Sri Pasupatheeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ பசுபதீஸ்வரர் கோயில், அல்லூர் / Allur Nakkan Koil, Allur, Trichy, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu.

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 place, Allur, is on the banks of the river Kaveri. This temple is also called “Allur Nakkan Koil”.

Moolavar  : Sri Pasupatheeswarar  

Consort    :   

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

The temple faces east without any Rajagopuram or entrance arch. A Stucco image of Lord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar is above the entrance of the Temple. Moolavar Shiva Linga is on a circular avudayar in the sanctum Sanctorum. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum.

Only Dakshinamurthy is in the Koshtam. The original Chozha period Dakshinamurthy was found broken and dumped near the koshtam. A mandapa is extended in front of Dakshinamurthy. The other Koshta Murtis and Parivara Murtis are kept in the artha mandapam for safety reasons. In the ardha mandapam, Pichadanar, Bhairavar, Murugan, Suriyan, Vinayagar, and Rishabam. Ambal sannadhi is in the ardha mandapam facing South. Ambal is in samabanga standing posture with abhaya  & Varada hastam.  

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. An eka tala vesara vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple padabandha adhisthana with threepatta kumudam. The vimana was built with stone up to prastaram, and the superstructure with sigaram was constructed with bricks. The Sikaram has Mahanasis in the 4 directions and alpa nasis in between. The greevam has kostas with stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Ashtadikpalakas.    

The sanctum walls are supported by the pilasters (Brahma kanda), and the same pilasters also form the Koshtas. The makara thorana has no special features. The Brahmakanda pilasters have the components of malaikattu, kalasa, tadi, kumbha, pali, palakai, and veerakandam. The thala Rishabas are looking cute. The prastaram is with valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. Bhuta ganas are in the valapi. Yazhivari/viyyazhavari is in the Bhumidesam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the inscriptions, the temple belongs to the early 10^th Century CE.  There are 15 inscriptions recorded from this temple. Of which 6 belong to Parantaka Chozha-I, with his meikeerthi/ Title as Madurai Konda Koparakesari (17^th, 18^th, 37^th, 40^th, and 41^st reign years).  Sundara Chozha alias Mathurantaka Chozha’s inscription starts with his meikeerthi as “Maduraikonda Rajakesari”. One inscription belongs to Pandya King Kulasekara Pandya, and the rest 3 are Parakesari inscriptions, and 4 are Rajakesari inscriptions.

As per the inscriptions, this place was called Allur under Woraiyur Kootram, the temple was called Nakkarkoil, and Lord Shiva was called “Nakkarkoil Parameswara”. Maravarman Kulasekara Pandiya’s 24^th reign year inscription mentions Lord Shiva as “Nakkeeswaramaudaya Nayanar”.

Parantaka Chozha-I’s inscription is in the form of a Song, and his meikeethi is followed as Madurai Konda Koparakesari.

"பரகே சரிக்குப் பதினெட்டாம் ஆண்டில்

உரைசேர் பெரும்புகழ் அல்லூரார் அரைசாரும்

அல்லூரார்க் கம்பலஞ்செய் யின்கீழ் வயக்கல்

எல்லோரும் ஈந்தார் இசைந்து "

This inscription belongs to his 18^th reign year, which mentions this place as Woraiyur Kootrathu Allur, and the land was gifted to this temple.

The inscriptions record the gift of lands with their periphery limits. Arinjaya Chozha period inscription records the sati of one of his official Veera Chozha Ilangovel alias Parantaka Kunjaramallan’s wife, Gangamadevi. In memory of this, 20 kalanju gold was gifted to this temple. Arinjaya Chozha’s other inscription records a gift by Mummudi Chozha Ilangovelaar.

 

The Kandaradita period inscription records the gift of land as Irayili, which belongs to the Village Pudukudi.

Sundara Chozha’s 17^th reign year inscription starts with the title/meikeerthi as “Madurai Konda Rajakesari – மதிரை கொண்ட ராஜகேசரி”- records the donations made to this temple.

The official Mayilaithindan of the Sundara Chozha, who constructed the Temple at Perungudi, gave gifts to this temple.

LEGENDS

Ma Parvati worshiped Lord Shiva in the form of Kamdhenu, hence Lord Shiva is called Sri Pasupatheeswarar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Maha Shivaratri days and other days, depending on the sponsor.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala pooja is conducted from 08.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs, the closing and opening times are unpredictable. The Gurukkal may be contacted before going to this temple.

CONTACT DETAILS

Gurukkam Sridhar may be contacted on his mobile at +919600939645 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This temple is 9 km from Woraiyur, 13.00 km from Srirangam Temple, 10 km from the Main Guard Gate, 13.5 km from the Central Bus Stand and Railway Station, 62 km from Thanjavur, 93 km from Kumbakonam, and 331 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Junction is Tiruchirappalli. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

New and Old Ayyanar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---