The visit to this Sri Meganatheswarar
Temple at Melakottaiyur was a part of the “Shiva
and Vishnu Temples Visit at Urapakkam, Arungal, Kannivakkam, Kumuzhi and
Melakottaiyur”, on 19th February 2022. After Panchamukha Anjaneyar darshan,
the Anjaneyar temple trustee directed me to this Chozha period temple.
Moolavar : Sri Meganatheswarar
Consort : Sri Megambigai
Some of the
salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces west with Kodimara Vinayagar, Kodimaram,
balipeedam, and Rishabam / Idabam. The
big temple tank is on the north side of the temple. Lord Shiva and Parvati as
Rishabaroodar, with Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar are on the
top of Mukha mandapam. Moolavar in the sanctum is on a square avudayar. The
avudayar is very deep and couldn’t be taken out during the renovation. In koshtam
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma.
In praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar,
Bairavar, Navagrahas, Chandikeswarar, Nagars and Flat stone sculpture of Lord Shiva with 10 hands,
standing on a snake / Nagar, hood.
Ambal is in a separate sannidhi ( Maha Meru is installed in
front of Ambal ) facing south in the inner praharam / Mandapam.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple complex consists of the sanctum sanctorum and the
Mukha mandapam. The praharam is constructed like a shanthara around the sanctum
sanctorum and an opening with jolly was provided on the wall in front of
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma. Since there is a small space around the
sanctum sanctorum, Chandikeswarar is installed outside. A stucco Vesara
Vimanam is above the sanctum sanctorum.
Vinayagar sannidhi - Gajaprishta style Vimanam
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple is believed to have been constructed during the Chozha period. The same was reconstructed in recent years. As per the
inscriptions this place was, in Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu, Puliyur Kottathu Nedungkundra Nadu, and the place was mentioned as Kottayur.
The inscriptions on the two stone slabs are kept in the
temple. One of these inscriptions belongs to Rashtrakuda King Kannara Devan
and the other belongs to 10th
Century Rajaraja-I, Chozha period. The Kannadevan's inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp. Rajaraja-I's period inscription records the gift of land. ( Thanks Anbu for the details )
LEGENDS
It is believed that Suriyan worships Lord Shiva of this
temple and Sunrays falls on Moolavar during sunset.
This is a parikara sthalam for Rahu and ketu. Devotees
worship Lord Shiva of this temple to remove marriage obstacles, child boon, to
get promotions in the Job, to get rid of Chronic deceases, etc,.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from Regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on
Pradosham, Maha Shivartri, etc,.
CONTACT DETAILS
The mobile number of the Gurukkal is +91 9962267285 may be
contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
The temple at Melakottaiyur is about 500 meters off from
Vandalur to Kelambakkam Road, 1 KM from VIT Campus, 11 KM from Vandalur, 16 KM from Tambaram and 43
KM from Chennai Central.
Nearest Railway Station is Vandalur and the big one is
Tambaram.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
A Suriyan statue is found under the Neem tree near Gangai Amman Temple on the other banks of Temple Tank. This may belong to this temple.
Suriyan, installed at Gangai Amman Temple may belong to the Chozha period
---OM SHIVAY NAMA ---
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