VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Kanthalingeswara Temple / Kanthalingeswarar Temple, Thenneri, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

Tuesday, 7 April 2020

Kanthalingeswara Temple / Kanthalingeswarar Temple, Thenneri, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

08^th March 2020.

The visit to this temple is a part of the Temples and Heritage Sites Visit on the banks of the river Palar. Thanks to Mr Kesavan, a Heritage enthusiast, who also joined in this Visit. This temple is on the Thenneri to Vandalur- Oragadam - Walajabad road (Near Varanavasi). This temple is under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It is believed that the Thenneri–Eri was excavated by the Sangam Period King Thirayan, hence this place was called Thirayaneri. Later, the name was corrupted to the present name of Thenneri.

Moolavar : Sri Kandha Lingeswarar

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a beautiful Rishabam. The sanctum sanctorum is about 3 feet from the floor level. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma, and Durga.

ARCHITECTURE

The square sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhisthana in which deva Kostas is a little protruding outside with Padma bandha adhisthana & Vrutha kumuda. Pancharams / Like Koshtas are shown in salilantharam/aharai (between karnapathi and salaipathi). The Sanctum walls are with Indira kantha pillars (16 flat surfaces). The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with Nasikood, and vyyalavari. Bhuta ganas are in valapi, and vyyalavari / yazhivari is in bhumi desam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the artha mandapam. A brick vimana of square shape is up to greevam, and vesara sigaram is over the bhumi desam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS:

As per the inscriptions, this temple was called Uthama Chozheeswaram, and Shiva was called Uthama Chozheeswarar or Kandaleeswarar. The place was called Uthukattu Kottathu Thankootru Uthamachozha Chaturvedi Mangalathu Uthamachozhapuram. The Original temple might have been reconstructed as a stone temple during Rajaraja-I. The Rajaraja-I (985 – 1014 CE) inscription starts with his Title / Meikeerthi, mentions Chembian Madevi, and records the gift of Cheppu images and Lamps with weight measures. Also, Rajaraja-I’s 11, 17, and 20-year rule inscriptions record the gifts to this temple.

The Chozha King Veerarajendran’s 4^th reign year (1063 – 1070 CE), inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp, by Gurukaadikizhar Thiruvekambam Adavallar alias official Jayasingkulakaala Vizhupparaiyar, to the Uttama Chozheeswaramudaiyar temple’s Adavallar (Natarajar). For the same Mandradi Mattan received 22 ½ Sheeps, Mandradi Thiruvenkatan Thiruvarangan received 22 ½ sheeps, and Mandradi Porpanaiyan Ezhuvan received 48 sheeps, totaling 93 Sheeps. The sheep are treated as Saava Moova Peradus.

The Chozha King Rajaraja (Rajarajakesari)’s 11^th reign year inscription records the gift of copper vessels (The weights of each vessel are also given) for Naivedyam offered to God by the King Kandaradhitha Chozha’s wife Chembiam Mahadevi, & Mother of Madurantaka Devar alias Uttama Chozha.

The Chozha King Rajaraja-I’s 20^th reign year inscription starts with his title. The inscription records that the village's important persons assembled and decoded the taxes for the cultivation of Banana Plantain trees and Kamuku trees.

Another Rajaraja Chozha’s 17th-year reign inscription starts with his title. The inscription records the endowment of burning a ½ perpetual lamp by Rajaraja’s wife’s brother (? Pan… thongaludaiyan alias Veera Chozhan… ). For the same 45 ewes were gifted.

Ref:

South Indian Inscriptions Volume 07.

The temple was recently renovated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).