16th
November 2019.
The
second visit to this Pathangeeswarar Temple at Palur was a part of
Thirumukkudal temple’s visit scheduled on 16th and 17th November 2019. This
visit was a mixture of Hindu and Jainism, Temples and Heritage Sites. On the
way to Thirumukkudal from Chennai, we had planned to see a Tirthankara at
Palur. On reaching there I was told that the Tirthankara idol was taken by the Archaeological Department. The Place Palur is on the north side of River Palar.
Had the darshan of Sri Pathangeeswarar. ( This is the updated post of my previous Uzhavaram Post - For the details of the Uzhavaram post please click this Link )
Moolavar
: Sri Pathangeeswarar
Consort : Sri Bramarambigai, Sri Vandarkuhzali
Mangai
Some
of the important details of this temple are…….
The
temple is facing east with an entrance arch. The Stucco image of Shiva and
Parvati as Rishabaroodar is on the arch. Rishabam (The mandapa lion pillars are of sandstone) and balipeedam are
in front of a single tier 2nd level Rajagopuram. In koshtam Sri Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Vishnu Durgai. In the sanctum, Moolavar
looks cute with Nagabharana decoration. The stucco Dwarapalakas are at the
entrance of the sanctum.
In
the inner prakaram sannadhi for Sri Murugan with Valli & Devansena and
Nalvar. Murugan (Arumugar) has six faces sitting on his
vahana peacock with an Ohm arch/ thiruvasi, behind. All
these are chiseled from a single sandstone. Murugan sannidhi
is on the left side facing North ( A rare position). Later additional walls covering the sides of Mukha mandapa, his vahana, and balipeedam were installed on the outer praharam.
The additional wall constructed also obstructs the direct Circumambulation
path around Moolavar Sanctum.
In
the outer prakaram Sri Vinayagar, Ambal, Kala bhairava, Navagrahas,
Suryan and Vinayagar. Since Suryan worshiped Lord Shiva there was no
Navagraha sannidhi in the olden days and a
Navagraha sannidhi was added later period.
We
found that in Nalvar, the Sundarar idol is not matching the
iconography, available in many temples. ( Headgear / Crown - is
missing ). Gurukkal told us, that Nalvar was previously installed outside and
brought inside during recent years, which is very old.
Amman
Sri Vandar Kuzhali is in a separate temple facing east in standing
posture with Abhaya and Vara Hastham. Her vahana simham is in front with
balipeedam.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The entrance to
the sanctum is from the south side. The sanctum sanctorum is on the padabandha
adhisthana with tripatta kumuda. The prastaram is kabotha style with
karna kood. Bootha Ganas are in valabi and Yazhivari is above the prastaram. A two-tier stone vimana
is above the prastaram. The Sikaram is built with brick. The mukha mandapa was
built during Vijayanagara period.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
As
per the inscriptions, this place was under Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Utrur Kottathu Perumpalaiyur nattu Perumpalaiyur, Thirupalaiyur and Palaiyur. This
place was also called Rajendra Chozha Nallur. Lord Shiva was called a
Perumpalaiyur Mahadevar and Thirupathangadudaiyar.
The
inscriptions belongs to ParakesariVarman (a) Parantaka Chozha-I (910 AD),
Kulothunga Chozha-I (1108 AD), Vikrama
Chozha-I (1123 AD), Kulothunga Chozha-III (1202 AD), Rajaraja-III (1226, 1231
AD), 13- 14th & 15th – 16th
Century Tamil inscription mixed with Grantha, Vijayanagara king
Narasingappadeva Maharayar (1485 - 1490 AD) and unknown 16th to 17th
Century.
Paranthaka-I
period inscription records that the Thirupalaiyur Village head’s daughter by the name of Kadavi donated a perpetual lamp to this
temple.
An
inscription starts with Veera Rajendran’s Meikeerthi and Kulothunga-I’s Meikeerthi records the donation of a perpetual lamp by a Mayyur Nattu
Rajendrapuram Oil merchant Sankarapandyarkal.
Vikrama
Chozha’s inscription records the donation of land at Madapuram by Abimanameru
Pallavarayan of Kuruchi Village in Chozhamandalathu Pandyakulasini Valanadu to
feed food to the Brahmins at Acharaseelan Madam, who came for darshan of Lord
Shiva of this temple.
The
Kulothunga Chozha-III, period inscriptions record that as requested by
Nandhiyarayan, an official, King Kulothunga gave an order to utilize the Tax income
from the lands donated to this temple, Money and the oil by the oil extractors ( Chekku Kudiyinar ) as a capital towards maintenance and Poojas.
Rajaraja-III's period inscription records that Andar Akilanayakar (a) Sambandar donated 8 coins ( pazhangasu ) towards the burning of 4 lamps to the Siva Bramanars. Also, another inscription is The Village
head’s servant (a Paraiyadiyar )
Perunkadan gave money to burn lamps.
13th
– 14th Century inscription states that land was mortgaged to this
temple governing body and the same was released from mortgage after getting an
assurance not to mortgage again.
Vijayanagara
King Viruppana Udayar’s inscription records that the land and housing plots belonging to the
temple measuring 70 Kuzhi, were sold to the Kaikolars ( weavers? ) and
Devaradiyars.
A
15th to 16th Century Tamil mixed with Grantha inscription
records the gift of land to Lord Shiva and Subramaniar for Naivedyam ( Curd, Vegetable, Sukku, yelam, and pepper ).
Vijayanagara
King Narasingadeva Maharayar’s inscriptions mention that tax was withdrawn on
the School lands. A 16th – 17th
Century inscription records that the land ( Kollai & Kazhani ) donated to
this temple by Krishnaraya Nayakar was gifted to the temple maintenance, Dance teachers, and
drum/ Thavil players.
A Chozha period inscription
LEGENDS
Suryan
(Sun) worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple to get rid of
Graha dosha (dosh) as per the advice of Lord Vishnu. The Sun is also called
by different names like Suryan, Pathangan, Parithi, Baskaran, Aathithan, etc,. Since Suryan was Pathangan, worshiped
lord Shiva in this temple Lord Shiva is called Pathangeeswarar and the place
was also called Thirupathangadu in ancient times.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 19.00
hrs. Since Oru kala pooja is conducted the closing and opening times are unpredictable.
CONTACT
DETAILS:
Gurukkal
Sri P S Ekambaram, Sannadhi Street, Palur can be reached through his landline at 044 27437011.
HOW TO REACH :
PALUR
is on the Chengalpattu to Kanchipuram bus ( Get down at the Railway station stop )
and train route. The Beach to Thirumalpur passes through Palur and
the ticket is Rs 15.00 from the beach. And Rs 5 from Chengalpattu both fares are in
train.
A lot of buses both private and Govt buses are available from Chengalpattu to
Kanchipuram, Arakkonam.
The lion pillars of sandstone
Dakshinamurthy - Kallalamaram
Hero Stone - Navakandam
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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