The
visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Alathur on Old Mamallapuram /
Mahabalipuram Road was a part of Pallava & Chozha period Shiva and Vishnu
Temples and Heritage site Visits at Payyanur, Alathur and Siruthavur of Chengalpattu District on 17th October 2021.
This
temple is believed to be one of the Thevara Vaippu Sthalam sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal. It is believed
that this is one of the 108 Shiva Lingas installed by Sage Agasthiyar in Thondai Nadu and a Thevara
Vaippu Sthalam. Thirunavukkarau Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva
of Agatheechuram along with Nandhikechuram, Mahalaechuram, Nagechuram,
Kodeechuram, Kondeechuram, Kukkudechuram, Akkeechuram, Adakechuram,
Ayaneechuram Aththeechuram, Siddheechuram and Ramechuram.
நாடகமா டிடநந்தி கேச்சுரமா
காளேச்
சுரநாகேச் சுரநாக
ளேச்சுரநன் கான
கோடீச் சுரங் கொண்டீச்
சுரந்திண் டீச்
சுரங்
குக்குடேச் சுரமகத்தீச்
சுரங்கூறுங்கால்
ஆடகேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரமய
னீச்சுர
மத்தீக்சுரஞ் சித்தீக்சுர
மந்தண் கானல்
ஈடுதிரை யிராமேசசுர மென்றென்
றேத்தி
யிறைவனுறை சுரம்பலவு
மியம்பு வோமே.
Moolavar : Sri AgastheeswararConsort : Sri Akilandeswari
Some
of the Salient features of this temple are…. The
temple faces east with a big temple tank. There is no parivara sannidhis.
There are no koshta images in the niches. The temple compound wall also bears a
dilapidated look. Ambal Sri Akilandeswari’s shrine is on the right side of the
temple facing South.
ARCHITECTUREThe
temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala and Ardha mandapam. A 2-tier
stucco Vesara vimanam is on the sanction sanctorum. Stucco sculptures are
beautiful and cute.
The original entrance structure had fallen down. The Complete compound wall is
dilapidated condition.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONSAs
per the construction of the temple with granite, it is believed that the temple may belong to the 17th to 18th Century.
As
per the temples of Kanchipuram census, the temple occupies 5 cents of land and
the temple owns 4.65.5 hectares of land (the present condition is not known), The temple’s tank is in-front. The Villagers used to take baths and wash
their clothes in this tank only.
LEGENDIt
is believed that Agasthiyar on the way to Podhigai hill from Mount Kailash,
installed Shiva Linga and worshiped at many places and this is one of them.
Hence Lord Shiva is called Agastheeswarar.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONSApart
from one kala Pooja being done by a hereditary Gurukal, Soorasamharam is
celebrated in a grand manner during the month of Masi, on the same day as
Thiruporur Kandaswamy Temple’s Soorasamharam celebrations. It was said that
during earlier days Utsavar Sri Muthukumara Swamy of Thiruporur visited this
place on Soorasamharam days. In memory of that, the Soorasamharam is celebrated
every year.
HOW TO REACHThe
temple at Alathur is about 300 meters off from the Chennai to Mamallapuram (
OMR ) road. Alathur
is about 5 KM from Thiruporur, 13 KM from Mamallapuram, 29.3 KM from Chengalpattu,
38 KM from Tambaram, and 46 KM from Chennai. Nearest
Railway Station is Chengalpattu.
LOCATION OF
THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Ambal Sannidhi---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
This
temple is believed to be one of the Thevara Vaippu Sthalam sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal. It is believed
that this is one of the 108 Shiva Lingas installed by Sage Agasthiyar in Thondai Nadu and a Thevara
Vaippu Sthalam. Thirunavukkarau Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva
of Agatheechuram along with Nandhikechuram, Mahalaechuram, Nagechuram,
Kodeechuram, Kondeechuram, Kukkudechuram, Akkeechuram, Adakechuram,
Ayaneechuram Aththeechuram, Siddheechuram and Ramechuram.
நாடகமா டிடநந்தி கேச்சுரமா
காளேச்
சுரநாகேச் சுரநாக
ளேச்சுரநன் கான
கோடீச் சுரங் கொண்டீச்
சுரந்திண் டீச்
சுரங்
குக்குடேச் சுரமகத்தீச்
சுரங்கூறுங்கால்
ஆடகேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரமய
னீச்சுர
மத்தீக்சுரஞ் சித்தீக்சுர
மந்தண் கானல்
ஈடுதிரை யிராமேசசுர மென்றென்
றேத்தி
யிறைவனுறை சுரம்பலவு
மியம்பு வோமே.
….. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் ( 6-71-8 )
Ambal Sannidhi
No comments:
Post a Comment