19th
January 2020.
After
a gap of 2 months, once again started the temple Visit along with Mr. Kesavan, a Heritage enthusiast, from Arasar Koil to Koovathur
on the banks of Palar river, near Chengalpattu. Our first stop was at Arasar
Koil Vishnu Temple called Sundara Mahalakshmi Temple and this is one of the
temples where Thayar is considered more powerful than the presiding deity Sri
Kamala Varadaraja Perumal.
Moolavar
: Kamala Varadharajar
Thayar : Sundara Mahalakshmi
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces west with an entrance arch without any stucco images.
Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam base, and Garudan are immediately after the entrance
arch. In the sanctum Moolavar Sri Kamala Varadharajar is with Sridevi and
Bhudevi. There are no images in the koshtas. Sri Kamala Varadharajar is in a standing posture, holding a lotus flower in his right hand and his right hand is on gatha.
In
the praharam Thayar and Andal Sannadhi both are facing east. Perundevi
Thayar is sitting in padmasana posture and both hands are in Abhaya hastha. She
has six toes on her right foot.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple was in dilapidated condition and the same was reconstructed after 2006.
The temple was reconstructed in recent years and do not know how it was. The
main sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, artha mandapam,
maha mandapam and a mukha mandapam.
A two-tier Nagara vimana is on the sanctum. The adhistanam is of pada bandha adhisthana with three patta Kumuda. The prastaram is of kapotha style with nasi koods. Padmam is in the Valabi. In bhoomi desam yazhi vari ( Vyazha vari ). Vishnu’s avatars and stucco images are on the
parapet walls of the mandapa. Stucco images of Vishnu with his consorts on both
sides Garuda and Anjaneya are at
the front fascia of Mukha mandapam.
Thayar
Sanctum Sanctorum consists of sanctum and a mukha mandapam. Mukha mandapa was
supported with Simha musical pillars ( musical notes will come when the pillars). The adhisthana is of padabandha adhisthana with vrutha kumuda. The prastaram is of Kapota style with Nasikood. Vyazhavari is in the bhoomi desam. A Vesara vimana is on the sanctum.
Mukha mandapam
Musical pillars of Thayar Sannidhi
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTION
The main temple was
believed to have been constructed during the Chozha period and later it received
contributions from Pandyas and Vijayanagaras. As per the inscriptions, this place was donated
to Brahmins who are experts of 4 Vedas, called Chaturvedi Mangalam. This place was a part of this Chaturvedi Mangalam called Mathur Pidagai and
Perumal was called Thiruvarasura Nayanar. The place was named after Perumal as Arasar Koil.
The temple may
belong to the 12th Century. The temple has Chozha period
Rajaraja-III ( 1216 to 1250 CE ), Pandya Period Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan (
1259 CE ), Sundara Pandyan–II ( 1291 CE ), and later Vijayanagara
period Inscriptions.
The Rajarajan-III (
1237 CE ) period inscription records the gift of land after getting 12 Kasus to
this temple towards poojas. During the Chozha period, this place & Perumal was
called Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Thaniyur Sri Mathurantaka Chathurvedi Mangalathu Vadapidagai
Mathur Oor Thiruvarasuram Perumal
Sri Sundara Pandyan (1259 CE ) period 3 line inscription inscribed on the north side kumuda, records that, when the payment of Taxes by Vamana Pattan defaulted and ran away, the persons signed as surety paid after selling the land to this temple sabha. The is reproduced as below….
1. ஸ்வஸ்தி
ஸ்ரீ
கோச்சடைபன்மர் திருபுவனச் சக்கரவத்திகள் ஸ்ரீ சுந்தர பாண்டிய தேவர்க்கு யாண்டு [ப]தினைஞ்சாவது மீந நாயற்று அபரபக்ஷத்து ஸப்தமியு[ம்] ச[னி]க்கிழமையும் பெற்ற [ஸ்வா]தி நாள் _ _ _ _ த்த
ஸ்வதுர்வேதிமங்கலத்துப் பிடாகை மாத்தூர் ஸபை. [இவ்]வூர் திருவரசுர நாயனார் கோயிலில் ஸ்ரீ ஸேனாபதி ஆழ்வார்க்கு ஸ்ரீ ஸேனாபதிப் பெருவிலை ஆக விற்றுக் குடுத்த பரிசாவது, இவ்வூர் ஸபையாரில் காஞ்சி சொக்கத் தேவரான [மூ]த்த வாமன பட்டன் பதினாலாவது வரையும் உழுது தன் பேர்க்கடமை செலவறாதே ஓடிப் போகையில். இவன் பேர்க்கடமைக்கு சேர்வை என்று எங்களை இப்பணம் _ _ _
2. _ _ ன்று கோமுள்ள மாவிஸனம் பண்ணுகையாலே. எங்களுக்கு _ _ ங்க
_ _ _ பாத்தி
இல்லாதப்படியாலே _ _ _ _ _இதர்க்கு தேவரான [உ]த்த[ம] வாமன பட்டன் உள்ளிட்ட _ _ _ _ _ன
நிலமான
மேலைப்புதுத் திரு ந_ _த்து _ _ _சி
குருகூர்
ஸ்ரீ
சவ_மம்
ப்ரயாகைத்
திருப்பொரி
பட்டன்
உள்ளிட்டார் இராசேந்த்ர விளை நிலமான முன் மடைப் புதுத்திருத்து நந்த[கஸ]ம். வெண்ணைக் கூத்தன் _ _ _ தனால்
இன்னிலம்
ஒன்றே
இரண்டு
மாவுக்கும்
பெறும்
வஸ
ஆக
நிச்சயித்த
அன்றாடு
நற்காசு
வாசிபடர்
வராகன்
பணம்
27
3. [இரு]பத்தேழும் விலையாவதாகவும். இப்படி சம்மதித்து மாத்தூர் [எ]ழுவாத நா[ய]னார்க்கு ஸ்ரீவேதநாயகனும் இவற்கு விலை ஆக விற்றுக் குடுத்தோம் மாத்தூர் ஸபை ஊரோம். இப்படிக்கு இவை _ _ _ ஞ்சி
இவாய்வ
_ _ _ _ன்
பட்டன்
எழுத்து.
இப்படிக்கு
இவை
வங்கிப்புறத்து திருவேங்கட பட்டன் எழுத்து. இப்படிக்கு இவை ஆதன்பாக்கத்து திருவேங்கட பட்டன் எழுத்து. இவர்கள் சொல்ல இப்ரமாணம் எழுதினேன் ஸ்ரீ சுத்தவல்லிச் சருப்பேதி மங்கலத்து உய்ய வந்த பெருமாள் கோயில் வீற்றிருந்தான் பட்டனேன். இவை என் எழுத்து.
Another
Sadaya Varman Sundara Pandyan’s ( 1259 CE ) inscription records the gift of land which
includes trees and wells purchased for 40 panam towards daily Naivedyam. The periphery limits of the land are also
mentioned.
It was believed that Sathguru Venkataraman was instrumental in the reconstruction of this temple in 2006 CE when it was in dilapidated condition.
It was believed that Sathguru Venkataraman was instrumental in the reconstruction of this temple in 2006 CE when it was in dilapidated condition.
Inscriptions
As
per the legend, Brahma performed penance at this place, and in response, Vishnu as
Kamala Varadharajar with Sridevi and Bhudevi appeared and blessed. In another
legend, during the process of collecting earth to make Perumal for
Kanchipuram by Brahma, the idols of Vishnu with Sridevi and Bhudevi are
unearthed. Hence this temple is
considered older than the Varadharajar temple of Kanchipuram.
Thayar
has got 6 toes on her right leg, the number 6 belongs to Sukran and this is a Parihara Sthalam for Sukran. Thayar is believed to be the controller of Sukra, 64 forms of wealth /
Aishwaryas and devotees worship Thayar on Varalakshmi Vrata day and Fridays.
The
Navagrahas with their consorts worshiped Thayar considering 9 forms Adi Lakshmi ( Aditya – Sun – Sooryan ), Soma Lakshmi (
Chandran ), Mangala Lakshmi ( Chevvai ), Sowmya Lakshmi in the root form of
Sri Vidya Lakshmi ( Bhudan ), Gurupara Lakshmi ( Guru - Viyazhan ), Shukra
Lakshmi ( Shukran – Velli ) and Bhagyalakshmi or Sumangali Vara Lakshmi ( Shani ).
Devotees
also worship Gomukh considered Kubera Gomukh by applying turmeric paste and Kungum(am). It
is believed that with the blessings of Thayar, one can get relief from
poverty, Debts, Losses in business, Court Cases, and other litigation problems.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 07.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to
19.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The
Bhattars may be contacted on their mobile numbers +9196985 10956 and +9381744615 for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
The temple at Arasar
Koil is on the way to Padalam GST Road to Cheyyur Road. Share autos and autos
are available from Padalam Koot Road on GST Road.
Arasar Koil is 20 KM
from Chengalpattu, 57 KM from Tindivanam, 59 KM from Kanchipuram, and 76 KM from
Chennai.
Nearest Railway
Junction is Chengalpattu.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Andal Sannidhi
Thayar Sannidhi
Kuda Koothu
Krishna playing flute
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA
---
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