15th December 2019.
The visit to this Shiva temple was a part of Shiva
and Vishnu temples in Kanchipuram and Vellore Districts scheduled on 15th
December 2019. Initially it was planned to visit this temple alone, but
Thiruparkadal Shiva temple and Sirukarumbur Shiva Temples are added due to availability of time. This place Damal
was called as Thamar or Damar during Chozha period and the same was corrupted to the present name
of Damal. This village Damal is the home town of
D.K. Pattammal, D.K.Jayaraman and Seshadri Swamigal.
Moolavar :
Sri Varaheeswarar
Consort :
Sri Gowri Amman
Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple is facing west with a 7 tier
Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Nandhi are in front of a Vijayanagara period
mandapam. Sri Vinayagar and Valli Devasena Subramaniar sannidhis are on both
sides of Nandi. Ambal Sri Gowri is in the Vijayanagara period front / Mukha mandapam
facing south with a small elephant as vahana. Moolavar is of swayambhu with
markings of Conch and chakra ( worshiped by Varaha ). In koshtam Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durga.
Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of Maha mandapam
from the mukha mandapam. In prakara
Bhairava, Surya, Vinayagar, Sarabeshwara Linga, Ashtottara Linga and
Chandikeswarar. Sun rays falls on moolavar on Ratha Saptami day in the Tamil Month Masi ( February – March ). The
Vinayagar, Nalvar and 63var idols are in the prakara and waiting for
consecration.
ARCHITECTURE
The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum,
antarala, artha mandapam, maha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The mukha mandapam
pillars has various reliefs like, Ashta Bhairavas, various forms of Lord Shiva,
Murugan, the sthala purana of Kalathi,
Kanchipuram and some are from epic Ramayana.
The sanctum is on a Padmabandha adhisthana with
tripatta Kumuda. A Two tier Vimana is over the sanctum. Prastaram is of
kapotha style with karnakood. Padma is in the valabi.
The original sanctum was built by Pallavas. Antarala
and arthamandapa are added during Chozha period. The Prakara, Mahamandapa and
mukha mandapa are added during Vijayanagara period.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
There are many tales behind the Village name
Damal. Some of them are.. The word Damar might have been derived from the
“Thamarai (Lotus ) tank near temple” or from the name of a Pallava Chieftain
Daman ( Daman Thondrikon ) ruled Damar Nadu or from a Vijayanagara Nayak ruler Damarala
Venkattappa Nayaka. In fact Damar is also referred in sangam literature Purananuru, a poet by
name Damappa Kannanar, who hails from this Village.
As per Pallava King Simhavarman-III ( 556 CE )
copper plate this place was mentioned as Damar or Thamar, Damar kottam, Damar
Nadu, Damanallur and Damar. Damal was also called as Damalachery during Maratha
period. Damar Nadu was a sub-division under Thondai mandalam. Lord Shiva was called as Tirupannriswaram
Udayar ( பன்றி
–
Boar in English and Varaha in Sanskrit ), is
now called as Varaheeswarar, in Sanskrit.
As per South Indian Inscriptions, No 77 of Volume
2, The Kanchipuram Anekatangapadam temple Kulothunga-I ( 1070 – 1120 CE )
inscription mentions this place as Damar also called as Nittavinodanallur in
Damar Nadu in Damar Kottam. The subjoined inscription
records that, in the 20th year of his reign,
Kulottunga-Choladeva granted to the Siva temple of Anekatangapadam in
Kanchipuram three veli of land in the village of Tamar, alias Nittavinodanallur,
in Tamar-nadu, a subdivision of Tamar-kottam. According to Mr. Crole’s Chingleput
Manual (p. 439), the district of “Tamal-kottam” was situated in the
west of the Conjeeveram talluqa. The village of Tamar must be accordingly
identified with the modern Damal.
The 1524CE Tirumala Raya, son of Krishnadevaraya period
inscription records the taxes exemption and the income received from the Damal
village with land donated by Namachivayam of Pungancheri village on behalf of
the donor Ananthalwar pillai and the
income to be used for pooja punaskaram.
The 1532 CE Vijayanagara King Achutharaya period
inscription records the gift of land by Jalakaraja alias Siruthirumalirasar to
Lord Thirupannriswaramudaiyar – Thamarudaiyar. It is mentioned that the land should be used for
agriculture and the income from that devathana land should be used for poojas
and maintenance of this temple.
With the available sculptures and architectural
features, the original temple is believed to be built during 7th
Century Nandivarman-III period. The temple was renovated during Chozha period
by Kulothunga-II and Rajaraja-II and latter patronized by, Vijayanagara kings
Tirumala Raya ( 1524CE ) and Achyutaraya-( 1532 CE ). The Rajagopuram was built during
Vijayanagara Nayak period ( a Relief of Husband & wife are seen at entrance wall
).
Adhisthana with inscriptions
LEGEND
As per the legend Vishnu
after killing Hiranyaksha,
in the Varaha avatara and brought back the Earth. Vishnu
couldn’t control his anger and behaved ferociously. So Devas seek Lord Shiva’s
help. Lord Shiva as a hunter fights with Varaha, hugged and plugged the tusks,
which was coated with Demon’s blood. Lord Vishnu’s Demon behaviors were
disappeared and worshiped Lord Shiva. Due to embracing Varha, the Conch and Chakra impressions are found on
the Shiva Linga.
CELEBRATION AND FUNCTIONS:
Apart from regular poojas,
pradosham maha Shivaratri are celebrated in a grand manner.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened
between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 16.00hrs to 19.00 hrs. Devotees are advised
to confirm with the Archakar before going to the temple.
CONTACT:
The archakar Dinesh may be
contacted on his mobile No +919994367390 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
This temple is on the North east
corner of the Village Damal close to Chennai- Mumbai Highway.
Buses are available from
Kanchipuram.
Damal is 16 KM from Kanchipuram,
33 KM from Arakkonam and 90 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway Junction is
Arakkonam.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
Ref: The book The Temple of Varahishwarar in Damal, Kanchipuram published by C.P Ramaswami Aiyer
Foundation.
Dwarapalakas
An Elephant Vahana before Ambal shrine
Donors bas-reliefs of the Rajagopuram
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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