Monday 30 August 2021

Pallava period Shiva Temple with Durgai, Mahavishnu, Murugan, Jyeshta Devi Loose Sculptures and Hero Stone & Sati Stone at Sendiyampakkam, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this small Shiva temple with loose sculptures of Jyeshta Devi, Durgai, Mahavishnu and Murugan at Sendiyambakkam, was a part of Villupuram Heritage Walk organized by History Trails, on 24th and 25th July 2021.


These Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai, Mahavishnu, Durgai, Murugan  sculptures are installed in the outer prakara of a Small Shiva Temple on the east banks of the Eri.

Maha Vishnu…. Maha Vishnu is in standing posture is shown with 4 hands. The upper hands hold Conch and Chakra. Conch seems to big, which is not proportionate to the Maha Vishnu sculpture. There is round / circle ( ஒளி வட்டம் ) is shown behind his head. Lower right hand is in abhaya hastam and left hand is in kadi hastam. The dress frills is shown below his hip. He wears ornaments on his neck and ears and also wears an yagnopaveetha. This Maha Vishnu is also belongs to Pallava period.


Durgai…. Durga is in standing posture and up knee are not visible. A Karanda maguda is shown on her head. Her upper hands holds Conch and Chakra, which are not proportionate to the sculpture. The Lower right hand is in Abhaya hastam and right hand is in ooru hastam. She wears ornaments in the ears, neck  and hands. Her dress is shown beautifully.  This durga sculpture also belongs to pallava Period.

Murugan…. This Murugan sculpture is also in the prakaram. A Karanda maguda is shown on his head and wears ornaments in the ears and neck. He is shown with only two hands. The right hand holds a Vel / spear and left hand is in ooru hastam. Below the knees is also not visible.


Jyeshta Devi… Thavvai / Jyeshta Devi is shown with flabby belly and thick thigh. She wears ornaments in the ears and neck. The right hand is in abhaya hastam and the left hand is holding something which couldn’t be identified. Her son Mandhan and Mandhi are shown on both sides. Mandhan is shown with buffalo’s head. Her usual attributes of Crow flag and broomstick are missing. This  Jyeshta Devi belongs to Pallava period.


HOW TO REACH
The place Sendiyampakkam is 4 KM from Perani railway station, 5 KM from Chennai- Trichy National Highways, 23 KM from Tindivanam,  26 KM from Villupuram and 149 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway station is Perani and Junction is Villupuram.  

LOCATION OF THE VILLAGE : CLICK HERE 

The Hero Stone and Sati Stone will be covered in a separate post



--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Saturday 28 August 2021

புலிகுத்தி நடுகற்கள், காங்கயம்பாளையம், செங்கப்பள்ளி அருகே, திருப்பூர் மாவட்டம்.

                   நடுகல் வழிபாடு என்பது பொதுமக்கள் நலனுக்குக்காக சண்டையிட்டு வீரமரணம் அடைபவரின் நினைவாக கல் நட்டு வழிபடுவதே ஆகும் . நடப்பட்ட கல்லின் மீது வீரனின் உருவமும் , அவன் இறப்பை பற்றிய குறிப்பும் பொறிக்கப்படும் .  நடுகல் வழிபாடு என்பது வீரத்தை அடிப்படையாக கொண்ட வழிபாடு . இவை பற்றி சங்க இலக்கியத்தில் நிறைய குறிப்புகள் காணப்படுகின்றன . கிராமங்களில் இன்றும் நடுகற்களை சிறுதெய்வங்களாக வணங்கி வருகின்றனர் . 

                        திருப்பூர் மாவட்டம் , செங்கப்பள்ளி அருகே காங்கயம்பாளையம் என்னும் ஊரில் மூன்று நடுகற்கள் காணப்படுகிறது . இவற்றில் இரண்டு புலிக்குத்தி நடுகற் கள் மற்றொன்று நினைவுக்கல் ஆகும் . முதல் புலிக் குத்தி கல்லில் புலி தன் வாயை திறந்த நிலையில் வீரன் மேல் பாய்வது போலவும் , வீரன் ஈட்டி ஆயுதத்தால் புலியை தாக்குவது போல காட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது. புலியின் முன்னங்கால்கள் இரண்டும் தன்னை தாக்க வரும் வீரனை எதிர்த்து தாக்குவது போல உள்ளது . வீரனுக்கும் புலிக்கும் நடுவே ஒரு நாய் புலியை நோக்கி பாய்வது போலவும் காட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதன் காலம் 16 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டாக இருக்கலாம் . கல் பொரிந்த நிலையில் உள்ளது .கல்வெட்டுகள் காணப்படவில்லை .

                                இதற்கு அடுத்து ஒரு நினைவுக்கல் உள்ளது . இதில் வீரனின் உருவம் இரு கைகளையும் கூப்பியநிலையில் காட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது . இது வீரனின் நினைவாக எடுக்கப்பட்ட கல் ஆகும் . 

                           மூன்றாவதாக மற்றொரு புலி குத்தி கல் காணப்படுகிறது . இதில் புலி வாயை திறந்த நிலையில் பாய்வது போலவும் அதன் முன்னங்காலில் ஒரு கால் வீரன் தோள் பட்டை மீதும் மற்றொரு கால் வீரனின் தொடையை பிடித்து இருப்பது போலவும் , வீரனும் தன்னை தாக்க வரும் புலியை ஈட்டியைக் கொண்டு தாக்குவது போலவும் காட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது . இதில் வீரனின் முகம் நேராக நம்மை பார்ப்பது போல உள்ளது . இதுவும் 16ம் நூற்றாண்டை சேர்ந்ததாக கருதப்படுகிறது . இதிலும் கல்வெட்டுகள் காணப்படவில்லை .



                              

                                                                                                                 
                                

Aala Kaala Eshwaran Temple / AlagalaEsvara Temple / Aala Kaala Eshwaran Temple, ஸ்ரீ ஆல கால ஈஸ்வரன் கோவில், பேரணி / Perani, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Aalakaala Eshwaran Shiva Temple, at Perani was a part of Villupuram Heritage Walk organized by History Trails, on 24th and 25th July 2021.


Moolavar  : Sri Aalakaala Eswarar
Consort    : Sri Abirama Sundari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with out any entrance arch or Rajagopuram. An entrance to the ardha mandapam is from South Side with Stucco Dwarapalakas, Natarajar and Ambal are on the both sides of the entrance. Stucco images of Shiva with Parvati, Vinayagar and Murugan are on the top of the entrance. Stucco Image of Lord Shiva with Parvati’s marriage is on the top of the east side and Stucco image of Mahishasuramardini is on the back side of the Ambal Temple. A Balipeedam, Nandi and a small Deepa sthamba are on the east side.

A Stucco image of Ambal worshiping Lord Shiva is on the top of the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is of swayambhu and taller on a Square avudayar. In koshtam an Amman, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu,  Brahma and Durga.

A Balipeedam, Nandi  Utsavars and Ambal are in the Ardha mandapam. Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum.

In prakaram, Saptakannis, Ayyappan, Navagrahas, Bairavar, Suriyan, Chandran, A Shiva Linga with Ambal & Nandi, and Chandikeswarar. Loose Sculptures of Chozha period Vinayagar,  3 out of 7 Saptamatrikas on a panel, Chandikeswarar, an unknown male deity sculpture, Jyeshta Devi and broken deity sculptures are in the prakaram.

ARCHITECTURE
The temple was built on rocky surface.  The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala  and Ardha mandapam. The temple was reconstructed with bricks from adhithana to Vimana. The Adhisthana is of pada bandha adhisthana with three patta Kumuda.

A single tier Nagara Vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum. Unlike other Ambal temples, a Vesara vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum.





HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the original temple belongs to Pallava period and later reconstructed during Chozha period on a rocky surface.

An inscription is found on the boulder / rocky surface near the Nandi. This is a proof that the original temple was a brick temple. The inscription of Parthivendran records the the endowment of playing drum during Sribali ( ஸ்ரீபலி கொட்ட ) and for the same land was gifted to this temple.

The temple is under HR& CE Department’s control. Maintenance work was started in 2007 and Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 2008 after completion of maintenance works.

Inscriptions on a boulder

LEGENDS
Devotees worships Lord Shiva for removing marriage obstacles, Child boon, to reunite the couples if separated due to various reasons. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Amavasya, Thaipoosam, Karthigai Deepam and Maha Shivaratri days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs for orukala pooja.

CONTACT DETAILS
The trustee Mr Devanathan of this temple may contacted on his mobile numbers +919442292744 and +91 9842622728 for further details.

HOW TO REACH
This place Perani is about 2 KM from Perani Railway Station,  3 KM from Chennai trichy National Highway, 21 KM from Tindivanam, 24 KM from Villupuram and 147 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway station is Perani and midway between Tindivanam and villupuram Junctions.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE






Chandikeswarar and Durgai

Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai / தவ்வை

Part of Saptamatrikas Group
Pallava period Vinayagar
Saptakannis
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Wednesday 25 August 2021

Sri Vaitheeswarar Temple / Sri Vaidhyanathar Temple / Vikrama Chozha Temple, Chinthamani, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The Second visit to this Shiva Temple was a part of Villupuram Heritage Walk organized by History Trails, on 24th and 25th July 2021. The First visit to this Sri Vaitheeswarar temple was a part of Villupuram temples visit on 8th June 2019. This place is being called locally as Chinthamani Nallur.




Moolavar  : Sri Vaitheeswarar / Sri Vaidyanathar
Consort    : Sri Thaiyal Nayaki.

Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Stucco image of Shiva Linga is on the top of the arch. Balipeedam and Nandi are in front of mukha mandapam. In sanctum moolavar is little tall on a round avudayar. In Koshtam, Bickshadanar / Pichadanar, Vinayagar with samara & Venkotrakudai, Oorthuva Thandavar ( Natarajar ), Dakshinamurthy ( holding Damru & Deepam and Kallala maram is separately shown on top ), Lingothbavar, Brahma, Durgai, Bhairavar and Shiva with Parvati as alingna murthy.  Stucco Dwarapalakas, Vinayagar and Murugan  are at the entrance of Ardha mandapam.

Ambal Sri Thaiyal Nayaki is in a separate temple, facing east with sanctum and a mukha mandapam.  Ambal is facing east. In prakaram sannidhi for Anjaneyar/ Hanuman, Navagrahas, Suriyan, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar and Jeeva Samadhi of a Siddhar. In the Samadhi, Panchabhuta Lingas, Nagars and Vinayagars are installed.

ARCHITECTURE
The main temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a open mukha mandapam. The ardha mandapam pillars are worth to see. The Koshta moorthams are master pieces of Chozha sculptures. 

The adhisthana is with Upa peda, Jagathi, Three patta Kumuda and Kapotham. Bhuta ganas are in the valabi ( Nandi is also seen along with Bhuta Ganas ) and yazhivari is above the prastaram.  A 2 tire vesara vimana is over the sanctum. A Moat is around the sanctum. Stucco images of Lord Shiva & Parvati’s marriage is on the top of Mukha mandapam.



May be Vikrama Chozha
Vinayagar is along with Bhuta Ganas in Bhutavari ( valabi ) 

HISTORY & INSCRIPTION:
The temple was built during Vikrama Chozha period and named after his father, as “Kulothunga Chozheeswaramudaiya Mahadevar” Temple and now called as “Vaitheeswaran Temple”. This place was called in the name of Kulothunga Chozha’s wife's name “Madhranthaki “also called as “Dheena Chintamani” and now called as Chinthamani and locally as “Chinthamani nallur”. On the South side jagathy there is a Vikrama Chozha’s inscription with his title as “Poomathu punara… “.

Two Vikrama Chozha’s inscriptions are recorded from this temple. One of the inscription records the burning of Perpetual lamp for which donations made to this temple.

Vikrama Chozhas another incomplete inscription records the donations made to the Oorthuva Thandava Natarajar…  

Entrance arch was constructed and Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in the year 2020, January.

The inscription of "தீன சிந்தாமணி...".. this place's name
Vikrama Chozha's inscription

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, Important functions like pournami pooja pradosham, Maha Shivarathri, Thaipoosam are celebrated in a grand manner.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT:
The mobile number of the priest +94427 79895, may be contacted for further details.   

HOW TO REACH:
The temple is about 500 meters off Chennai to Trichy GST Road.
Chinthamani is about 10 KM before Villupuram,  68 KM from Pondicherry, 32 KM from Tindivanam and 189 KM from Chennai.
All the buses  on GST road will stop at Chinthamani.
Nearest Railway station is Villupuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE






--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---