Anantha Sayana Perumal Temple / Vasudevar Temple / Rajakesari Vinnagara Emperuman Vishnu Temple, கொற்றமங்கலம் / Kotramangalam / Korramangalam / Kothamangalam / Edangimangalam, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu.

பச்சை மா மலை போல் மேனி பவள வாய் கமலச் செங்கண்

        அச்சுதா அமரர் ஏறே ஆயர் தம் கொழுந்தே என்னும்

இச்சுவை தவிர யான் போய் இந்திர லோகம் ஆளும்

        அச்சுவை பெறினும் வேண்டேன் அரங்க மா நகர் உளானே.

ஊரிலேன் காணியில்லை உறவு மற்றொருவர் இல்லை

        பாரில் நின் பாதமூலம் பற்றிலேன் பரமமூர்த்தி

காரொளி வண்ணனே கண்ணனே கதறுகின்றேன்

        ஆருளர் களைகண் அம்மா அரங்கமாநகருளானே

... தொண்டரடிபொடியாழ்வார்

The Visit to this temple was a part of the “Trichy Heritage Walk” organized by “Yaaooyakay – யாஊயாகே- Group”, to the Historical Chozha period temples, in and around Trichy aka Tiruchirappalli, scheduled on 20^th & 21^st March 2021. Even though they were contributed by the Pallava, Chozha, Pandya, Vijayanagara Kings, and the present Nattukottai Nagarathars, they are less popular.

This Village about 20 Km from the famous Vishnu temple of Srirangam has a Vishnu Temple, a Shiva temple, and an Ayyanar Temple with Village deities. Usually, the Perumal temple will be in the middle of the Village and the Shiva temple will be in the northwest corner of the Village. But at present human habitation is  found around the Shiva temple and the Perumal temple is isolated from the Village. The sad part of the Vishnu temple is nobody takes care of it either the Govt or the Villagers.

Moolavar : Sri Anantha Sayana Perumal, Sri Vasudevar

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

Moolavar Vasudevan is in sayana posture kept a little away from the temple. Perumal is wearing ornaments, makara kundala  and Yagnopaveetha. One of the upper hand is holding shankha and the right hand is not seen, may be damaged, and might be holding Chakra. Front right hand keeps under the head and left hand is in ooru hastham. Adhiseshan is not shown under Moolavar.

ARCHITECTURE

This temple is in dilapidated condition and couldn’t asses the complete construction. With the remains of the structure, the temple was constructed with Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and artha mandapam and a 4 pillar mandapam may be for Periya Thiruvadi Garudalwar. The temple was constructed on a simple padabandha adhisthana with three patta Kumuda. The temple consists of a round / Vesara vimana above the adhisthana constructed with brick. The inside of the Vimana is of octagonal in shape. The mandapa was completely fallen down. The mandapa pillars are of vrutha beautifully sculptured, with regular features of malai thongal, Thamaraikattu, Kalasa, Kumbam,  Pali palakai, and Tharanga Pothyal. Kodikarukku is also beautifully shown on the kumbha. The Pilasters are Vishnu kantha pilasters.  A 4 Pillar mandapa is standing still  in front of the dilapidated temple and waiting for its turn to fall..

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This temple is believed to have been built during the Chozha period. The inscription recorded from this temple belongs to Rajakesari Varman, Koparakesaribanmar, Rajaraja-I, and Vikrama Chozha. As per the inscriptions, this Place was called Mazanattu Kalarkootrathu keezh Kootru Brahmadeyam Keeramangalachery ( During Parakesari Varman ), Rajasriya Valanattu Kalarkootrathu Brahmadeyam Keeramangalacheri ( Rajaraja-I period ). a part of KoRRamangalam. Maha Vishnu of this Temple was called “Sri Rajakesari Vinnagar Emberuman” and Sri Vasudeva Vinnagar  Emberuman. Kottamangalama was also called Jananathanallur after the title of  Rajaraja-I. There are eight inscriptions recorded from this temple. 

Rajakesari’s 7^th reign year inscription records the periphery limits of the land gifted to this temple.

Parakesarivarman’s 11^th reign year inscription records the endowment of naivedyam of pal ponagam 3 mida ( 3 pots of naivedyam made out of milk ) with Thirumanjanam / sacred bath on Vaikuntha Ekadasi and Dwadasi days by Perusangur Brahmathirajan alias Achchiyan Bhattan Chakrabani Sri Vasudevan. For the same land was gifted and the periphery limits are also recorded. The land tax exemption was granted by the local sabha. 

The same king’s 11^th reign year inscription and the same person gave some gift. Since the inscription was damaged couldn’t get all the details.

Rajarajan-I’s period inscription records that a servant Avanamudayan Marthandan established an endowment of Thiruvizha / celebration on Rajaraja-I’s birth star day ( Sathaya nakshatra day ). For the same land was gifted and periphery limits were also recorded. 

As per S R Balasubramanian ( A Book on Middle Chozha's Temples ), two individuals hailed from the same place and bore the same title as Brahmadhiraja. It is, therefore, obvious that Chakrapani Sri Vasudevan of the Kottamangalam records was the son of Sri Vasudevan Chakrapani of the Srirangam Inscriptions. Since the inscriptions from Srirangam are dated between the 39th and 41st year of Parantaka-I, the Rajakesarivarman and Parakesarivarman of the Kottamangalam records can only be the successors of Parantaka-I. 

Vikrama Chozha’s 16^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Veera Chozhamooventha Velalar.

It is mentioned in the inscription of Kulothunga Chozha-III ( Thiribhuvana Vira Deva ) that the temple of Sri Rajakesari Vinnagar was reconstructed about 1212 CE by the mercantile guild called "Ainnurruvar" of the 79 Nadus and 18 Bhumis and named after them as "Ainnurruvar - Vinnagar". This also didn't last long as it is likely to have been destroyed during the subsequent Muslim invasion, as it lay on the highway from Tiruchirappalli to Gangaikonda Chozhapuram.  Now the temple is in dilapidated condition. 

  

LEGENDS

There might have been some legend during worship and nobody knows now. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

The temple is in dilapidated condition and no poojas and celebrations are performed.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple is open to the sky and can peep at any time. 

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The temple is 6 KM from Lalgudi, 25 km from Main Guard Gate, 33 km from Tiruchirappalli, 46 km from Thanjavur, 69 km from Kumbakonam, and 321 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Lalgudi and Railway Junction is Tiruchirappalli.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE (10.8908393,78.858629 )

Sri Brahmesvara Udaiya Nayanar Temple.

The Shiva Linga is under worship inside a shed. The temple is in dismantled condition. The Stones are numbered during dismantling and are strewn around the site. The old sculptures and idols are also found damaged. The temple is waiting for the reconstruction.

The inscriptions belong to the 10th Century to 14th Century of Chozha Kings Kulothunga Chozha-I and Vikrama Chozha, Hoysala Vira Ramanatha and Pandya Jadavarman Vira Pandya (5th Year 1301 CE), but they are not of much Historical Value. 

Ayyanar Temple.

Ayyanar is believed to be the Village Guarding deity and Poojas are done by non-Brahmins, maybe by a person from the Potter community. One such Ayyanar sculpture with an inscription found in the Kongu region records that the Ayyanar was made by a potter. It is believed that the worship of Ayyanar started from the Hero stones in the 3^rd to 4^th Century. Usually, Ayyanar will be with his consorts Poonai and Pauskalai. Ayyanar without his consorts is also available in large numbers in the Tamil Nadu region.  

This Ayyanar is kept in a small sanctum facing north along with a Village deity temple. The local people call Ayyanar as Sastha. In the sanctum, Ayyanar is in Uthkudi asana. He is with Jadamudi and wearing Mala and Yagnopaveetha, anklets on the legs. His vahana elephant is shown on the front side of the pedestal.

Location of the Temple: CLICK HERE 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---