29th December 2019.
The visit to this Athitheeswarar Shiva Temple on the west
side banks of River Palar in Vaniyambadi of the newly formed Tirupattur
District was a part of the Shiva, Vishnu, and Hero Stones Heritage visit in and around Vaniyambadi scheduled on 29th
December 2019. Thanks to Mr Srinivas of Vaniyambadi, who took me to all these temples and
places.
Moolavar :
Athitheeswarar
Consort :
Periyanayaki
Some of the salient features of this temple are...
The temple faces east with a three-tier Rajagopuram on the
west and a 5 tier Rajagopuram on the east side. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are after the west side of Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas and Mundi are at
the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum complex. In Koshtam, Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy (Sitting on the Rishabam), Mahavishnu, Brahma, and Durgai. In the inner prakaram Nagars, Nalvar,
Bhairavar, Sivasuriyan, Maragatha Lingam,
Natarajar, Kamala Ganapathy, Deventhira, Saptamatrikas, Chandran, and Chandikeswarar.
In the outer praharam, Parantaka Chozhiswarar, Nagars,
Dakshinamurthy, are under a bilva tree, Saraswati, a 16-pillar mandapa, and Sri
Valli Devasena Subramaniar. Ambal is in
a separate temple sannidhi facing west, in the same direction as Lord Shiva.
Navagrahas are in the Ambal temple mukha mandapa.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple complex consists of a sanctum, antarala,
artha mandpam, and a maha mandapam. The
mandapa pillars are a combination of Pallava, Chozhas, Gangas, and Vijayanagaras. The Ganga period pillars
are virutha (cylindrical) with Kalasam, Thamarai kattu, kumbam, pali, palakai, and Pothyals. The Kumba and Kalasas are with kodi karukku. The malai thongal is
beautifully sculptured. There are two Pallava-period squatting lion pillars
also.
The adhistana is of the pada bandha adhisthana. The
prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. Lord
Shiva‘s dance, Lord Shiva’s dance with Kali, in the makara torana, is worth watching. The two-tier vimana over the prastaram is built with green stone. The green stones may be sourced from the Vallimalai region.
Moolavar is swayambhu and is believed to be with Ambal.
Simha pillars
Kodi karukku on pillars too
Chozha Inscriptions of pillars are too.. Aditha Karikalan
Ganga pillars
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple was built during the 7th to 8th
Century Pallava period and later contributions from Chozhas, Gangars, and
Vijayanagaras. During the Pallavas period, this place was called Narasimha Chaturvedi Mangalam under Adyar Nadu in
Paduvur Kottam. During Kulothunga Chozha’s period, this place was called Madurantaka
Chaturvedi Mangalam in Aimpulugur-nadu
in Perumbanapadi. Lord Shiva was called Virunthina Thevar. The Chozha
period inscription mentions this place as வாணியந்பாடி.
The temple mainly
has the Rajaraja-I, Rajendra-I, and Kulothunga Chozha inscriptions. The Rajaraja
inscriptions start with his title / meikeerthi. The door sides, even the Pillars, too have the
inscriptions.
The inscriptions mainly speak about the donation of land,
cattle, money for the regular poojas, and the burning of perpetual sandhi lamps.
Adhita Karikala's inscription
Rajaraja-I inscription
Kulothunga Chozha Inscription
LEGEND:
This is a Punarpoosam Nakshatra temple, and devotees, who
are born in this star, offer special prayers on their birthdays in this temple to get rid of doshas.
As per the legend, Sri Saraswati was cursed by Brahma to
lose her powers and speech. Saraswati came to this place and got back her
power. She has sung songs on Lord Shiva of this temple, hence this place is
called Vaniyambadi (Vani – Saraswati and Padi means singing).
In another legend, Saint Kashyap’s wife Athithi worshiped
lord Shiva of this temple, and hence Lord Shiva is called Athitheeswarar.
Moolavar is with Ambal-Swayambhu-- stucco image on the arch of Saraswati sannadhi
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from the regular poojas, Maha Shivarathri.
Saptamatrikas
Saptamatrikas
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between
CONTACT DETAILS:
The mobile number Phone: +91 4174 226
652 Mobile: +91
99941 07395 / +91 93600 55022 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
The temple is about
3 km from Vaniyambadi Railway Station.
The Vaniyambadi is
on the Bengaluru to Chennai Highway, 17 km from Jolarpet, 24 km from the District
Capital Tirupattur, and 200 km from Chennai.
The nearest Railway Station is Jolarpet.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar sannadhi
Dwarapalakas
Saptamatrikas
Shiva Dance with Kali in makara torana
A Jolly / Jala works on stone
---OM SHIVAYA
NAMA---
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