The
visit to this Sri Swarnapureeswarar 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 for traveling along with me on this Heritage Visit.
Moolavar : Sri Swarnapureeswarar Consort : Sri Anandavalli
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….The
temple faces east with an entrance on the south side. The Temple tank is in
front of the temple. The entrance to the main sanctum sanctorum is very similar to Thiruvanaikoil and is from the east side through a Mukha mandapam and Maha
mandapam. Dwarapalakas Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of mukha
mandapam. Moolavar is of swayambhu. Balipeedam, Kodimaram, and Rishabam are in
front of the Temple. Narthana Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, and Durgai are in
the Koshtam.
In
prakaram Vinayagar, Nalvar, Sri Ramanatheswarar, Kasi Viswanathar with their
consorts, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Bairavar , Ashta Siddhi Vinayagar, a
Shiva Linga with Nagar, Chandikeswarar and
Navagrahas. Sri Anandavalli is in a separate sannidhi facing east with
Sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. Nagars are at the
entrance of Mukha mandapam like Dwarapalakas.
ARCHITECTUREThe
main temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. Maha
mandapam and a Mukha mandapam. A Munivar
and Solar / Lunar Eclipse bas-reliefs are on the mandapam wall. The Mukha
mandapam pillars have the bas-reliefs of the Donor in Anjali hasta and Ambal worshiping
Lord Shiva.
The
Vimana is with adhistanam, Bhitti / wall, Prastaram, Greevam, Sigaram and
Stupi. The adhitana is a very simple padabandha adhisthana with threepatta
Kumuda. The Wall starts with Vedika and is supported by Brahma Kandha
pilasters. The Pilasters have a square base with naga bandha, Kalasam, Thadi,
Kumbha, mandi (lotus petals), Palagai, Veerakandam, and Pothyal. The Prastaram
consists of Utharam, valabi, kapotam, and Viyyalavari but is not in Bhumi Desam. The
temple from Adhisthana to prastaram was constructed with Stone. A two-tier stucco
nagara vimanam is on the sanctum Sanctorum.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONSEven
though this temple is believed to be more than 300 to 400 years old may be from the Vijayanagara Nayakar period, ie 16th to 17th Century, and was reconstructed about 50 years ago.
The
16th to 17th Century inscriptions, inscribed on the North,
west, and south walls record the order
of Narasingaraya Udayar to the old and new residents of this Devadhana
Madavilagam lands of Alaga Perumal Nainar, Kurumpirai Nainar and Sonna Vannam Seitha Nainar fixing the taxes to be paid upon
their looms for worship in and repairs
to the temple. Refers to the previous
order of the Mallu Irasar.
As
per the HR & CE Department’s records, the temple spreads over 0.90 cents.
The temple has 1.75 acres of wet and 0.64 acres of dry land. The Annual income
from Fasli is 1402 Rs 16958.00, For Fasli
1403 Rs 21311, and for Fasli 1404 Rs 26771.00.
The temple is being maintained by the Hereditary Trustees.
LEGENDSIt
is believed that Lord Shiva and Parvati are worshiped to remove marriage
obstacles, Child boon, Wealth ( Swarnam ), etc.
As
per the legend the asuras Sumbha and Nisumbha did penance on Brahma for
immortality. Satisfied with their penance Brahma appeared before them and asked
what they wanted. Both asked a boon of not being killed by anybody except the
Virgin God of Ma Parvati / Uma. Brahma gave a boon as per their wishes. After
obtaining the Boon, they started terrorizing the Devas. To their request to
save them from the two asuras, Lord Shiva asked Uma to take care of their
request. Ma took the form of Kali, black in Color, and came to earth. Ma made a
Shiva Linga and worshiped before Killing the Asuras. After Killing them She
again did a penance on Lord Shiva to return back to her original form. Finally, Lord Shiva appeared and blessed her and changed from black to Golden color/Swarnam. Hence Lord Shiva is called Swarnapureeswarar.
In
another legend, Lakshmi has got proud of her own skin Colour and started
behaving arrogant with Maha Vishnu. So he got angry and cursed her. To get rid
of the Curse Maha Lakshmi came to this place, created a pond, and worshiped Lord
Shiva with Lotus flowers. Satisfied with her penance Lord Shiva changed her
back to her original Golden colour.
Hence Lord Shiva is called Swarnapureeswarar.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONSApart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosam, Maha
Shivaratri, Chithirai Kiruthigai, Vaikasi Kiruthigai and Visakam, Aani, Aadi,
Avani, Puratasi and Aippasi Karthigai,
Aippasi Annabhishekam, Margazhi Kiruthigai, Arudra Darshan, Thai, Masi, Panguni
Krithigai, Kiruthigai and Uthiram.
CONTACT
DETAILSRama
Gurumoorthy Gurukkal’s mobile numbers +91 9442145315 and +919750945315 may be
contacted for further details.
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
Bhairavar and The Sthala Purana in which Ambal worshiping Lord Shiva to get back her own Swarna Colour
Donor of mukha mandapam
Rishabam and Balipeedam in front of a Veerabhadra temple, near this Shiva temple---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
Bhairavar and The Sthala Purana in which Ambal worshiping Lord Shiva to get back her own Swarna Colour
Donor of mukha mandapam
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