Tirumoolanathar Temple / Thirumoolanathar Temple /Eeshwaran Temple / அருள்மிகு திருமூலநாதர் கோயில் / திருமூலஸ்தானமுடைய மகாதேவர், பேரங்கியூர், Perangiyur, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Tirumoolanathar Shiva Temple, at Perangiyur, was a part of the Viluppuram Heritage Walk organized by History Trails, scheduled on 24^th and 25^th July 2021. This place was called Perangur and is now called Perangiyur. This temple is tiny without a Vimana. The Temple is approximately 500 meters off the Chennai–Trichy National Highway.

Moolavar: Sri Tirumoolanathar

Consort: Sri Abirami

Some of the salient features of this temple are...

The temple faces east with a Nandi on a pedestal. Moolavar is in the sanctum sanctorum along with Ambal Abirami in a standing posture, facing south. Vinayagar and Arumugar are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Durga.

In praharam, Chandikeswarar, Jyeshta Devi, Saptamatrikas, Valampuri Vinayagar, Pradosha Lingam on a square avudayar with Nandi and Lakuleesar (in place of Chandikeswarar)

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistana with three patta kumuda.  Vishnukantha Pilasters support the sanctum walls. The pilasters have the kalasam, kumbam, palakai, etc, and the pothiyal are tharanga pothiyal. The vimana from adhistana to prastaram was built with stone. The prastaram is of Kapota style, and the bhuta ganas are in Valabi. Nandhi is also in the valabi along with bhuta ganas. On the kapota, nethra nasi koodu is in karnapathi.

Vinayagar… Vinayagar is in a sitting posture holding Man/antelope and mazhu in the upper hands, and lower hands are holding mothagam and broken tusk. Chowry /Whisk and Venkotrakudai are shown above Vinayagar’s head.  The head is turned towards the left side. If we watch Vinayagar’s eyes and move left to right, we can see the eyes of Vinayagar are also moving according to our movement.

Dakshinamurthy… Dakshinamurthy is sitting in sukhasana, keeping his left leg on the right leg. The upper hand is holding the Man-antilope, and the right hand is in the chin mudra, and the left hand is on the thigh. Dakshinamurthy is shown with Jadabara and wears a padra kundala. Kallala tree, Sanakatha Munivars, and Muyalagan are not shown.

Mahavishnu.. Mahavishnu is in a standing posture. The upper hand holds Shankha and Chakra, and the lower right hand is in abhaya hastam, and the left hand is holding a thandam/club, instead of the usual posture of kadi or ooru hastam.

Durga… Durga is standing on a lotus pedestal and not on Mahishan’s head. The upper hands are holding the Conch/Shankha and the chakra. The lower right hand is in abhaya hastam, and the left hand is in ooru hastam. Durga also wears ornaments and yagnopaveetha.

Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai…  Thavvai is shown with a big belly and thighs. Her crow flag and broomstick are shown on her back. Her son Mandhan and daughter Mandhi are shown on both Sides. Thavvai is resting her hands on her two attendants.

Chamundi… Of the Saptamatrikas, Chamundi has special features. Chamundi is with Jwala Muguda, wearing piretha kundala, kapala mala. She is holding Trishul in her lower right hand and sitting sukhasana posture and leaning on her left side.

Lakuleesar…. This is in place of Chandikeswarar. Lakuleesar is in a sitting posture. He holds a dhandam with a snake coiling around. 

In the Saptamatrikas group, Indrari is in broken condition above the hip. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the Historians and iconography of the sculptures, the temple may have been constructed during the Pallava period and later reconstructed by the Chozhas. The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Parantaka-I, Aditha Karikala, Rajarajan-I, Rajendran, Rajathirajan, and Kulothunga Chozha. This place was called Perangur, a Brahmadeya Village gifted to Andhanars. Lord Shiva was called “Thirumoolasthanamudaya Mahadevar”, “Moolasthanathu Perumanadigal”, and “Moolasthanathu Paramaswami”, and the temple was called “Thirumulasthanamudayar Koil”.  

Uttama Chozha’s 3^rd reign year inscription records the endowment of feeding to 7 Bramanas at this temple by Rudra Divakaran of the village called Ettukkur. The same two plots of Land were purchased from the Village Sabha as Tax-free land and entrusted to the Sabha.

Uttama Chozha’s 3^rd reign year inscription records the endowment of offering to “Thirumulattamudaya  Perumanadigal”. The same three pieces of land at Urar of Palur were gifted tax-free by one Appimadevan of Parakkovur in Peringur Nadu.

Parantaka-I’s 17^th reign year incomplete inscription records the  sale of land to Nakkan Veera(Ga)ngan

Aditya Karikalan’s 5^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp to “Moolathana Perumanadigal” of Vadakarai Perangiyur by Nakkan’s son Ganaperumanalias Kulamanicka Mutharaiyan, for which 90 (..95..?) sheep/Goat were gifted. It was learned that the river flowing on the south side of this place during the Aditya Karikalan period, and later it might have changed its course.

Rajaraja-I’s  8^th reign year incomplete inscription starts with his title, records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp to “Moolasthanathu Paramaswami” for which 90 sheep/Goats are gifted by Kulatulan, who belongs to Kusapadi of Thirumunaipadi Mudiyur Nadu.

Rajaraja-I’s 4^th reign year inscription records the endowment of a burning perpetual Lamp by Pullalooran, for which Gold coins and Tax-free land were gifted.

Rajaraja-I’s 6^th reign year inscription records that two pieces of land were gifted to Ganapathi Nambi Aruran, who had done service in this temple by Perunguri Perumakkal (Sabha).

Rajaraja-I’s 11^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp at this temple for which Tax-free land was received by one of the Alunganathar Mudumbai Solaipiran Kiramavithan.

Rajaraja-I’s 12^th reign year inscription records that Rudraganaperumakkal, who manages the affairs of this temple, purchased land from a mandradi (shepherd)  for 5 Kalanju Gold.

Rajaraja-I’s 17^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Munayaman Thirumullaivayilan, for which 90 saava moova peradu was gifted.

Rajaraja-I’s 22^nd reign year inscription records the endowment of burning perpetual lamp in the sanctum and twilight lamps in front of  Vinayagar by Orali Thali Nakkan, a shepherd 

Rajaraja-I’s 24^th reign year inscription records that the Village sabha and the Senapathi (commander) assembled at this temple on Saturday, (not Wednesday) 06^th November 1008. (Probably to transact some business)

Rajaraja-I’s 28^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Neelichani, wife of a member of the Alunganam of this village, and a farmer, Kudipalli Annavan Vanapuli, for the same 90 sheep were gifted. Further, the inscription records that Sirunangai, the wife of Kayilathadiga, also gave a gift to burn the Sandhi Lamp.

Rajendra Chozha-I’s 1^st reign year inscription is very damaged and starts with his meikeerthi/title.

Rajendra Chozha-I’s 3^rd reign year inscription records the gift of land to this temple by Uyypiran Battan.

Rajendra Chozha-I’s 2^nd reign year inscription records a gift of Tax-free land, after purchase from the Sabha of this Village, a Brahmadeya, in Parangiyur Nadu of Thirumunaipadi Nadu, a division of Jayangonda Chozhamandalam, Commander Rajendra Chozha Brahmaraya’s cavalryman (குதிரை சேவகன்).

Rajathi Rajan period inscription records that this Village, Bhutaganaperuman, and his son Kanaperumanthevan Kandan gave a gift of 90 sheep to burn a perpetual lamp and purchase tax-free land from the sabha.

Kulothunga Chozha-I’s 33^rd reign year inscription records the endowment of land gifted to this temple by Kuppai Sadayan alias Karunakara Kon from Jananatha Chaturvedi Mangalam (Villupuram area).

Kulothunga Chozha-I’s other inscription records a gift of 150 Kuli land to Adhi Chandeswarar and Vinayagar by Nellangai Parthasarathy Battan.

Kannaradevan's incomplete inscription records his mei keerthi as... "who kanchi and Thanjai... ".

The last Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in the year 1972.

Ref:

1. South Indian Inscriptions Volume XIX (19).

2. Annual Report on South Indian Inscriptions, (ARE 1906).

3. https://www.tnarch.gov.in/Tirumoolanathar

An 11-foot length scale is marked on the back side of the temple. As per the experts, this was used to measure the lands of this Village.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Devotees worship Lord Shiva of this temple to get relief from Chronic diseases (cancer), Child boon (after doing sandal paste kappu), Marriage boon, etc.

It is believed that Suriyan worships Lord Shiva of this temple on Panguni 3^rd to 6^th through the sun rays, falling on the moolavar. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala pooja, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Sankatahara Chaturthi, Karthigai, Pournami, Amavasya, Sashti, and Thiruvathirai.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since one Kala Pooja is conducted, Devotees are advised to confirm with Mr Rajendran before going to the temple.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mr Rajendran has been taking care of this temple since 2010 and may be contacted on his mobile at +91 9655558386 and +91 9626865391 for further details.

https://www.tnarch.gov.in/Tirumoolanathar

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 500 meters off the Chennai – Trichy National Highway and on the South side of the Thenpennai River at Perangiyur.

The place Perangiyur is 9.6 km from Viluppuram, 28 km from Ulundurpet, 50 km from Puducherry, 75 km from Virudhachalam, and 175 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Station is Viluppuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---