16th November 2019.
The visit to this temple was a part of the Thirumukkudal temples
Visit scheduled on 16th & 17th November 2019. After
Utharamerur Vaikunda Perumal Temple’s Visit, had went to this temple. The sun
started to set behind the temple and light was falling, when we reached the
temple. The temple was a model for many temples. The Ashta Lakshmi Temple, Besant Nagar, Chennai was built after seeing this. This place Uthiramerur was a 1200 Brahmin
settlement established in the 8th Century by Nandivarman Pallava-II (
720-796 AD ) and called Uthirameru Chaturvedi Mangalam.
Moolavar : Sri Sundara Varadaraja
Perumal
Thayar : Sri Sundara
Valli
Some of the salient features of this temple are…….
The temple faces east with a 7-tier Rajagopuram. A Veera
Anjaneyar sannidhi is in front of Rajagopuram ( The Anjaneyar is in the form of
bas relief. It is believed that this Anjaneyar is one of the Anjaneyar statues
installed by Vyasaraja ). Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Garudalwar are immediately
after the Rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum entrance is about 5 feet above the
ground level and there is a 2-tier vimana with 5 kalas at the entrance of the
sanctum sanctorum. The Perumal is in three levels with three postures Nindraan (Standing), Irundhaan (Sitting), and Kidandhaan (Reclining).
At the Ground level, Sri Sundara Varadar is in standing posture
with Sridevi and Bhudevi. Around the main sanctum, there are sannadhis for
Achutha Varadar, Anirudra Varadar, and Kalyana Varadar.
In the first level, Sri Vaikunda Perumal is in sitting posture
with Sridevi and Bhudevi. In addition to this, the other deities are Krishna as
Parthasarathy, Arjunar, ( Nara Narayana? ), Yoga Narasimha, and Lakshmi Varaha.
Lakshmi Varaha is in sitting posture with Lakshmi on his lap.
In the second level, Ranganathar / Anantha Padmanabha is in Sayana/reclining posture on Adishesha with Ganga, Yamuna, Brahma, Shiva,
Markandeyar, Bhudevi and the demons Madhu & Kaidapan. Ganga and Yamuna are
in standing posture as Dwarapalakis like Kodi pengal at the Rajagopuram. And
this is one of the places where Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma are in one
Sannadhi. Thayar and Andal are in
separate sannadhis at the ground level.
The Ashtanga Vimana has stucco images of various Vaishnava and Saiva deities which includes
Dakshinamurthy.
ARCHITECTURE
The Sanctum Sanctorum is built on an Upana, adhisthana with
Jagathi, Tripatta Kumuda, Kandam, patti, etc,. The corner projections are with Silambu Kumuda. The three small sanctums
around the main sanctum may be approached through a flight of steps (Shobana ) on both
sides. The south side face of the steps (Shabana) has the bas-relief of Gajalakshmi. In
the Gajalakshmi Panel, the elephants are shown different postures ie. one
is pouring water on Lakshmi and other is fetching water from the pond. Rathi/ Vakdevi and Manmathan are on the North side. Manmathan's 5 arrows are shown as flowers like Lotus, Mango, Jasmine, Asok and kuvalai ( தாமரை, அசோகு, மா, மல்லிகை, குவளை ). Muthkalar Maharishi's image is shown sitting on a lotus pedestal on the west side with
Venkotra kudai and Samara on the top. The Thoranas are filled with various
postures of rishis, animals, Ladies, etc,. The Vimana is an ashtanga Vimana to accommodate
Vishnu’s 3 postures in 3 levels. The Prahara pillars are of simple cylindrical/vrudha type built during the Pallava period.
Adhistanam
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
This place was a Brahmin settlement established by the Pallava
King Nandivarman-II, during 750 AD and called Utharameru Chaturvedi
Mangalam. During the Chozha period, Uthiramerur was called Rajendra Chozha
Chaturvedi Mangalam, Telugu Pallava period Vijaya Kanda Gopala Chaturvedi
Mangalam and Vadamerumangalam, etc,. Perumal was called as Vellai Murthy Emperuman,
Vellai Murthy Alwar, and Sri Rajendra Vinnagara Alwar. Uthirameru was mentioned as Mutharameru and Mutharamelur in the inscriptions
As per the inscription this Varadharaja Perumal temple was
constructed as per Vastu Shastra and Mayamatham Temple architecture sasthira
by the Parameswara Thachan of Padakam during Nandi Varman-II.
Due to the sannadhis of Vaikunda Varadar, Sundara Varadar, Achutha
Varadar, Anirudra Varadar, and Kalyana Varadar, this temple is Pancha Varada
Kshetram. Also the presence of 9 forms of Vishnu, this temple is also called Nava Murti Sthalam.
The temple was patronized by Rajendra Chozha-I (1013 CE),
Sambuvarayas, Pandyas, Vijayanagaras,
Krishnadevaraya (1520 AD), and Nayak periods.
Since the temple was patronized by Nandi Varman-II, the temple
might have existed even before the 8th Century.
LEGEND
During exile, the Pancha Pandavas visited Uthiramerur. Yudhishtira worshiped Sundara Varadar, Bheema
worshiped Sri Vaikunda Perumal, Arjuna worshiped Achutha Varadar, Nakula
worshiped Anirudra Varadar and Sahadeva worshiped Kalyana Varadar. Draupadi worshiped Sri Ananda Valli Thayar.
Those who pray Sri Kalyana Varadar with their horoscope on 5 consecutive
Wednesdays will get married soon. Those
who offer prayers to Achutha Varadar on Tuesdays will get jobs.
FESTIVALS
Apart from regular functions, Brahmotsavam will be conducted in Tamil Month Chithirai,
Pavithrotsavam will be conducted in Aadi, and Rama Navami and Andal Pavithrotsavam will
be conducted in Aadi month. The Sudarshana Homa with the recital of 4 Vedas will be
conducted in Puratasi.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS:
Bhattars may be contacted on their respective mobiles. Aravamudhan
at +919442311138/ +919751035544, Rajagopala Bhattar at +919486369455, and
Seshadri ( trustee ) at +919443068382 for
further details.
HOW
TO REACH:
The temple is about a KM from Uthiramerur Bus stand.
Uthiramerur is 30 KM from Kanchipuram, 31 KM from Chengalpattu, and 92 KM from Chennai
Nearest Railway station is Chengalpattu.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Gajalakshmi
Rathi/ Vakdevi and Manmadhan
Muthkalar Maharishi
Anjaneyar Sannadhi
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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