19th
January 2020.
After
a gap of 2 months, once again started the temples Visit along with Mr Kesavan, a heritage enthusiast from Arasar Koil to Koovathur on the banks of Palar river, near Chengalpattu. Koovathur
was our last stop to visit both Vishnu
and Shiva Temples.
Moolavar
: Adhi Kesava Perumal
Thayar : Maragathavalli
Some
of the salient features of this temple are...
The
temple is facing east with a deepa sthambam. Balipeedam and Garudalwar is in
front of the mukha mandapam. Moolavar Sri Adhikesava Perumal is in standing
posture like Venkatesa Perumal without Sridevi and Bhudevi. His Upper hands are
holding conch and Chakra and lower hands are in abhaya and ooru hastham. In koshtam Paramapada Nathar, Sri Varagar,
Narasimhar, Krishnan and Adhi Kesava Perumal.
In
prakaram sannadhi for Vinayagar, Vishnu Durgai, Maragatha Valli Thayar,
Chakkarathalwar, Alwars and Andal. Thayar is in a separate sannadhi in sitting
posture. Holding lotus in the upper hands and lower hands are in abhaya and
Vara hastham.
Also
there are 8 holy wells in the prakara of which one is in Anjaneyar temple on
the opposite side of the temple. It is believed that these wells represents 8
holy rivers of our country.
ARCHITECTURE, HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTION
The word Koovam in Tamil means well. Since the 8
Holy rivers took form of Wells, this place is called a Koovathur. The
old temple was completely renovated and re-constructed with cement and concrete.
Even-though it was claimed that this temple is more than 1000 years old, the
temple bears new look without any antiquity.
An inscription in the Angalamman temple of the same place mentions about
this temple. Based on that it is believed that this temple was constructed
during Vijayanagara Period by
Sadashivayyadeva Maharaya, son of Saluva Manga Udayar Devamaharaya of
Vijayanagara Dynasty.
A Ready made moulds of sculptures
Moolavar sannadhi
LEGEND
It
is believed that the eight wells are 8 rivers namely Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati,
Sarayu, Godavari, Narmada, Tungabhadra and Kaveri. The 8 rivers, felt that they
had become dirty & unclean with sins, washed by the human beings and wants
to cleanse themselves. When they approached Brahma, in turn he advised to go to
Bhooloka, where the sage Veda Ghosha will give a solution. They came down to
Bhooloka and prayed Veda Ghosha and sought his help to cleanse
themselves. Veda Ghosha advised all the 8
rivers to worship Lord Adhi Kesava Perumal, who is the supreme to grant their
prayers.
The 8 rivers took the form of 8 women and prayed Adhi Kesava Perumal in
the form of service like abhishekam, cleaning of temple, creating Nandavanam,
growing garden etc. Pleased by their devotion, sincere prayer & service, Lord
Adhi Kesava Perumal granted their prayers to became clean. Before returning to
their respective places, they thanked Veda Ghosha and promised that they will
stay in this temple in the form of 8 wells and who ever take bath in all the 8
wells and pray Adhi Kesava Perumal will get rid of all their sins.
In
continuation to this, an another legend goes like this… Rama has got the
Brahma hathya dosha after killing Ravana. To get rid of it, he wants to do pooja
to Shiva Linga. As per Rama’s instruction Hanuman rushed to Kashi to bring the
Shiva Linga. He didn’t turned up before the end of auspicious time. So Sita
made a Shiva Linga out of sand and Rama performed the pooja. When Hanuman
returned, the pooja was over and got disappointed. He expressed dissatisfaction
on his face. It is equivalent to sin against the Sita’s Action, since Hanuman
consider Sita as his own mother. To get rid of the sin he came to Koovathur,
took bath in the 8 wells and worshiped Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal of this temple.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The
temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Gopu
Bhattar may be contacted on his mobile +919790846554, for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
About
500 meters from the Koovathur bus stop.
Koovathur
is on the ECR Road, 13 KM from Kalpakkam, 38 KM from Chengalpattu and 80 KM
from Chennai.
Alwars
Garudan Sannadhi
Anjaneyar temple
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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