Sri Sundareswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ சுந்தரேஸ்வரர் கோயில், நங்கவரம், Nangavaram, 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 after the damages done by the Muslim invaders, they still stand majestically with 1000 and odd years of history, Heritage, and cultural values. Even though they were contributed by the Pallava, Chozha, Pandya, Vijayanagara Kings, and the present Nattukottai Nagarathars, they are less popular.

Moolavar  : Sri Sundareswarar Temple  

Consort    : Sri Komalambigai  

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

The Temple faces east with an entrance arch. The stucco images of Lord Shiva with Parvati as Rishabroodar, on both sides are Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Parvati, and Lord Shiva on their respective vahanas. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the Entrance arch. In Koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu.  

In the praharam Agandeswarar (The experts think this must be a half-buried Dwarapalaka) – a Theenda Thirumeni, Saptamatrikas, Bhairavar, Chandikeswarar, Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Arumugar, Arunagirinathar, Thavvai/Jyeshta Devi with Mandhan and Manthi, Durga, Navagrahas, Maha Ganapathy and Dhandapani.  

Ambal is in a separate temple on the Northeast of the temple complex facing South. Ambal is in a standing posture.

ARCHITECTURE

The Temple complex consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala and artha mandapam. The dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum with jada maguta, padra kundalam, Sarapalli, yagnopaveetha, and protruding side teeth. They were believed to be from the early Chozha period. The adhisthana is of simple padabandha adhisthana with three patta kumuda. A Two-tier Vesara Vimana is over the Sanctum. Maha nasis are on the Sikaram in all four Cardinal directions. Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the griva koshtam.

The temple was constructed with stone from Adhisthana to Prastaram. Vishnukantha pilasters with regular features of kalasam, kumbha, palakai, etc are on the sanctum walls. The kapotha is with Nasikoodu and Chandramandalam. Bhuta ganas are in the valapi. viyyalavari is in the bhoomi desam. 

    

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

There were 13 inscriptions recorded from this temple. The earliest inscription belongs to Arinjaya Chozha. The other inscriptions belong to, Uthama Chozha, Rajendran-I, Rajathirajan-I, Rajathirajan-II, Vikrama Chozha, Sundara Pandyan, and 20^th Century. Hence it is believed that this temple belongs to the 10^th Century. As per the inscription this place was called Maravaneri and Lord Shiva was called Maravaneeswarar. This place was also called Nangai Brahmadeyam alias Arinjigai Chathurvedimangalam.

An inscription records the endowment of celebrating the birthday with special poojas of Irukkuvelir descendants, Bhuthiparantaka’s Queen PeralNagai, for which 1080 kalanju gold was gifted to the temple. To equate this gift, a 3.5 veli land was exempted from the Tax and treated as devathanam by the Sabha.

The Village Sabha increased the musical instruments from 2 to 4 and manpower/musicians also increased suitably. For the same land was gifted for their livelihood.

Another inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp with ghee by a Merchant called Maravaneri Udayan. For which 33 kasu was gifted.    

Sundareswarar Temple thirupani was done at Rs 10000, by N N Ramanatha Iyer in the year Kaliyugathi 5045 and Tamil Year Subanu ( 1933- 34 )

Sri Komalambigai Temple thirupani was carried out between 1939 – 1940 at Rs 5000 by Nangavaram Periya Pannai N A Renganatha Iyer.

In the Year 1952 – 53, the north side of the compound wall near Sri Subramaniyar sannidhi was reconstructed for Rs 3500 by N R Sundaraja Iyer and and N N Ramanatha Iyer.

The temple’s arch thirupani was done at Rs 1000, in the year Thurmukhi – Hevilambi, ( 1956 – 57 ), by Nangavaram Periya Pannai N N Ramanatha Iyer.

Sri Sundareswarar Sanctum Sanctorum, Vimanam, Artha mandapam, Maha mandapam thirupani / maintenance and replacement of terrace tiles was carried out between 2002 – 2005 at 275000 by Nangavaram Chinna Pannaiyar N L Durai Iyer’s family.   

The entrance arch salakara Panchamoorthy are in stucco, Nandhikeswarar Mandapam, Vimana Thirupani was done by N S Rajagopalan, daughter Mrs. Radhamani & Muthu Krishnan in memory of their father, Nangavaram Periya Pannaiyar, N R Sundararaja Iyer at 1.25 Lakhs in the year 2002 (started) -05 (Completed). Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 20^th June 2005.  

LEGENDS

As per the legend a female child was born with the human body and a Fox’s/Jackal face (Horse face), to a Chozha King. He went to many temples to change to human face. When he came to this place Nangavaram, Lord Shiva came in his dream and advised him to bring the Shiva Linga from Kasi and worship him, which is being worshiped by a Maharishi. The King ordered his men to bring the Shiva Linga. His men brought the Shiva Linga and a temple was built by the Chozha King. The Chozha King worshiped this Lord Shiva and his daughter’s Fox’s face has turned to Human face. Hence this place was called “Nangaivaram”, which has been corrupted to the present name of Nangavaram.

In the meantime The Maharishi Akandeswara came to know through Lord Shiva that the Shiva linga worshiped by him is at this place. It was dusk when he reached this place and the temple was also closed. So he jumped the compound and stuck up in the mud and stayed here. Hence he is worshiped as Akanda Eswarar and treated as Theenda thirumeni. For applying sandal paste, it was told that the paste was thrown from a distance. All the poojas conducted to Lord Shiva are also conducted to this Aganda eswarar.

 

Aganda Maharishi

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted Thai Poosam in the month Thai (Jan – Feb), Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month (August-Sept), Annabhishekam & Skanda Sashti (6 days) in the month Aippasi (October – November), Deepavali in the month Oct,  Karthigai Somavaram 108 Sangu abhishekam in the month Karthigai (Nov – Dec), Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni (March – April), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi (Feb – March) and monthly pradosam.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20,.00 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

This temple is 20.9 km from Woraiyur, 25.00 km from Srirangam Temple, 22 km from Main Guard Gate, 23.5 km from Central Bus stand and Railway station, 74 km from Thanjavur, 105 km from Kumbakonam and 343 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Junction is Tiruchirappalli. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---