Sri Chandramouleeswarar Temple / இருங்கல் சிவன் கோவில், Shiva Temple, Irungal, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Shiva Temple at Irungal was part of a Heritage Visit to the Temples, Thavvai, Kotravai, Durgai, and  Hero Stone sculptures around Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai District on 22^nd August 2021. Thanks to Logesh for his guidance, Babu Mano, Manoj, and Logesh of Cheyyar, for taking me to this place. 

Moolavar  : Sri Chandramouleeswarar

Consort    : Sri Anandavalli 

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The original temple faces east on a small kundru or heap of debris. The temple is in dilapidated condition. The roof slabs pothyals, pillars, and balipeedam are strewn around. The original temple was built with simple pada bandha adhisthana with three patta kumuda. The sanctum sanctorum was built with bricks.

With the effort of Udhayakumar, Two Shiva Lingas and balipeedas are salvaged from the debris and installed under a metacolour sheet shed. Since the original Rishabam's / Idabam's head was broken, a new Idabam was made and installed.  Both Shiva Lingas are swayambhu on a round avudayar of which one is shorter and the other is Taller.

HISTORY

Since there are no inscriptions found, based on the structure of the temple, this temple maybe 400 to 600 years old. As per the experts, it is believed that the temple might have been constructed by Sambuvaraya Kings, about 600 years before. As per the Purana, this place was called Iringalai and the same was corrupted to the present name of Irungal. 

Due to the negligence of local people, the temple has become dilapidated. A metacolour sheet shed was constructed in front of the dilapidated temple, and the two Shiva Lingas were moved and installed on 15th August 2018. Efforts are on to conduct regular poojas and pradoshams and Maha Shivaratri. A new Amman idol was sculptured and planned to be installed on 24th August 2022.  

The Caretaker Mr Udhaya Kumar of this temple had prepared a video of this temple based on the present structures and the remains.

LEGENDS

Chandran’s image as a bas-relief was carved on a flat stone slab salvaged from the debris and installed inside the makeshift Temple.  As per the Sri Vedhapureeswarar Temple of Thoruvothur near Cheyyar, sthala purana it is believed that the Shiva Linga was installed and worshiped by Chandra.

சீதமதி இப்பரிசு சிறந்துயர் நல்வரம்பெற்று

வேதமணி நகர்க்குத்தென் மேற்றிசையில் எய்தியவன்

தீதறுமோர் சிவலிங்கப் பிரதிட்டை செய்து அமிர்தால்

ஏதம்றும் பூசனை செய்து இன்புற்றான் எனவுரைத்தான்

In another legend, Chandra worshiped Sri Vedhapureeswarar at, Thiruvothur near Cheyyar on the banks of river Cheyyar, to get rid of the sin caused due to the sexual affairs he had with another deva's wife. Satisfied with Chandra's worship Shiva and Parvati appeared in the form of Rishabaroodar and blessed him as the head of all Nakshatras. After getting the boon Chandra came to this place Irungalai (later it was corrupted to the present name of Irungal) on the southwest of Vedapureeswarar Temple. He established a Shiva Linga and worshiped with Devamirtha. As per Vedapureeswarar Temple's sthala purana, Suthapuranigar has told this legend to Naimisaranya munis.    

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala pooja special poojas are conducted on pradosam (100th pradosam is planned on 24th August 2022), Maha Shivaratri, etc.

As per FaceBook, with the effort of Mr Udhaya Kumar, 75 pradoshams were conducted, after the Shiva Lingas were salvaged. All the functions are conducted with the help of Sivanadiyars from Various parts of Tamil Nadu.

Readers are requested to participate in this temple’s poojas and bring back this temple to its old glory.

Old balipeedam

Old Damaged Idabam / Rishabam

CONTACT DETAILS

Mr Udhayakumar may be contacted on his mobile number +91 95000 24143 for further details.

A Facebook page on this Village and the Temple is also maintained by him.

HOW TO REACH

This place Irungal is 7.2 KM from Cheyyar, 38 KM from Kanchipuram, 66 KM from Chengalpattu, 70 KM from Arakkonam 75 KM from Thiruvannamalai ( District Head quarters ), and 113 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Kanchipuram and Junction Arakkonam or Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:  CLICK HERE

Invitation for the 100th pradosam and Kumbhabhishekam 

A Link to the Video: On one of the pradosam day 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---