Karapureeswarar Temple / Karapuranathar Temple, THIRUPARKADL, RANIPET DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU.

15^th December 2019.

The visit to this temple was a part of Kanchipuram and Ranipet District temples Visit scheduled on 15^th December 2019. The Visit to Damal temple was scheduled around 10.30 hrs, decided to visit this temple first before visiting Sri Varaheeswarar temple at Damal, since it was around 07.30 hrs when I crossed Damal. 

This place Thiruparkadal is on the banks of river Palar.  Also this is one of the Thevara Vaippu sthalam and Thirunavukkarasu Peruman popularly known as Appar has sung hymn in his Kaappu Thiruthandagam ( 6-7-7 ). Arunagirinathar has sung hymns on Sri Subramaniar of this temple.

தெண்ணீர்ப் புணற்கெடில வீரட்டமுஞ்

சீகாழி வல்லந் திரிவேட்டியும்

உண்ணீரார் ஏடகமும் ஊரல் அம்பர்

உறையூர் நறையூர் அரண நல்லூர்

மீயச்சூர் வீழி மிழலை மிக்க

கண்ணார் நுதலார் கரபு ரம்முங்

கபாலி யாரவர்தங் காப்புக்களே

அப்பர் திருப்பதிகம் ( 6-7-7 )

Moolavar  : Sri Karapureeswarar / Sri Karapuranathar

Consort    : Sri Abhithagujambal    

Some of the salient features of the temple are…

The temple is facing east with a 3 tier rajagopuram. The temple Tank..? is in front. A meta colour  sheet shed was erected between Rajagopuram and entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are under the meta colour sheet shed after the Rajagopuram. The moolavar is swayambhu. Vinayagar and Balamurugan are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. The Urchavars / procession deities are in the artha mandapam. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai. It is rare to see Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in sitting posture.

Ambal Abhithagujambal is in the maha mandapam facing south. In the inner prakaram Sankatahara Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Kala Bhairavar, Chandran, Suryan, Arunagirinathar and Saneeswarar. In the outer prakaram, Jyeshta Devi, Nagars and Navagrahas.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum is built on a simple padabandha adhisthana. The prastaram is of kapotha style and a two tier vimana is on the prastaram. The Artha mandapam and maha mandapam pillars are supported with virutha / cylindrical pillars with Pallava period simple corbels / pothyal. It was told that a tunnel  was there in the artha mandapam which leads to Virinchipuram Margabandeeswarar temple.

 Chozha period pillars

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Appar mentions this temple and Lord Shiva in his Thiruthandagam hymns, the temple might be existed since 7^th to 8^th Century and built by Pallavas. As per the inscriptions and Appar's Thevara hymn this place was called as Karapuram or “Avani Narayana Chaturvedi Mangalam” and Lord Shiva was called as  “Karapuram Udaya Nayanar”.

After Pallavas, this temple was patronized by Chozhas and Vijayanagaras. Madurai Konda Koparakesari Varman ( 985 CE), Parthivendra Pallava ( 967 CE, Velar Bhuti Vikramakesari ( 10^th century CE ) and Karimangalamudaiyar and Vijayanagaras. Vijayanagaras period inscriptions are found on the Maha mandapam walls.

Vijayanagara period inscriptions

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 09.30 hrs to 10.30 hrs. Since oru kala pooja is conducted the opening and closing are unpredictable.

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is at the centre of the Thiruparkadal Village.

The temple is 19 KM from Arcot, 42 KM from Vellore, 25 KM from Katpadi Junction, 40 KM from Arakkonam and 100 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway junction is Arakkonam.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

  Koshtam Mahavishnu and Brahma are in sitting posture 

 Jyeshta Devi

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---