Sri Mandheswarar Temple / மாந்தீஷ்வரர் கோவில், Valliarachal / வள்ளியரச்சல், Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Mandheswarar Temple at Valliarachal near Kangayam was a part of the “Kongu Nadu Heritage Visit to Temples, Hero stones, Ayyanar and Jyeshta Devi Sculptures around Kangayam” in Tiruppur District. Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple is on the south side of the Shiva Temple. This place was once called Mandkapuri. This is the 2^nd temple of the 12 Shiva temples of Kangeya Nadu, considered a Kuladeiva Temple of the Vellalar Community. This temple is in the Rasathivalavu territory.

Moolavar  : Sri Mandheswarar

Consort    : Sri Periyanayaki

Some of the salient features of this temple are...

The temple faces east with a Deepasthambam. The Deepasthambam has the bas-relief of a Golden Monitor lizard worshiping Lord Shiva of this temple on one side. The entrance arch has stucco images of Lord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar, and Murugan. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the entrance arch and before the mukha mandapam. In koshtam, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durgai.

In praharam Nalvar, Nirutha Vinayagar, 9 Vinayagars with a Nagar are in a mandapam (which belongs to the 9 Sects of Kongu Vellalar Community), Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Bhairavar, Navagrahas, Suriyan, and Chandran. Ambal is in a separate temple with Rishabam and Balipeedam. Ambal Temple also faces east, located on the left side of the Main deity.  

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple is on an elevated level like the mada koil. The main temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and a mukha open mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an Upa pedam and adhisthana with three patta Kumuda. Up to prastaram stone is used, and the Vimana is of Ekathala vesara vimana, built with bricks.

Ambal temple is also of similar construction, but with a Nagara Vimana.

On the back side, a separate mandapa was built for 9 Vinayagars using the original temple Pillars extended during the Vijayanagara period. The pillars have the bas-reliefs of Vinayagar, Rishis, Ladies' forms ring, Veerabhadra, Veenadharar, Kinnarar, birds, Bird with human body, Hanuman, etc.

   

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to the Chera period, and the earliest inscription in Vattezhuthu belongs to the 11^th to 12^th century. The temple was reconstructed in recent years. Pillars with old Vattezhuthu inscriptions and stones were dumped on the back side of the temple. The inscriptions are damaged in many portions, and we could not find the content. Some of the dismantled Vijayanagara period pillars are used for constructing a mandapa for Vinayagars. As per the inscriptions, Lord Shiva was called Manthali Eswarathu Mahadevar, Ambal was called Kamakotta Nachiyar, and the place was called Vallierichal.

Vikrama Chozha-III’s 11^th reign year (1284  CE) Inscription records the name of Vellalan Kesan Mookkan. The other details are not known.

Kongu Chozha Veera Chozhan’s 6^th reign year (942 CE) inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Mangalyan Modan Podhuvan’s wives (Pavai and Pavai Padari) of Valli Erichal. For which 12 kalanju gold was gifted to this temple.

The 13th-century inscription without the King's name and year records has gifted an ardha mandapa pillar (inscribed on the pillar) by one of the Vellalan Maniyars called Vandran Marayan, alias Thennavan Mooventha Velan of Muthur Village.

Another 13th-century inscription on the pillar records the gift of the pillar by Vellalan of Kadan Kulam ( ?) called Adan Puliyan, alias Uthama Chozha Tamil Velan.

Another 18th-century Vijayanagara King Sri Veeravijaya Pokkana Udayar followed with a date mentioned. The details are not known.

Another 13th-century inscription without the King's name and year records the Ambal’s name as Thirukamakotta Nachiar and gift of rice, Nazhi uri, and paddy, Anjirendinal padi.

The Pandya King Veera Pandian’s 12^th reign year (1277 CE) inscription records the endowment of Nnaivedyam by the Vellalar of Valli Erichil, for which 3 Maththirai land was gifted to this temple.

Ref: 

Tiruppur Mavatta Kalvettukal.

ச்சுக.... தாகவும்     ய்து கு ..... இவை தி   யான் நாரா.. தியா.

ய மேய் தண்டிச்சுக்       .... நிற்கச் செய்து குடு     ச்சே...... டையான் நாரா

ய் மேய்      சந்..... நிற்க.      கல்வெட்டுவிச்சோம்

LEGENDS

It is believed that a Golden monitor Lizard was also worshiped as Lord Shiva of this temple, which is considered a good sign of wealth. This bas-relief is on the base of the Deepasthambham. The Deepa Sthamba also has Vinayagar, Ambal, and a Hero who holds a Sword in his right hand, keeping his left hand on a dhanda, which is a peculiar feature of this temple.  

This is a parihara sthalam for mandhi dosha. People worship Lord Shiva to get rid of Mandhi dosha on Saturdays between 09.00 hrs to 10.30 Hrs.

As per the legend, the Chera king Mandharajeral, to control the Kirathakathi communities, brought the Vettuvar community from Kalahasti. Later, they also started giving trouble. So the Chera King, with the help of Vellalars, controlled the Vettuvars and the Pandiyas, who helped them. In memory of that, he installed Sathan alias Natrayan. The Chera King named this place Mandhapuri and also built this Temple in his name as the Mandheswarar temple.

Vinayagar and Guarding deity / Man related to Sthala Purana..?

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pournami (full moon days), Amavasai (new moon days), Karthigai Deepam, Pradosham, Saturdays Mandhi poojas, and Maha Shivaratri.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS

The Temple authorities at +91 94451 57829, +91 97882 97829, and +91 93642 50259 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple, Sri Mandheswarar Temple at Valliarachal, is about 2.5 km away from the village.

The temple is 19.6 km from Kangayam Bus Stand, 39 km from Koduvai, 51 km from Palladam, 49 km from Tiruppur, 51 km from Dharapuram, 91 km from Coimbatore, and 453 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Tiruppur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---