The
visit to this Agneeswarar Shiva temple was a part of the visit to the Temples and
heritage sites around Kanchipuram, scheduled on 10th July 2021. This
Shiva temple at Kalakattur is at the base of the bund of a lake called Putteri, also called “Chandramega Thadakam” during the Chozha period. Can be reached
either by two-wheelers or on foot on the lake bund. Paddy fields surround the three sides of the temple. Rare Herbal plants are grown
around the temple by the priest.
Moolavar : Sri Agneeswarar. Some
of the salient features of this temple are…The
temple faces east with a Rishabam, a balipeedam, and a Vinayagar Sannidhi. (The
original Rishabam is kept on the ground on the east side.) The east side wall has
a jala. Moolavar is of swayambhu and slim baanam. In koshtam Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Arthanareeswarar, Brahma, and Durgai. Chandikeswarar is in the
praharam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum
sanctorum.
ARCHITECTUREThe
temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum (4-meter square), antarala, artha
mandapam (5.5-meter square ), and a mukha mandapam with the Southside entrance.
There is no superstructure above prastaram. The Adhisthana is of simple Padabandha with three
patta kumuda.
The
south side entrance mandapa with steps was constructed at a later date. The
unique features and Iconographic details of the Koshta sculptures are…
Dwarapalakas…One
of the Dwarapalaka’s mazhu and hand are broken and is not similar. As per
historians, both might have been brought somewhere and installed.Vinayagar…
Vinayagar is in lalitasana sitting posture with Karanda Maguda. He holds
Angusa and akkamala. Vinayagar has a third eye on the forehead.
Dakshinamurthy…
Dakshinamurthy holds Akkamala and Jwala / Agni in the upper hands, one of
the lower hands holds palm leaves, and the other hand is in chin mudra and sitting in
Veerasana.
Arthanareeswarar….
Arthanareeswarar is in place of Lingothbavar / Maha Vishnu. Looks cute with
minute details. 
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONSConsidering
the Ardhanareeswara on the west side wall koshtam and iconography of the
sculptures, the Pidari Temple and Subramaniar Temple of the same Village
Kalakattur, S R Balasubramanian assigned this Agneeswarar temple to the period
of Aditya-I (870 to 907 CE) of early Chozhas. The earliest inscription
available in this temple belongs to Rajaraja-I ‘s (985 -1014 CE) 3rd
reign year inscription.
6
Inscriptions are recorded from this temple. Of these, two belong to Rajaraja-I, and two belong to Rajendran-I. As per the inscriptions, this place, Kalakattur, was called Jayankonda Chozha mandalathu Kaaliyur Kottathu Eri-Kil
Nattu (Thiruvekambathu Salabhokathu - This Village consists of lands gifted to Brahmin schools) Kalakattur. Lord Shiva was called Uruni Alwar.
The
Rajaraja-I’s 14th reign year (999 CE) inscription starts with his Meikeerthi, records the real name as Arumozhi Devan, and his Title as Mummudi
Chozhan. As per the inscription… Rajaraja-I instructed Vennaiputhurudayan Kadan
Mayinthan of the same Village to burn a lamp for Rasavukkellam NanRaka – ராசாவுக்கெல்லாம் நன்றாக (maybe small
regional kings) & Bhumikkellam NanRaka – பூமிக்கெல்லாம் நன்றாக (the people)
(for the well being of small regional Kings and the people), at Kaaliyur
Kottathu Eri- Kil Nattu Thiruvekambathu Salabhokathu Kalakattur Uruni Alwar.
But Vennaiputhurudayan Kadan Mayinthan burns two perpetual lamps (maybe one
for the King and the other for the people), for which Bhoomi/land of 1000 Kuzhi was
gifted to one perpetual lamp and Goats/sheep for the other perpetual lamp.
This inscription is an important one since it is an example of how the King
considers the well-being of the citizens of his Country.
"ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ
த(ண்)டேவிச் சாலைகலமறு த்துத் (தநிகைப்)பாடி
(தன்)தழைக்காடு கொண்டார் நுளம்பபாடியோடுமேயத் தன்கங்கன் வளநாடும்
வேங்கைநாடு மது கொண்டான் நித்தவிநோதநேரியநி (பவன்) அருமொழிதேவநேன்றேத்த மலர்த்தார்
ஸ்ரீமும்முடிசோழற்கு கோ ராஜராஜராஜகேசரி பன்மற்கு யாண்டு யச ஆவது
காலியூர்க்கோட்டத்தேரிகீழ் நாட்டுத் திருவேகம்பப்புறத்துச் சாலா போகக்
களக்காட்டூர் ஊருணியாழ்வார்க் கு இவ்வூர் வெண்ணைப்புத்தூருடையா ன் காடன்மயிந்தன்
இத்தேவர்க்கு (தின) மூன்றாவது இராசாவுக்கெல்லாம் நன்றாக பூமிக்கெல்லாம் நன்றாக ஒரு
விளக்கு வைய் என்றுடையார் அருளுச் செய்ய எம்பெருமான் அருளுச்செய்த தாகில் இரண்டு
விளக்கா வைக்கிறேன் என்று வைச்ச நுந்தா விளக்கிரண்டு ஒரு நுந்தா விளக்குக்கு
பூமியும் ஒரு நுந்தா விளக்குக்கு ஆடும் ஒரு நுந்தா விளக்குக் கு வைச்ச பூமியாவது
ஆயிரங்குழி....."
The
Rajaraja-I’s 17th reign year inscription is a fragmentary reference (ARE 118 of 1923) to the previous donors also and
records a gift made by Van Kolambattadigal of Kusappur in Puzhal Kottam of
Thondai Nadu.
The
two inscriptions of Rajendra Chozha belong to his 3rd reign year.
In one (ARE 120 of 1923), Kalakattur is said to be a Salabhoga of
Thiruvegambapuram in Eri-Kil Nadu. The other (ARE 122 of 1923) records the
gift of 5 cows for supplying curds / Curd rice Naivedyam to
the god Uruni Alwar of Kalakattur by the NallaRRur Madhyasthan (Official) of NallaRRur Nattu NallaRRur in Sengattu Kottam.
Ref: Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy, Year 1923
LEGEND:As
per the legend, there was an argument between Vayu, Varuna, and Agni. During
this process, Agni disappeared. Due to this, people’s daily activities were paralyzed,
Munis couldn’t do Yaga, and couldn’t prepare Naivedyam. To get relief, Munis
and Devas prayed to Lord Shiva. Pleased by the prayers, Lord Shiva appeared and
called Agni. Agni came with two faces, three legs, 4 horns, and 7 hands with
Jwala. Agni said that he was acting like this with Vayu and Varuna to get the
darshan of Lord Shiva. Agni worshiped Lord Shiva after creating a Shiva
Linga at the place where Lord Shiva gave darshan. Hence, Lord Shiva is called Sri Agneeswarar.
It
is believed that Suryan worships Lord Shiva at this temple. 3 days from April 2nd, the Sun's rays fall on Moolavar.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONSApart
from oru kal pooja, Maha Shivaratri is celebrated grandly.
TEMPLE TIMINGSOru
kala pooja is conducted by the priest Mr Rajendran, and Devotees are advised to
check with the priest before going to the temple.
CONTACT
DETAILSMr
Rajendram may be contacted on his mobile at +918825806065 for further details.
HOW TO REACHThe
temple is about 1.7 km from the Village of Kalakattur on the base of the tank
bund. Kalakattur
is 11.9 km from Kanchipuram, 22.7 km from Uthiramerur, 41 km from Chengalpattu, and 83 km from Chennai.The nearest Railway station is Kanchipuram.
LOCATION OF
THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Brahma
Dwarapalakas are in different postures
Chandramega thadakam
Herbal garden
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
The
Rajaraja-I’s 17th reign year inscription is a fragmentary reference (ARE 118 of 1923) to the previous donors also and
records a gift made by Van Kolambattadigal of Kusappur in Puzhal Kottam of
Thondai Nadu.
Brahma
Dwarapalakas are in different postures
Chandramega thadakam
Herbal garden
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