16th November 2019.
The visit to this Murugan temple was a part of the Thirumukkudal Temples Visit scheduled on the 16th and 17th of
November 2019. After the darshan of Sri Varadharaja Perumal, we went to
this temple, which is about 100 meters distance. It was around 18.00 hours when we
entered the temple, and the sun had already set. So we couldn’t take clear
photographs. The 14th to 15th century saint Arunagirinathar has sung the hymn "Thiruppugazh" in praise of Sri
Balasubramania Swamy of this temple. He mentions Uthiramerur (in Sanskrit) as
Vadamerur – வடமேரூர் in
Tamil.
சுருதி
மறைக ளிருநாலு திசையி லதிபர் முனிவோர்கள்
துகளி லிருடி யெழுபேர்கள் சுடர்மூவர்
சொலவில்
முடிவில் முகியாத பகுதி புருடர் நவநாதர்
தொலைவி லுடுவி நுலகோர்கள் மறையோர்கள்
அரிய
சமய மொருகோடி அமரர் சரணர் சதகோடி
அரியு மயனு மொருகோடி யிவர்கூடி
அறிய
அறிய அறியாத அடி களறிய அடியேனும்
அறிவு ளறியு மறிவூற அருள்வாயே
வரைகள்
தவிடு பொடியாக நிருதர் பதியு மழிவாக
மகர சலதி அளறாக முதுசூரும்
மடிய
அலகை நடமாட விஜய வனிதை மகிழ்வாக
மவிலு சிதறி இரைதேடி வருநாய்கள்
நரிகள்
கொடிகள் பசியாற உதிர நதிக ளலைமோத
நமனும் வெருவி யடிபேண மயிலேறி
நளின
வுபய கரவேலை முடுகு முருக வடமேரு
நகரி யுறையு மிகையோர்கள் பெருமாளே
Moolavar :
Sri Balasubramania Swamy
Consorts :
Sri Valli & Sri Deivanai
Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram.
The temple tank is in front of the temple. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and
Elephant vahana are after the Rajagopuram entrance. The Elephant vahana, instead
of the usual Peacock, signifies that the temple is very old (as per the legend, this Elephant vahana was presented by Indiran as a marriage gift).
Dwarapalakas Sithekan and Sumugan are at the
entrance of the artha mandapam. Moolavar is about 6 feet and believed to be of
swayambhu. Consort of Murugan is the combination of Valli and Devasena called
Gajavalli.
In the praharam Varasiddhi Vinayagar, Selvaganapathy, Vishwanatha Eswarar, Vaishnavi, Balasubramaniyar, Vasugi, Kamadhenu,
Veera Sastha, Dhakshan, Arumugar, Sumithra Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, and
Suryan. A Separate Vel/spear is installed at the inner praharam, and it is
believed that this vel was used by Lord Murugan of Ilayanar (Young Murugan),
Velur, to protect sage Kashyapa from two demons. Kadamba Nathar sannadhi is in
the outer prakaram.
ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE
The temple was constructed on a rocky surface.
Large boulders can be seen protruding above the ground, outside the sanctum/prahara. The temple complex consists of a sanctum, an artha mandapam, and a
maha mandapam. The Mukha mandapa was supported by 10 Pillars. The sanctum is on
a simple padabandha adhisthana with tripatta kumuda. The niches or the koshtas
are shallow without koshta images. In the Thorana above the niches, Sanga Nidhi
and Padmanidhi Kuberan, and a dancer with musicians. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam, and vyyalavari. An eka thala vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum. Oonjal and vasantha mandapam
are in the outer praharam.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
During the Chozha period, Uthiramerur was called Jayangonda
Chozhamandalathu Kazhiyur Kottathu Uthiramerur Chaturvedi Mangalam, ie, the place
was gifted to the Brahmin scholars, who had learned the 4 Vedas. This place was mentioned in the inscriptions of the Vaikunta Perumal temple as Uthirameru, Uthiramerur, and Uthiramelur.
It is believed that the temple was built during the 6th
to 8th Century along with the Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple by the Pallavas. An inscription is found on the
old well in the Prahara. The temple was patronized by the Chozhas and
Vijayanagaras.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to
08.00 hrs, and from 16.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
HOW TO REACH:
The temple is about a km from the Uthiramerur
bus stand. Uthiramerur is 30 km from
Kanchipuram, 30 km from Chengalpattu, 60 km from Tindivanam, and 90 km from
Chennai
The nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.
Elephant Vahana to Subramanian Swamy - a proof of ancient temple
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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