VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Thirukkarai Eswarar Temple / Tirukarai Eswarar Temple, Manampathy ( Near Thiruporur ), Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

Friday, 27 December 2019

Thirukkarai Eswarar Temple / Tirukarai Eswarar Temple, Manampathy ( Near Thiruporur ), Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

24^th November 2019.

The visit to this Thirukkarai Eswarar Temple a part of the Pallava and Chozha period temples is scheduled on 24^th November 2019. After Kattur Uthira Vaithyalingeshwarar Darshan, we came to Manampathy a little late and found the temple was closed after Uchi kala pooja. It was told that the temple would be opened only after 16.30 hrs. Decided to visit one or two temples around Manampathy. After Visiting Mullipakkam Parasuramar Temple and Agaram Sri Kailasanathar Temple, came once again to Manampathy.

Moolavar : Sri Thirukkarai Eswarar

Consort : Sri Padalambigai.

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Nandhi are in front of the Mukha mandapam. Vallabha Ganapathy, Navagrahas and Parambarai dharmakartha photos are in the mukha mandapam. Chozha dwarapalakas are at the entrance of maha mandapam. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai. In the inner praharam Suryan, Nalvar, Two Veerabhadras, Urchavars, Mahaganapathi, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Two Bhairavas ( one Bhairavar is sitting on the Dog ) and addition to this a balipeda and Nandhi are there. In the outer praharam, there are loose sculptures which include Saptamatrikas, Vinayagar, Veerabhadra, and a Jyeshta Devi.

Ambal temple is on the right side immediately after the 5-tier Rajagopuram. Ambal temple is facing south with Sanctum and artha mandapam. Balipeedam and Simha vahanas are in the artha mandapam. Stucco images of Garbarakshambigai, Kamakshi, Sri Meenakshi, Sri Lakshmi Durgai, and Sri Saraswathy.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum is on pada bhandha adhisthana. The Vimana over the adhisthana is of Gajabrushta vimanam. The Vimana is of single tier. The prastaram is of kapotha style. The praharam ceiling matches the level of the prastaram.

HISTORY and INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was constructed during the 10^th to 11^th Century Chozha period and Chozha period inscriptions are found on the sanctum walls and Kumuda. As per the inscriptions, this place was called Vanavanmadevi Chaturvedi Mangalam, Kalakattur, and Lord Shiva was called Thirukarapuramudaya Nayanar. The inscriptions are white-washed and are not in readable condition. The front mandapa was constructed during the Vijayanagara and Nayakas periods.

The Pallava King Koperunchingan's 15th reign year inscription records the endowment of the burning of the sandhi lamp by Vanavanmadevi Udayan Sivadasan Rishabavahanadevan Thiruvegambamudayan and his brother Alavantha Pillai. For which 4 Cows of which 2 are milching and a calf.

Kovi Rajakesaribarmar's ( Gandaraditya Chozha ) 5th reign year inscription records the endowment of a land for burning perpetual lamp, by a resident of the Village.

Rajaraja-I's 8th reign year inscription records the endowment of land after purchasing from the Sabha of this village to this temple at Kalakattur in Amoor Kottam, by Araiyan Thillaikuttan Rajaraja Animuri Nadalvan.

Another fragmentary inscription records some endowment by a Chief and his name is lost.

Koparakesari Barmar's ( Uttama Chozha ), 15th reign year inscription records the endowment of 96 Sheep for burning a perpetual lamp by Sri Madurantaka Muppathy Iladarajan.

Sambuvaraya king Rajanarayana Sambuvarayar's 9th reign year inscription records the gift of tax-free land in the village of Vanavanmadevi, a quarter of Thirukalukkundram to the temple of Thirukarapuramudaya Nayanar for offerings and repairs, etc,.

Another Rajanarayana Sambuvarayar's inscription records the gift of Lamp by Gunamenmani Sambandan, the Headman of Tattamadai.

Vijayanagara King Venkalapatideva Maharaya Saka 1523 records when as a result of a temple dispute between Kaikolas and the Merchants of Vanavanmadevi, the former were about to leave the place, Dalavay Senjama Nayaka the agent of the King ordered that they could remain in the Village and that the merchants had no concern in the temples of Udaiyavar, Perumal and Pillayar.

Ref:

Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy 1930 -31,

South Indian Inscriptions Volume XII - 237, Volume XIII- 127, 191,192, SII Volume XIX- 385 ).

Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1960, 1989, 2002, and 2015.

Inscriptions