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

ARCHITECTURE

The temple complex consists of the 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 a simple pada bandha 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 the 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, Thirumaravan Eswaram Udaiyar, Maravaneswarathu Perumal. This place was called Nangai Brahmadeyam, alias Arinjigai Chathurvedimangalam, etc.

 

The Chozha King Vikrama Chozha’s inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp with one ulakku of cow’s ghee by Alathur Pingalanthai Thillaividangan Saharaka Nayakan. For the same 30 Thiramam (measure of money), handed over to the Siva Bramanan.

A badly damaged, without King’s name, Chozha period inscription records the gift of land and 20 kalanju Gold, for a sacred bath by the Arinjigai Chaturvedi Mangalam sabha. 

The Chozha King Koparakesarivanmar’s 4^th reign year inscription records the increase of the Kalam, a musical instrument, from 2 to 4 (doubling) playing in front of Maravaneswarathu Perumal. For the same land of Araiyeirandu ma (அரையெ யிரண்டு மா) was gifted by the Arinjigai Chaturvedi Mangalam sabha. The inscription on the periphery of the damaged portion was damaged.

The Chozha King Koparakesarivanmar’s 4^th reign year inscription records the conversion of waste thevadhana land of 3 ma to nandhavam and planted the Jasmine, SiruSenbagam, and Iruvachi flowering plants. A fence on 4 sides of the land was erected. In addition to this, arrangements were made to maintain the Nandhavanam with flowering trees by 3 people and pluck the flowers to make garlands by 5 persons. This endowment was done by Sri Mayavakaramaviththan.

 

The Chozha King Koparakesarivanmar’s 20^th reign year inscription records the gift of land as thevadhanam, for the naivedyam to Uma Battaraki, by Narayanan Senthapiran Battan. The details and quantity of the naivedyam of Ghee rice, Curd rice, beetle leaves 10, from 2 nazhi rice.

The Chozha king Rajathiraja’s 7^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp with cow ghee after receiving 33 kasu, by a merchant Maravaneri Udaiyan Ovan Kovandandan.

The King Thiribhuvana Chakravarthy Konerimai Kondan’s period inscription records the endowment of all the nivantham and to meet Chithirai Vishu, for the enjoyment of the thevadhana land. This was written in the form of Thirumanthira olai by Rajanarayan Muvendhavelalan.

The Chozha King Rajendra Chozha I’s 20^th reign year (1012 – 1044 CE), inscription, starts with his full meikeerthi. The inscription records the gift of 2 kani land to Eesana Siva Battar and another.

The Chozha King Koparakesari Barmar’s 10^th reign year inscription, the balance temple land, given as thevadhanam, to temple sevants, and garland makers, was given to temple cleaning people.

The Chozha King Koparakesari Barmar’s 10^th reign year inscription records the endowment of naivedyam by the sabha on the Chembian Irusuvelalar alias Bhuthi Parantakanar’s wife Chozha Perundeviyar Peranangai’s birthday. For the same 1080 kalanju chempon gifted to this temple. To equate this 3.5 veli land bought from this after exempting the taxes.

 

The inscription starts with Shiva’s name, damaged and without the King’s name, records the endowment of Naivedyam, and for the same, a land was gifted to this temple.

The inscription on the north side entrance mandapa records that the same was gifted by Mazha Nattu Perumal, alias Akalangan.

The Pandya King Sundara Pandyan’s inscription on the entrance of the kitchen records that the door frames are gifted by one of the Siva Brahmins, Kootha Perumal alias Kumara Narayana Battan.  

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

Ref:

South Indian Inscriptions Volume - VIII

20th & 21st Century Inscriptions....

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 and 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 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, ardha 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, is 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's face (Horse face), to a Chozha King. He went to many temples to change into a 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 Lord Shiva, and his daughter’s Fox’s face has turned into a 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 out of 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 said 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 from 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 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---