The
visit to this Sri Abaya Varadharaja Perumal Temple at Kaveripakkam was a part
of the Shiva and Vishnu Temples and Heritage sites at Thirumalaicherry, Gudimallur, and
Kaveripakkam. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr Ramesh Krishnamurthy for taking me to all these places. This temple is also called Kottai Perumal Temple since this
is inside a fort, and the street in front of the temple is also called Kottai Perumal Koil Theru.
Moolavar : Sri Abhaya Varadaraja PerumalConsorts : Sridevi and Bhudevi
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…. The
temple faces east with an entrance arch. A 16-pillar mandapam is on the
left side of the temple. Stone images of Ramar with stucco images of Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman
are in a mandapam in front of the temple (It was said that the Ramar idol was unearthed in 2012, during excavation for the construction of the madapalli and marriage dining hall). Garudan is in the mukha mandapam.
Paintings of Maha Vishnu as Lakshmi Narasimhar and Alwars are on the
mukha mandapam walls. The Thirupallithama platform is also in the mandapam.
Stucco
images of Sri Varadharaja Perumal with
Sridevi and Bhudevi, Maha Vishnu’s dasavatara images are on the top of the
mukha mandapam. Moolavar Sri Abhaya Varadharaja Perumal is in a standing posture
with 4 hands. The upper hands are holding the Shankha and Chakra, and the lower hands are in abhaya hastam and kadi hastam. Sridevi
and Bhudevi are on both sides. Utsavars are in front of Moolavar.
ARCHITECTUREThe
temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam, Maha mandapam, and mukha
mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a Pratibandha adhisthana with padma
jagathy, vrutha kumuda, and viyyalavari. The bhitti starts with vedikai. From
adhistana to prastaram, constructed with stone. A stucco vimana is on the
prastaram. The stucco images are in the greeva koshtam. The sikaram is of
vesara style with 4 maha nasis and 4 alpha nasis.
The 16
Pillar mandapa was constructed during the Vijayanagara period. The pillar images
are in Vijayanagara style with images of Vishnu’s various avatars, Hanuman,
flower motifs, etc.
The
mukha mandapam pillars are not uniform; some are square and octagonal, and some are
in the vrutha style with pothyals being vettu and flower type. The inner prahara was
constructed at a later stage. In that, a dismantled/dilapidated temple’s
stones with inscriptions, Makara thorana, etc., which are in
green stone.
The Sthalapurana of Kanchipuram Sri Ekambareswarar Temple.
Since the praharam wall was constructed like a fort wall, this temple might have obtained the name of Kottai Perumal Koil (Another version with Google map is given at the bottom)
These Sculptures might have been brought from some temple
16 Pillar mandapam
Thirupallithaama medai - திருபள்ளிதாம மேடை - இறைவனுக்கு சூட்டும் மாலை கட்டும் மேடை
A Green stone Jala -பச்சைக்கல் ஜன்னல்
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONSThe present temple/structure belongs to the 16th to 17th century and may have been reconstructed during the Vijayanagara period. The original temple belongs to the Pallava period. As per historians, this place was called Avani Chathurvedimangalam, Kavithapakkam, etc.
The
Pallava King Nrupatungavarman inscription (SII Volume XII) (894 CE) records a transaction of the sabha of
Kavidippakka[m] alias Avaninarayana-caturvédimangalam, in respect of some gold
received from a donor obviously for a daily supply of one ulakku of oil to the
Sattapperumakkal of a matha, with the stipulation that the administrator of the
village (ur-dlvan) himself shall be responsible for the supply of oil as
specified.
The Pallava King Nrupatungavarman
inscription (SII Volume XII) (879 -88
CE) mentions
the sabha of Videélvidugu in Mangadunadu, a sub-division of Paduvar-Kottom.”
(seems to record a gift by) Anganaccanyai Vasantayajiyar, one of the alunganattar
of Kavidippa{kkam] alias Avaninarayana-ccaturvedimangalam in the same kottam.
The prahara wall was constructed with a Makara torana in which Ambal embraces and worships a Shiva linga (the
sthala purana of Kanchipuram, Sri Ekambareswarar Temple), bas-relief, pilasters with inscriptions, stones with 10th to 11th-century inscriptions, Shiva temple sculptures like Bhuta Ganas, etc.
The mukha mandapa was constructed with odd pillars and walls with Chozha period inscription stones. One of the inscriptions records this place as
Kaviripakkam. This indicates that these stones and some of the pillars are sourced from a Shiva temple,
from which the Shiva temple is not
known. Some of the experts believe that these Makara torana, stones with Chozha period inscriptions, may belong to Sri Konganeeswarar Shiva Temple (the original temple belongs to the Chozha period, considering the Dwarapalakas and Maha Vishnu sculptures), which was reconstructed during the Vijayanagara period.
It is believed that the temple belongs to many places under various survey numbers in and around Kaveripakkam. The lands are gifted to this temple by various donors for prayers, worship, naivedyam, nandavanam, etc. These lands are encroached by 94 Encroachers. Of that, lands under litigation were listed under the WP No 18627 of 2012, in the Madras High Court...
Ref:South Indian Inscriptions Volume - XII
Maha samprokshanam was conducted in 2012 after some renovations were carried out.
The Kaveripakkam inscription
These Sculptures might have been brought from some temple
The
Pallava King Nrupatungavarman inscription (SII Volume XII) (894 CE) records a transaction of the sabha of
Kavidippakka[m] alias Avaninarayana-caturvédimangalam, in respect of some gold
received from a donor obviously for a daily supply of one ulakku of oil to the
Sattapperumakkal of a matha, with the stipulation that the administrator of the
village (ur-dlvan) himself shall be responsible for the supply of oil as
specified.
The Pallava King Nrupatungavarman
inscription (SII Volume XII) (879 -88
CE) mentions
the sabha of Videélvidugu in Mangadunadu, a sub-division of Paduvar-Kottom.”
(seems to record a gift by) Anganaccanyai Vasantayajiyar, one of the alunganattar
of Kavidippa{kkam] alias Avaninarayana-ccaturvedimangalam in the same kottam.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONSApart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikunta Ekadasi, Rama
Navami, Krishna Jayanthi, Kalyana Utsavam, Pavithrotsavam, Purattasi Saturday,
on all days of Margazhi month, etc.
TEMPLE TIMINGSThe
temple has to be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to
20.00 hrs. But these timings are not adhered to. Instead, the temple will be kept open between 17.30 hrs to 20.30 on Saturdays. CONTACT
DETAILS
HOW TO REACHThis
temple at Kaveripakkam is about a km from the Madras – Bombay trunk Road / Chennai
to Vellore Road / Mumbai Hwy.The
temple is about 10 km from Walaja Toll gate, 11.6 km from Walajahpet, 15 km from Sholinghur, 17.4 km from Arcot, 17 km from Ranipet, 38 km from Vellore, and
95 km from Chennai.The nearest
Railway Station is Sholinghur
LOCATION OF
THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Ramar was unearthed during excavation inside the temple - the other sculptures are stucco
This panel is on the ceiling just above Garudan- As per the experts, this may be a Vanika Kuzhu palette (வணிகக் குழு) or a Hero Stone. 
Thanks to Saravanan Raja
Thanks to Saravanan Raja
The above map indicates that the road goes to Sholingur and circles around this temple. Hence, it may be presumed that a fort might have existed, and the temple might have obtained the name as Kottai Perumal Koil. ---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
You seem to be doing extensive field work. since 11 years? or the blog was started in 2011 only? If you could give reference nos. to the inscriptions you find, it might help inscription students. If you have come across new / old merchant guild inscriptions like Ainnurruvar / Nanadesis / Valanjiyar etc. you may pl. advise me. I am in the process of completing a compilation of the 500var inscriptions.
ReplyDeleteI Used to get references mainly from the South Indian Inscriptions available with me in the form of soft copies. One or two may be from other sources like Tamil Nadu Koyil Sasanangal.. etc. I Will try to incorporate in future.
Delete