Abathsahayeswarar Temple / Sri Abathsagaeswar Temple, Senthamangalam / Sendhamangalam, Viluppuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Abathsahayeswarar temple, at Senthamangalam, was a part of the Viluppuram Heritage Walk organized by History Trails, scheduled on 24th and 25th July 2021.

The first visit to this Shiva temple was a part of temple visits in and around Villupuram. It was a two-day trip organized by Mr Manoj, aimed to cover 21nos of old, very old, and Historical temples, which include Thevaram Padal Petra Sthalangal and 108 Divya Desa Sthalangal, and we can cover 16 temples. Out of 16 Temples, I have covered 11 temples already, and they 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 the 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. Rishabam is in front of the 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 the artha mandapam and the 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 still be seen 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 from Thanjavur. At Thellaru near Vandavasi, Koperunsingan was attacked (1231 CE) and taken 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 the Hoysala King Viranarasimhan came with his army.

The inscriptions belonging to Kadava King  Koperunsingan (1229 – 1278 CE) and 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 Sakalabhuvana Chakravarti 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 Virapratapa Devaraya 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 was issued at Bezvada, while he was staying on the banks of Krishnaveni between Anantasay temple at Undavalli (Guntur Taluk) and Mallikarjuna Temple of Bezvada, remitting 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 King Thiribhuvana 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 the 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 “Abanga Puththarayan Thirumandapam”

LEGENDS  

It is believed that the Pancha Pandavas, during their 14 years of exile, came to this place and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

Devotees worship Lord Shiva for the 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, the 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 away 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.

The nearest Railway Station is Ulundurpet.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---