The
visit to this Sri Abathsahayeswarar temple, at Senthamangalam was a part of the Villupuram Heritage Walk organized by History Trails scheduled on 24th and 25th
July 2021.
The
first visit to this Shiva temple was a part of Temples Visit in and
around Villupuram. It was a two days trip organized by Mr Manoj, aimed to cover
21nos of old, very old and Historical temples, which includes Thevaram Padal
Petra Sthalangal and 108 Divya Desa Sthalangal and we are able to cover 16
temples. Out of 16 Temples, I had covered 11 temples already, and are
recorded in my blog. The rest of the 5 temples will be posted one by one. This post
will cover a Shiva temple built during the 13th Century. The temple is under
the control of the Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ) and reconstruction is in
progress. The place Senthamangalam is on the south bank of river Kedilam.
Moolavar : Sri Abathsahayeswarar
Sri Vanilai Kandeesuvaramudaiyar
Consort : Sri Periyanayagi
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
This
temple faces east with two Rajagopuram bases. A pandal pillar with a balipeedam
is at the center. On the right side, a Vasantha mandapa reconstruction is in
progress. Nandi is in-front of sanctum sanctorum in a mandapam.
The
Koshtams are empty now. The respective idols are kept inside the maha mandapam.
The Idols are Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy ( is unique since Dakshinamurthy is
sitting on his Vahana Rishabam), Ashtabhuja Durgai, Ashtabhuja
Bairavar, Lingothbavar Arumugar, and some loose sculptures are also kept in the
maha mandapam.
The
praharam is on a raised platform and Ambal Sannidhi is facing south on the
northeast corner of the corridor.
ARCHITECTURE
The
Sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, ardha mandapam, Maha mandapam
and a mukha mandapam.
Both
side steps are provided between artha mandapam and maha mandapam. A two-tier
stucco nagara Vimana is over the sanctum.
Unlike
other temples, this temple was inside the Fort built during the Kadavarayar Period.
The remains of brick structures of the old fort can be seen still on the northeast corner of the Compound wall.
There
is a Tank with Two stone horses near this temple. The Stone Horses may be an
integral part of a mandapa built on the banks of the Tank. The Stone Horses are
unique since different musical sounds can be heard by tapping different parts
of the Horses. Hence they are called Musical Stone Horses.
HISTORY
& INSCRIPTION:
The
Kadava King Koperunsingan’s father Ezhisai Mohana Manavala Perumal (
1200 – 1211 CE) ruled this region keeping Senthamangalam as capital. In 1231 CE
Rajaraja-III, was defeated by the Pandya Kings and fled out of Thanjavur. At
Thellaru near Vandavasi Koperunsingan attacked ( 1231 CE ) and took him with
all his wife and children as prisoners. Rajarajan-III with his family was
lodged at this place in a prison. He was released after his relative
and Hoysala King Viranarasimhan came with his army.
The
inscriptions belonging to Kadava King Koperunsingan ( 1229 – 1278 CE
), Vijayanagara King Hariharan-II are found in this
temple. As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called Vanilaikandeeswaramudayar. and the place was called Jananatha Chathurvedi Mangalam alias Senthamangalam.
An
inscription speaks about the donation of Land and gold to a person’s family
called Peththan Nayakar who sacrificed his life through Navakandam for the
uninterrupted functioning of temple activities even during war.
Koperunsingan’s
inscription records the donation of Land to this temple after he was
blessed with a Male Child.
The Pallava King SakalabhuvanaChakravarti Koperunjingadeva's 9th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 32 cows and a bull were gifted.
The Pallava King SakalabhuvanaChakravarti Koperunjingadeva's 19th reign year inscription records the gift of 60 Cows by the King.
Vijayanagara King VirapratapaDevaraya maharaya -II in 1352, saumya records the grant of two villages Kallakurichi and Adur to this temple.
Vijayanagara King Vira Krishnadeva Maharaya's 1439 CE, inscription records an order which is issued at Bezvada, while he was staying on the banks of Krishnaveni between Anantasay temple at Undavalli ( Guntur Taluk ) and Mallikarjuna Temple of Bezvada, remitted 10000 gold pieces in favor of the temples between Gadilam and Vellar and from Kottaikarai wall to the sea ( The donation was confirmed by 288 of 1933 at Tiruppalatturai, 125 of 1924 at Tirthanagiri and 511 of 1905 at Kannanur ).
The Pandiya KingThiribhuvana Chakravarthy Konerimaikondan Vira Pandya Deva records the gift of Land by the king. Parakirama Pandya's period inscription records the gift of Lands.
Vikrama Pandya's 4th reign year inscription records the gift of Land by the king to this temple.
The Pandya King Sundara Pandya deva records that King granted land to provide for worship on the day of "Ellandalaiyana Perumal "
Ellandalaiyana perumal's inscriptions mention the gift of Lands to this temple.
As
per the inscription the mukha mandapa was called as “Abanga Puththarayan Thirumandapam”
It
is believed that Pancha Pandavas, during their 14 years of exile, came to this
place and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.
Devotees
worship Lord Shiva, for Child boon, to get relief from fear, accidents,
mishappenings, etc,.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS:
There
is no fixed time for opening and closing. Hence readers are advised to confirm their
visit with Gurukkal. Since the temple is under renovation by the ASI, outside
can be seen during the daytime.
CONTACT
DETAILS:
The
Gurukkal Mohana Sundaram may be contacted on his mobile 9442774505 for further
details.
HOW
TO REACH:
The
temple is about 2 KM off from the GST Road.
The
place Sendhamangalam/ Senthamangalam is on the Chennai to Trichy GST road.
Senthamangalam
is about 13.8 KM from Ulundurpet, 26 KM from Villupuram and 195 KM from
Chennai.
Nearest
Railway station is Ulundurpet.
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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