The
visit to this Village deity and an Ellai kaval Deivam Sri Sokatamman or
Sokkamman Temple at Salavakkam of Uthiramerur Taluk in Kanchipuram District was a part of the Heritage Visit to Salavakkam, Porpandal and Peranakkavur, Shiva
Temples, Pallava period Inscriptions and Heritage Sites on 15th
October 2021. Thanks to Kesavan for his help and traveling along with me in this heritage Visit.
Moolavar : Sri Sokkathamman
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….The
temple faces east with a spacious ground in front. Vinayagar and Nagars are
under a peepal tree. Thirisoolam / Trishul, Balipeedam, Simham, a Rishaba’s
bas-relief stone and Vinayagar are in the mukha mandapam. Stucco Dwarapalakis
are at the entrance of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Amman is in a sitting posture. In
koshtam Shiva Durga, Vaishnavi, and Maheswari.
ARCHITECTUREThe
temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum and a Mukha mandapam. The adhisthana is of village-style
construction and a two-tier square Gopura with three kalasas is on the sanctum
sanctorum. Stucco images of Varahi,
Vaishnavi, Kaumari, and Chamundi are on the Gopuram. A Stucco image of Sokkathamman
sitting on a Lion is on the top of the Mukha mandapam.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONSThis
place was once called Salai ma Nagar, which has been corrupted to the present
name Salavakkam. The original temple is believed to be more than 1000 years old. (
May be open to the sky or under a tree ). Sri Sokatamman is a Kalaval / guarding
deity of this Village. A temple was constructed in the year 1610 CE, by an
ardent devotee Thiru Kongappa Nayakar of this Village. Retaining the pillars
the temple was reconstructed during the recent years with a mukha mandapam in
concrete.
A
Rishabam bas-relief is in the mukha mandapam, which signifies an Ellai or the
periphery limit of land donated to a Shiva Temple. The bottom portion might
have inscriptions. Since it is buried under the ground, further details are not
known.
There
is an inscription stone ( inscribed on all 4 sides ) erected on the south
side of the sanctum sanctorum. This was
erected for the gift of land and further details are not known.
As
per the ARE report, there was an inscription slab ( whether this is the above stone or
not known ) found near this temple. As
per the inscription Sitrapuram Village was gifted to the Prasanna Venkatesa
Perumal Temple of this village towards
offerings and worship by Chinnarayar son of Adaippam Chinna Venkattapa
Nayakar of an officer of the King.
Maybe a Donation gifted to a Shiva temple and an Inscription may be at the bottomCONTACT
DETAILSThe
key to the Mukha mandapam is available with the north side house owner, who does the framework.
HOW TO REACHThe
temple is about 300 meters Salavakkam bus stand, 6.00 KM from Salavakkam Koot
Road, 16.6 KM from Chengalpattu Railway station, 19 KM from Uthiramerur, 45 KM
from Tambaram, and 76 KM from Chennai.Nearest
Railway station is Chengalpattu.
LOCATION OF
THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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