with rolling balls

HISTORY & INSCRIPTION

Thirumoolar records that – “தமிழ் மண்டிலம் ஐந்து” - Tamil Nadu was divided into 5 mandalas and Kongu mandala is one of them. Kongu mandalam was once, spread up to the Tungabhadra River. Kongu mandalam was divided into 24 Nadus and Perumanallur comes under Arainadu – “ஆறை நாடு”. The Kongu Sathagam written by Karmeka Kavignar, a Jain Vidvan, gives the list of 35 Villages in Aarainadu. When Aarainadu was divided for administrative reasons during the Chozha period, Oththanur alias Pazhanainagar also called Pazhanai Nadu now called Perumanallur was attached to Vadaparisara Nadu.

சேவைநகர் அன்னியூர் வெள்ளாதி கோமங்கை திசைபுகழ வாழ்முடுதுறை

தென்கவசை துடியலூர் நீலநகர் பேரையொடு தெக்கலூர் கரைமாதையூர்

மேவுபுகழ் அவிநாசி கஞ்சைகா னூர்கரவை வெண்பதியும் இருகாலூரும்

விரைசேரும் உழலையொடு வடதிசையில் உறுகின்ற வெள்ளையும் பாடிநகரும்

நாவலர்க்கு இனிதான திருமுருகன் பூண்டியொடு நலசெவளை பழனைநகரும்

நம்பியூ ரோடெலத் தூருக்கிரம் புலவர் நகரமுடன் இனிமையான

கோவில்நகர் தொண்டமான் புத்தூரு முட்டமே கூடலூர் சிங்கநகரும்

குடக்கோட்டூர் குள்ளந் துறைப்பதியு வாள்வந்தி கோட்டைக்கரை ஆறுநாடே  

As per the inscription this place was also called PerumPazhanil, Perumpazhanam also called Oththanur (வடபரிசாரநாட்டு ஒத்தனூரான பெரும்பழனம்) and Lord Shiva was called as Uthamachozhichuramudaiya Nayanar. As per the legend, the place was also called Koothanur since a Chieftain by the name of Thirukandiyur Vilakkatharaiyan Ambalavan Ponnambala Kooththan had also contributed liberally to this Shiva temple. Going by the name of Lord Shiva o this temple, the temple may have been built by Uttama Chozha alias Parantaka-II or Rajararaja-I during the end of the 10^th Century.

The Temple walls and adhistanam have the inscriptions of Chozha Kings Veera Rajendran ( 1224 CE ) and Pandya Kings Veera Pandiyan ( 1262CE ) &  Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan and Vijayanagara King’s official Ramappaiyan.  

The inscriptions record the donations made in terms of Pazhanjalakai Achu kasu (Coin), Abhisheka vessel, Land for garden - Nandhavanam, burning of lamps, Sandhyadeepam, Thoopadeepam, Kongilakonar for the same lands for creating a Nandavanam and money. Perur Sevappanatha Mudaliyar’s son Uthandiyappa Mudaliyar constructed the Chandikeswarar sannidhi.

The Pandya King Ko Jatavarman Sundara Pandiyan’s 10^th reign year inscription records the endowment of  Nandavanam to the temple of Uttamsoliswaram Udaiya Nayanar in Ottanur alias Perumpalanam in Vadaparisara Nadu for which land was gifted after purchase by Siriyan Pillaiyan alias Piraisoodum Perumal, a merchant of Karaiyur.  

The Pandya King Sundara Pandya’s 8^th reign year inscription records the endowment of Naivedyam to the Nayanar of this temple by the sabha of Nallur alias Amarabhayangara Chaturvedi Mangalam agreed to give 50 Kalam of Paddy to this temple in two installments from the following Kar Pasanam.  

The Pandya King Vira Pandya’s 16^th year ( 15 +1 – 15^th ethiram andu ), inscription records the establishment of Kshetrapala Pillayar by Vilakkatharaiyan alias Ambalavan Ponnambala Koothan of Thiru Kandiyur in Chozha Mandalam. For the  same, a money of 55 Kasu was gifted to this temple.

The Pandya King Vira Pandya’s 8^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which one Palasalakai Achchu kasu was gifted by Sirupillaiyan, a Chief Merchant of Karaiyur in Kangeya Nadu. 

Veera Pandya’s 13^th reign year ( 1278 CE ) inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp at Uthama Chozheeswarar temple, by Oththanur alias Perum Pazhanathu Siriyan Pillan of Thevanthai a sub-caste in Vellalar community. For the same On Achchukasu was  handed over to Siva Brahmanan Alavanthan, father of Annathana Nambiyen.

The Vira Pandya’s 22+1 ie 23^rd reign year inscription records that a tank / Eri was found damaged for a long time. The same was repaired by rectifying the bunds and Sluices. The irrigated land was allotted to individuals and the expenses were met by them. The individuals can enjoy the income from the land for 4 years and after that, they have to pay 1/4^th  for the next 3 years and after that, it will be 1/3 and ½ so on.  

The Chozha King Veera Rajendran’s period inscription records the endowment of burning a Sandhya Deepam for which on Palanjalakai achchu kasu by a Periyan of Siva Brahmin. He also established the Vinayagar sannidhi.

The 17^th Century Sri Ramappaiyan’s official Chidambaranatha Pillai period inscription in front of the Deepasthambham records the donation of taxes received from the vara sandhai / weekly market, towards Pooja, Naivedyam, Abhishekam, burning of Sandhya Deepam and Perpetual lamps.

 

 Inscriptions

 Inscriptions

 Inscriptions

 Inscriptions

The inscription stone near Deepasthambham

LEGENDS

When the people ignored worship, they started living as they wished. Lord Shiva got angry and made this place a desert through sand and rain. The people realized this and requested Lord Shiva to forgive them. When Shiva didn’t relent, appealed to Mother Parvati. Mother came to earth and started penance when Lord Shiva refused to show mercy. After some period Shiva’s anger subsided, Shiva gave darshan to Parvati and restored this place to its original form. A Temple was built where Mother Parvati did penance / Tapas.

Devotees throng this temple for child boon and to get rid of obstacles in the marriage.   

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on 11 days Brahmotsavam in the month Chithirai ( April – May ), Thirumanjanam in the month Aani ( June – July ), Navaratri in the month  Purattasi (September), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Sani Peyarchi and Amavasya ( new moon days ).  

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Land Lines of Temple +91 421 235 0544 and 235 1396 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is about 500 meters from the Perumanallur Junction.

Perumanallur is at the junction of Coimbatore to Erode and Tiruppur to Gobichettipalayam.

Perumanallur is about 15.8 KM from Avinashi, 16 KM from Tiruppur, 60 KM from Coimbatore, and 50 KM from Erode.

Nearest Railway station is Tiruppur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE   

REFERENCES

1. தென்னிந்திய கோயில் சாசனங்கள், பகுதி -1
2. கொங்கு நாட்டு வரலாறு, கோவைகிழார் & புலவர் இராசு
3. கொங்கு சதகங்கள் கார்மேக கவிஞர், உலகதமிழ்ச் செம்மொழி மாநாடு வெளியீடு.

 Chozheeswarar Sannadhi believed to be the original Shiva Linga

  Vijayanagara signature bas-reliefs a herdsman & a donor

Kali

Shiva as Oorthuva Thandava Murthy

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---