VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Athitheeswarar Temple / Sri Athitheerwara Swamy Temple / ஸ்ரீ அதிதீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Vaniyambadi, Tirupattur District, Tamil Nadu.

Wednesday, 11 March 2020

Sri Athitheeswarar Temple / Sri Athitheerwara Swamy Temple / ஸ்ரீ அதிதீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Vaniyambadi, Tirupattur District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th 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 Shiva, Vishnu, and Hero Stones Heritage Visit in and around Vaniyambadi scheduled on 29^th 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 prakaram, 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 the combinations 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 Adhisthana is of padabandha adhisthana. The prastaram is of kapotha style. Lord Shiva‘s dance, Lord Shiva’s dance with Kali, in the makara thorana are worth watching. The two-tier Vimana over the prastaram is built with green stone and may be sourced from the Vallimalai region.

Moolavar is swayambhu and is believed that moolavar is 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 7^th to 8^th Century Pallava period and later contributions from Chozhas, Gangars, and Vijayanagaras. During Pallavas period this place was called as 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, Kulothunga Chozha inscriptions. The Rajaraja inscriptions start with his title / meikeerthi. The door sides, even 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.