03rd February
2020.
This
Sri Sellandiamman Temple’s visit was part of a Heritage Visit to temples, Hero
stones, and Heritage sites around Anthiyur and Athani, scheduled on 03rd February
2020. This is one of the 400-odd-year-old Amman temples at
Athani in Erode District. Athani is on the banks of the river Bhavani. Sri
Sellandiamman is a village guarding deity.
Presiding
Deity: Sri Sellandiamman
Some
of the important features of this temple are...
The
temple is facing north. At the entrance of the temple gate, a Nagar is on the right, and a man with folded hands in Anjali hastha is on the right. A Deepasthambham
is immediately after the entrance gate. Dwarapalakis are on both sides of the artha mandapam entrance. An Oonjal / Swing, a balipeedam, and a Simha
Vahana are in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Sellandiamman’s stucco image is on
the top of the artha mandapam entrance. In the sanctum sanctorum, Sri Sellandiamman
is in a sitting posture with 8 hands.
The
temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam. The
artha mandapam was built during the 17th century, Ketti Mudali’s period. An
asbestos sheet mukha mandapa is in front of the sanctum sanctorum.
ARCHITECTURE
The
sanctum sanctorum was built on a padabandha adhistanam. The sanctum is in a rectangular shape, and an eka tala salakara vimana is on the sanctum with 3 kalasas.
Amman’s stucco images are on all 4 sides of the vimanam.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
The east side of the artha mandapam wall has the 17th-century
Ketti Mudali King Nalludayappar Kumara Kettiyar period inscription. This
inscription records the construction of the artha mandapam by a Vadakarai Nattu
Vellalar Vanakula Chinna Periyana Goundar. This Amman was mentioned as
Kondaththu Sellandiamman. It also mentioned the Tharamangalam Ketti Mudali’s
official Perumal Deekshithar’s name.
The
temple has a 13th-century Kongu Pandya king Sundara Pandyan’s 30th-year
rule inscription, inscribed on a stone installed in the ground. The
inscription records that the Vadakarai Nattu people gathered
together and donated land to Kanchikoil Nadu Kugalur Perumal
Sundara Tholudayar. This mentions the land with trees and the wells. This
inscription stone is missing, and we are not able to trace it.
The temple may belong to the 13th century and was later reconstructed during the 16th to 17th century Vijayanagara period / Ketti Mudali period.
The temple may belong to the 13th century and was later reconstructed during the 16th to 17th century Vijayanagara period / Ketti Mudali period.
Inscriptions
TEMPLE
TIMINGS:
Since
oru kala pooja is conducted, the closing and opening times are unpredictable.
HOW
TO REACH:
The
Temple is about 750 meters from Athani.
Athani
is 23 km from Bhavani, 40 km from Erode,100 km from Coimbatore, and 410 km from
Chennai.
Dwarapalakis
Nagar & may be a donor
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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