The visit to this Sri Chamundeeswari
Amman temple, at Perangiyur was a part of the Villupuram Heritage Walk organized by
History Trails scheduled on 24th and 25th July 2021. This
temple is just before Sri Thirumoolanathar Temple.
Suduman sculptures / Terracotta sculptures
Main Deity: Sri Chamundeeswari
Some of the salient features of this
temple are…The temple faces east with a Simhavaha in front. This temple is dedicated to Chamundeeswari, one of the
Saptamatrikas Group. The Vinayagar and other Saptamatrikas ( 6 ) are installed
on both sides of Chamundeeswari in the sanctum sanctorum.
In between Sanctum sanctorum two
pairs of Male and female Terracotta (suduman – சுடுமண்) sculptures are kept and in worshiped. It was
said that the bigger pair was obtained from the Thenpennai River / washed ashore and the smaller
pair, made by a local artisan, was similar to the big one.
In the bigger terracotta Male and female
sculptures are in sitting posture with protruding eyes, and big bellies and wear
kundala ( predha ..?). The Male holds a bowl in her left hand and a thandam in
her right hand. The antiquity of the terracotta sculptures are not known.
In the mukha mandapa, Sculptures of
Kotravai with 8 hands, holding various weapons & Standing on a buffalo’s head, A Karaikal Ammaiyar-like sculpture (with elongated earlobes, hanging breasts,
skeleton body, and Pallava style headgear), a headless Ayyanar and Lord Shiva
(Chandra’s relief on the maguta.
ARCHITECTUREThe sanctum sanctorum consists of
sanctum, artha mandapam, and Mukha mandapam. The antiquity of the temple is not
known. Stucco bas reliefs of Vinayagar, Lord Shiva, Murugan, Ardhanareeswarar, and Ashtadikpalakas are on the wall of the temple.
A Two tier Vesara Vimana is over the
sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Spatamarikas and Vimanamthangis are on the
Vimana. Amman’s various avatar stucco sculptures are on the Mukha mandapa
parapet walls.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSConsidering the iconography of the
sculptures, Experts believe that, the original might have existed before the Chozha period. The original temple might
have been reconstructed in recent years.
TEMPLE TIMINGSSince oru kala pooja is conducted,
the opening and closing times are unpredictable. CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACHThe temple is about 500 meters off
Chennai – Trichy National Highway and the South side of the Thenpennai River at
Perangiyur.The Place Perangiyur is 9.6 KM from
Villupuram, 28 KM from Ulundurpet, 50 KM from Puducherry, 75 KM from
Virudhachalam, and 175 KM from Chennai. Nearest Railway Station is
Villupuram.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Avvaiyar Like sculpture
Kotravai
Believed to be Lord Shiva
Headless Ayyanar on the right
A Pair of Suduman sculptures washed ashore from the river flood
A Replica of the above sculptures made by the local artisan 
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
In the mukha mandapa, Sculptures of
Kotravai with 8 hands, holding various weapons & Standing on a buffalo’s head, A Karaikal Ammaiyar-like sculpture (with elongated earlobes, hanging breasts,
skeleton body, and Pallava style headgear), a headless Ayyanar and Lord Shiva
(Chandra’s relief on the maguta.
Avvaiyar Like sculpture
Kotravai
Believed to be Lord Shiva
Headless Ayyanar on the right
A Pair of Suduman sculptures washed ashore from the river flood
A Replica of the above sculptures made by the local artisan
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