Kadambavana Sri Vishamangaleswarar Temple / கடம்பவன ஸ்ரீ விஷமங்களேஸ்வரர் கோயில் & A Saptamatrika Temple, துடையூர்/ Thudaiyur, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Kadambavana Sri Vishamangaleswarar 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. The temple is between the Kollidam River and the canal, a diversion from the Mukkombu Dam, which feeds drinking water to 18 Villages, including Thirupanjali and Thiruvellarai.

 

This is a Devara vaippu sthalam. In PeriyaPuranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, before meeting 3^rd time with Thirugnanasambandar, established a madam at Thirupoonthuruthi and had sung various Thiruthandakam, and this place was mentioned in the Adaivu Thiruthandakam.

பல்வகைத் தாண்டகத்தோடும் பரவும் தனித்தாண்டகமும்

அல்லல் அறுப்பவர் தானத்து அடைவு திருத்தாண்டகமும்

செல்கதி காட்டிடப் போற்றும் திருஅங்க மாலையும் உள்ளிட்டு

எல்லை இல் பன்மைத் தொகையும் இயம்பினார் ஏத்தி இருந்தார்

....... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் புராணம்

Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has mentioned this temple in Thirupoonthuruthi (Adaivu Thiruththaandakam -அடைவு திருத்தாண்டகம் ( 6-71-4 ). All the places mentioned in this pathigam end with “...oor”. In that, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal mentions that all the obstacles will be removed if one prays to Lord Shiva of these 19 temples.  

பிறையூருஞ் சடைமுடி எம்பெருமான் ஆரூர்

        பெரும்பற்றப் புலியூரும் பேராவூரும்

நறையூரும் நல்லூரும் நல்லாற்றூரும்

        நாலூரும் சேற்றூரும் நாரையூரும்

உறையூரும் ஓத்தூரும் ஊற்றத்தூரும்

        அளப்பூர் ஓமாம்புலியூர் ஒற்றியூரும்

துறையூரும் துவையூரும் தோழூர் தானுந்

        துடையூரும் தொழ இடர்கள் தொடராவன்றே.

.....திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

துடையூர் பெருமானைத் துதிப்பாரின் வளமேறும்

        புடைத்தப் பெருந்துன்பம் புல்லாய்ப் போகுமே !

படைத்ததிரு பிரம்மனொடு பகவைனும் போற்றேத்தும்

        விடைத்த விடையப்பா துடையக மங்களீசா !

விடமங்களா விடமங்களா – மங்களம்’

        சுடரேற்றி படி படிவேன் – குடகக்

கடவழி காட்டியருள் கடவுளே.

.... சித்தர் பாடல்

Moolavar : Sri Vishamangaleswarar

Consort    : Sri Mangalambigai  

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

The temple is facing east. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in the mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakas Dindi & Mundi are in the entrance of the ardha mandapam. Moolavar in the sanctum is a little taller. In kostam, Yoga Gnana Saraswathi, Dakshinamurthy, Veenatharar, Kalyana Sundareswarar / Alingnamurthy, Siva Durgai, and Brahma.

In praharam Vinayagar, Ayyanar, Nagar, Lakshmi Narayanar, Veerabhadra, Chandikeswarar, Bhairavar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Suriyan, Chandran, and Ambal  Mangalambigai. (facing South).   

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram, and the superstructure, eka tala vimana, was built with stucco. The sanctum walls are supported with Brahmakantha pilasters. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudus. Bhuta Ganas are in the valapi. The vimana is of the vesara style with 4 maha nasis and 4 alpa nasis on the vimana. In Griva kostam, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma.

Adhistanam kanda portions have the miniature sculptures line, Lord Shiva’s Dance, Natarajar, Pichadanar, Kudakoothu, Krishna Leela, Mahishasuramardini, Gajasamhara Moorthy, Kannappar Purana, Chandikeswarar Purana, Dancing Girls, Sugriva, and Vali fight, etc, are beautifully carved.

Kudakoothu

Gnana Saraswati... Sitting in ardha padmasana with Jadamaguda. She is wearing Padra Kundalam, Sarapalli, and Chavadi on the neck. While the lower right hand in Gnana hastham is wearing Tholvalai, the left hand holds the palm leaves (suvadi). The upper hands hold an acca mala and a Kamandalam. A jwala thiruvasi is shown on the back of Saraswati.

Veenadharar... Lord Shiva as Veenadharar in a standing posture, keeping his left leg in front and slightly leaning towards the left. Holding  “Thikisandalam Veena” with lower hands and playing. He is with Jadamandalam and wearing makara kundala in the right ear and padra Kundalam in the left ear. Two kinnaras are dancing to the tune of the Veena on both sides. To match the tune of the veena, a dwarf bhuta Gana plays a damru with a smile on its face. On the Left side, there is a lady also playing thalam.

On the west, Koshta Alingna Murthy... Umaskitha... Kalyana Sundareswarar.... Lord Shiva is with Jadamagudam and wearing Makara and padra Kundalam, Kandigai, Charapalli on the neck, and Yagnopaveetha and Uthara bandham on the chest and stomach. While the lower right hand is with Chin mudra, the left lower hand is holding the shoulder of Ambal, called Alingna hastam. Ambal is with Karanda Maguta, wearing ornaments on the neck, ears, and tholvalai on the shoulder, kadaka valai on the hands. The left hand is in kadi hastam. Ambal’s expressions are like a smile and shy (நாணம்) in different angles.

On the north side koshtam, Brahma... holding Akkamala and Kamandala in the top hands. While the lower right hand is in abhaya hastham, and the left hand is in ooru hastham.

On the north side artha mandapa koshtam, a female deity is standing in a three-banga posture. While the lower right hand holds the Lotus flower in the right hand and the left hand is in ooru hastham. She is with Karanda maguta, wearing ornaments on the neck and ears. She is also wearing a sanna veeram. Looking at Jawala Thiruvasi, Sanna Veeram, and in the North Koshtam, experts believe this female deity may be Kotravai with Shantha- சாந்தம். 

 

       

Maybe Kotravai.. in a peaceful mood

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Based on the iconography of some sculptures, experts believe this temple might have been constructed during the Pallava or early Chola period. The same might have been reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha Period. The inscriptions from this temple belong to Kandradita Chozha, Rajaraja Chozha-I, Rajendra Chozha’s 5^th reign year, and Veera Rajendran’s 7^th reign inscriptions.

Kandradita Chozha’s 5^th reign year inscription records that Kilinallur Kizhavan Aachchan KuRRi was killed by Vaaththalai Velan Ganapathy, as a punishment, 5 Kalanju Gold and 2 ma land were confiscated for burning a Sandhi Lamp in the name of the deceased.

Rajaraja Chozha-I’s 11^th reign year inscription records the endowment of Abhishekam with 116 Kudam water and naivedyam on two Ayana Sankranti days to Lord Shiva by Thudaiyur Kamuthuvan Narayana Aditan, for which 30 kalanju gold was gifted to this temple. A land was purchased for the gift, and the periphery limits are also mentioned.

A Measuring scale of  1.81 meters is marked in this temple. This might have been used to measure land during the Chozha period.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Sahadevan, one of the Pancha Pandavas, and Dhuriyothan’s wife Bhanumathi worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

It is believed that a devotee was bitten by a snake. He prayed to Lord Shiva to save him. With the grace of Lord Shiva, he was relieved from the snake poison (Visham–விஷம்). Hence, Lord Shiva is called Vishamangaleswarar.

It is believed that the abhisheka oil done for the Sri Vadhamuni will cure many diseases. This is a parihara sthalam for Vadha and nerve-related diseases, and pray to Lord Shiva to excel in astrology.

It is believed that Marriage obstacles will be removed, the separated couples will be reunited, memory power will be increased, and Chevvai dosham will be removed if prayed to Ambal Mangalambigai.

It is believed that Suriyan and Chandran worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Sun rays fall on moolavar on the first three days in the month Chithirai, and Moon rays fall on Purattasi Pournami / full moon day.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Maha Shivaratri day, Deepavali, Pradosham, Thaipoosam Karthigai Deepam, and on all important festivals.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Harihara Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile at +91 98947 96967 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Thudaiyur is 28 km from Tiruchirappalli, 28.6 km from Kulithalai, 35 km from Musuri, 70 km from Karur, 76 km from Namakkal, 77 km from Thanjavur, 108 km from Kumbakonam, and 324 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Kulithalai, and the Junction is Tiruchirappalli.    

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Vali and Sugriva fight

A Saptamatrika Temple

A Village deity, Shri Kalingayi Amman Temple, is just the back side of the Shiva temple. In the sanctum sanctorum, Saptamatrikas are installed, and Dwarapalaka and Dwarapalaki are at the entrance of the sanctum. This temple is facing north. On the east side, there are some hero stones and a Jyeshta Devi with Manthan and Manthi.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---