Sokatamman Temple /Sokkathamman Temple / Sokkamman Temple / சொக்காத்தம்மன் கோவில், சாலவாக்கம் / Salavakkam, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

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 Heritage Visit to Salavakkam, Porpandal and Peranakkavur, Shiva Temples, Pallava period Inscriptions and Heritage Sites on 15^th October 2021. Thanks to Kesavan for his help and travelling along with me in this heritage Visit.

Moolavar  : Sri Sokkathamman  

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing 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 sitting posture. In koshtam Shiva Durga, Vaishnavi and Maheswari.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of 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 INSCRIPTIONS

This place was once called as Salai ma Nagar, which has got corrupted to the present name Salavakkam. The original temple believed to be more than 1000 years old. ( May be open to sky of 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 a 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 ) is 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 ARE report there was an inscription slab ( whether this 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.

May be a Donation gifted to a Shiva temple and Inscription may be at the bottom

CONTACT DETAILS

The key to the mukha mandapam is available with the north side house  owner, who does the frame work.

HOW TO REACH

The 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 ---