Sree Ponsolisvarar Kovil / ஶ்ரீ பொன்சோலிஸ்வரர் கோவில், பழங்கரை / Palangarai, Avinashi, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Ponsolisvarar Kovil, at Palangarai, was a part of a Heritage visit to the temples, heritage sites, and Hero stones from Vijayamangalam to Avinashi, on 07^th August 2021. This place was called “Palangaraya Nallur” during the Chozha period but is now called “Palangarai”.

Moolavar  : Sri Ponsolisvarar

Consort    : Sri Surumbar Poonguzhali

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a Deepa Sthambam. Nagars with Vinayagar is on the right side of the  Deepa Sthambam under the Peepal tree. An entrance mini gopura is after the Deepa Sthambam. Balipeedam and Nandi are after the entrance.  There are no images in the koshtams. Dakshinamurthy  and Durgai are installed at a later date.

In prakaram Suriyan, Chandran, Bhairavar, Nalvar, Navagrahas, Chandikeswarar, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Arumugar ( in a single stone with Thiruvasi ) and Pancha Lingas. Ambal is in a separate temple facing east. Sri Nithya Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal with Sridevi & Bhudevi sannidhi with Garudan, Madhvacharya and Ramanujar are in Ambal’s Mukha mandapam. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. The adhisthana is of simple pada bandha adhisthana with three patta kumuda. A single tier vesara vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum. Kumbha banjara is in the antarala niche.

The other parivara shrine vimanas are of Nagara style. Temple outside walls are built like Fort walls with bastions.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per Chozhas Poorva Pattayam, the Naga Kannikapuri and a fort were built by Cheraman Perumal, and the Chozha King near Thirumurugan Poondi and Nagadeva Mandradi was made to be in charge of the place, and Nalla Thambi Pillai as Kanakkar.  The Thirumurugan Poondi inscription also mentions that there was a fort with soldiers staying near Palangarai. To support this claim, we can still see the temple’s compound walls are built like fort walls. As per the Chozha Poorva Pattaya, Karikar Chozha and Cheraman Perumal constructed 7 big and 360 small Shiva Temples in the Kongu region in the year Kaliyugam 3556 ie 455 CE. However, the experts believe that the original temple might have been constructed in the 10^th century.  Later extended during the Vijayanagara period. The river called Agnima Nadhi/River was flowing on the back side of the temple during ancient times. Now it has shrunk to a canal and a check dam was constructed in recent years.

As per the inscriptions, this place was called “Palangarainallur” and Lord Shiva was called, “Sri Munthondreeswaramudayar” and the same was corrupted to the present name of “Sri Ponsolisvarar”. This place was in Vadaparisara Nadu, one of the 24 Nadus of Kongu mandalam.  Ambal shrine was built during the 13^th Century.

The Inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Chozha Kings Veera Rajendran, Vikrama Chozha, and Vijayanagara King Achchutharaya.

Veerarajendran’s 7^th reign year ( 1214 CE ) inscription records Merchant group ( வணிகமடியார் ) gave a gift of 48 kalam paddy and Veera Narayananallur Kurichi Villagers promised for offerings / Naivedyam to Lord Shiva Munthondreeswarar. This inscription mentions a place called Anaichupoondi.

Another Veera Rajendran’s 25^th reign year ( 1232 CE ) inscription records the endowment of special Naivedyam to Lord Shiva during the procession for which paddy was gifted by Kali of Avinashi, who belongs to Kailkolar sect / Clan. ( measurement mentioned as Pazhanchalagai ).

Veera Rajendran’s 7^th reign year (1214 CE ) inscription records that Munthondreeswara Udayar temple’s Bhattan – A Brahmin - was given liberty for land given to him as Archana Bhogam to use or to sell or mortgage or donate. The inscription is incomplete with a lot of mistakes.

The Vijayanagara King Achchutharayar’s period ( 1540 CE ) inscription records that during Achchutharayar’s official VaradhapaNNa Nayakar period, the people of Vadaparisara nadu and the Karai ( Palangarai ) Villagers gave a gift of Land to this temple. The inscription mentions Thulukkar – Muslims..? and the inscription is damaged in many places.  

During British rule, a British officer with his soldiers camped near the temple. On that night their tents were washed away by the flood in the river. The British officer prayed to Vinayagar to save them. To their prayer, the Vinayagar ordered the river to give way to them. As a part of Thanksgiving, the British officer ordered to pay Rs 2 / daily for poojas vide order no 3136 B.P.G.O No 1625 dated 25.11.1899. It was told that this is continued to date. This Vinayagar is near the river. ( to be verified..?)

LEGENDS

Devotees pray to Lord Shiva and Ambal for a Child boon, to remove marriage obstacles. It was told that a Parihara pooja will be conducted on all Pournami ( Full moon ) days  at Rs 2000 and it was told that marriages will be conducted before 90 days. Hope the Parihara pooja has to be conducted for Sri Nithya Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal, the same name as Thiruvidanthai Temple Perumal's name. In this place also Similar Poojas will be done for marriage boons. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pournami, Amavasai ( No moon days ), Kiruthigai, Sashti, Pradosham, Chaturthi, Sankatahara Chaturthi, Theipirai Ashtami, Ekadasi, Shivaratri, Maha Shivaratri, Karthigai Deepam,

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Gurukkal Prakash’s mobile number +919787592149 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on the Perundurai – Coimbatore road and Salem Kochi Highway. ( On the service road )

The temple is 5.2 KM from Avinashi, 14.8 KM from Tiruppur,  36 KM from Perundurai, 47 KM from Coimbatore, 57 KM from Erode, and 459 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Tiruppur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Sri Nithya Kalyana Srinivasa Perumal with Sridevi and Bhoodevi 

Alwars Madhvacharya, Ramanujar and Garuda

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---