Sri Thirupuranthakeswarar Temple /Sri Tripurantaka Eswarar Temple, Kuthambakkam, Thiruvallur District, Temple Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Thiruparanthakeswarar Temple at Kuthambakkam was a part of the Shiva, Maha Vishnu, and Amman Temples visit \, near Poonamallee & Aranvoyal in Thiruvallur District/Tiruvallur District on 05^th December 2021. Initially, it was planned to visit the Shiva temples of Nemam and Kuthambakkam, the other temples were added as an extension to the above temples and recommended by devotees of the temples and Sivachariyars.

Moolavar  : Sri Thirupuranthakaeswarar

Consort    : Sri Thirupura Sundari

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with an entrance from the South side. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the temple on the east side. A Jala is provided on the east side wall in front of  Rishabam. Moolavar is a little big. A Cow worshipping Lord Shiva is at the top of the sanctum entrance instead of Gajalakshmi. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In ardha mandapam and Rishabam. In Maha mandapam, Vinayagar, Bala Murugan, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Utsava murtis, Suriyan and Navagrahas.  

Ambal Sri Tripura Sundari is in a separate sannidhi in the maha mandapam facing South.

In praharam, Vinayagar, Chandikeswarar, unfinished two sculptures, two Shiva Lingas (Thiruvaiyaru Nayanar and Someschura Nayanar. The location of the Someschura Nayanar temple is not known), on a square avudayars under a cannonball  / Nagalinga tree with another Shiva Linga under the cover of a Nagar, 27 Nakshathra trees, Rishabam and balipeedam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple complex consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum was built on an upana and adhistanam. The adhistanam consists of jagathy, three patta kumuda, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The bhitti is divided into kostas by Vishnukantha pilasters. The pilasters consist of the square base, pillar, malai thongal, thamarai kattu, kalasam, kudam, mandi with lotus petals, palakai, veerakandam, and pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam and viyalavari. Lotus petals are in the valapi. There is no vimana over the sanctum sanctorum.

Bas-reliefs of Donors and Dancing Vinayagars are beautiful on both sides of Dakshinamurthy.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple was constructed during the Chozha King Veerendra (Kulothunga Chozha III). The same was reconstructed, and mukha mandapam was added during the Vijayanagara period. Later, during renovations, the old inscription stones were used in the east side wall and mandapa walls.

As per history, Mylapore was situated on the seashore and also served as a Port. The merchants Kupthars, also known as Arya vaishyas, stayed here. Usually, Pakkam is named for a place near the seashore. They used the Cooum River to transport goods by boat to the Port. To unload and upload the goods, “Thurai”/jetty/wharf was constructed on the banks of the Cooum River. The Cooum River, which passes through Thiruvallur, was diverted through a check dam / அரண், water was filled in the Kupthambakkam Lake (Now called Aranvoyal Lake), and the surplus water was diverted through the canal to the Chembarambakkam Lake during the Chozha period. A Jetty/wharf was constructed on the canal, where the canal passed through Kupthambakkam. The Thuraiyathamman Sametha Thiruvaiyaru Nayanar temple was constructed near this jetty/wharf.  The Amman was called Thuriyathamman since those with problems pray to her after taking a bath in the padithurai / jetty/wharf, and are consoled and relieved from all problems by her (ஆற்றுப்படுத்துதல்). Thurayathamman is also called Thuraikathamman.

As per the inscriptions, this place was called Kuptharkal Pakkam, Kupthan Pakkam, and got corrupted to the present name of Kuthambakkam.  The Thiruvaiyaru Nayanar temple was constructed by Kulothunga Chozha III (1178 – 1218 CE) during his 13^th reign year, i.e., 1191 CE. Kulothunga Chozha III’s 22^nd reign year inscription records that this place and Lord Shiva were called Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu, Kulothunga Chozha Valanattu Men Mangadu Nattu Kupthambakkamudayar Thiruvaiyarudayar.

It is believed that Kulothunga Chozha-III, who couldn’t attend the poojas and celebrations at Thiruvaiyaru, created this temple. This was recorded in the form of an inscription during his 30^th reign year (1208 CE). The inscriptions further clearly mention that the Someschura Nayanar, another Shiva temple, also existed in the same village. The much-celebrated Shiva Lingas of Thiruvayaru Nayanar and Someschura Nayanar are now kept under the canon ball tree without Poojas, which made us feel very sad.

Valayam Azhagiyan Otriyurakan, alias Kulothunga Chozhapaiyur Natazhvan, established an endowment of burning a perpetual lamp for which 32 cows and a Rishabam were gifted to this temple. The same was received by Andhanars.

Another inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Jayangonda Chozha Mandalathu Kalathur Kottathu, Chengundra Nattu Ainjur Mullipadi Village by  Thiruchura  Kannappan Adhinayakan Panchanadhivanan Rajarajaneela Gangaraiyan for the same 48 cows, and a rishabam was gifted to this temple.    

The inscription on the backside wall of the Amman shrine records the gift of 10 veli land called ThiruvaiyaRRu vilakam at Mathur Village on the north side of Poonamallee. Also, the temple had a land at Arumbakkam.

The other temple, Someschuram, was constructed by Kupthas aka Arya Vaishyas, who belong to Gujarat, similar to the Somanatheswarar Temple, there. The traces of the temple are not available in this Village.

LEGENDS

This legend is associated with Lord Shiva's 8 samharas, in which Tripura Samharam is associated with this temple. As per the Koova Purana written by Sivaprakasa Adigalar Swamial, the legend is associated with the Koovam Thripuranthakeswara story, one of the 64 forms of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva took this form to destroy the Tripura with three demons, Tarakaksha, Kamalaksha, and Vidyunmali.

The Demons did a penance on Brahma and got the boon of Tripuras made of Gold, Silver, and Iron (huge floating cities), which can fly /travel to three Lokas. They should meet once in 1000 years, and if they are killed, all three must be killed at a time, by a single person with a single arrow. After getting this boon, they started torturing the Devas and ruled the three lokas. The Devas sought the help of Maha Vishnu. Maha Vishnu said that it may not be possible to destroy those who are worshipping Lord Shiva. He mooted the idea of sending Narathar to all Threepuras and made all the ladies lose their female virtue. Then Maha Vishnu took the form of Buddha, Jinas, and preached to them. This made them forget the worship of lord Shiva. Then Mahavishnu, Brahma, and all the Devas went to Mount Kailash and requested Lord Shiva to destroy Tripura.   

When Lord Shiva started the Tripura samhara in a chariot created by Deva carpenter Mayan with earth as the Chariot, Chandran and Suriyan as wheels, Brahma as a Charioteer, Vedas as Horses, Meru Hill as a bow, Adhiseshan as the rope and Agni & Mahavishnu as an arrow. When Lord Shiva reached Koovam Nagar, Vinayagar broke the axle of Shiva’s Chariot. While the Chariot started falling down, Maha Vishnu held the chariot on his back. The Devas were very worried. Arumagar (Murugan) came and told them that this was the act of Vinayaga since Lord Shiva forgot to worship him before starting this venture.

Lord Shiva asked the Thiripuras to appear before him. Till this, the Devas thought, Lord Shiva cannot destroy without their help. Instead, Lord Shiva laughed at the Tripura. The Thiripuras got burned, but the three demons escaped. Lord Shiva shoots the arrow and kills all three at the same time. 

சிரிப்பினின்று எழுந்த தீமுப்புரங்களில் பற்றியது..

என்று விண்ணவர் இயம்பியது எம்பிரான் வினவி

நன்றில் நங்கையை நோக்கினன் நகைக்க, அந்நகையின்

நின்று வன்தழல் கொழுந்து ஒரு நிமிடத்தில் பாதி

சென்றுஒ டுங்கும்முன் புரங்களில் சென்றுபற் றியதே

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri days, Vinayagar Chathurthi, and all important Shiva festivals.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Trustees (Thalaivar) +919840721539, and other trustees +9198843550266 and +919940144339 may be contacted for further details.

 

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 1.6 km off from Poonamallee to Thiruvallur Main Road, 17 km from Thiruvallur, 12 km from Thiruninravur, 9 km from Poonamallee, 23 km from Koyambedu and 27 km from Chennai Central.

The nearest Railway Station is Thiruninravur, and the bigger railway station is Thiruvallur. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Dakshinamurthy

Sri Thiruvaiyaru Nayanar and Someschura Nayanar

Nakshatra Trees

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---