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 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 latter 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 Nandhi. 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 is of kapotha style with Nasikood. Bhuta ganas are in Valabi and Vyyalavari / yazhivari is in bhumidesam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of artha mandapam. A brick vimana of square shape is up to greevam and Vesara Sigaram is over the prastaram.

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 12, 17, and 20-year rule inscriptions record the gifts to this temple. The Veera Rajendran’s (1063 – 1070 CE), 4th-year rule records the gift of 92 sheep and Goats – ( சாவா மூவா பேராடுகள் ), by an official Gurukaadikizhar Thiruvekambam Adavallar of Jayasingkulakaala Valanadu towards burning of perpetual lamps.

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