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 was a part of Pallava and Chozha period temples Visit scheduled on 24^th November 2019. After Kattur Uthira Vaithyalingeshwarar Darshan, we came to Manampathy little late and found the temple was closed after Uchi kala pooja. It was told that the temple will 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 is facing 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 prakaram 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 prakaram there are loose sculptures which includes 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 pathabhandha adhisthana. The Vimana over the adhisthana is of Gajabrushta vimanam. The Vimana is of single tier. The prastaram is of kapotha style. The prakaram ceiling matches the level of prastaram.

HISTORY and INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was constructed during 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 as Vanavanmadevi Chaturvedi mangalam, Kalakattur, and Lord Shiva was called as Thirukarapuramudaya Nayanar. The inscriptions are white washed and are not in readable condition. The front mandapa was constructed during Vijayanagara and Nayak's period. ( Inscriptions are recorded in ARE 1930 -31 and also Refer SII Volume XII - 237, Volume XIII- 127, 191,192, SII Volume XIX- 385 ).

The Pallava King Koperunchingan's 15th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning of 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 a land after purchase from 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.

Kumbhabhishekam was conducted 1960, 1989, 2002 and 2015.

Inscriptions