Shri Niranjeeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ நிரஞ்சீஸ்வரர் கோயில், சின்னமண்டலை/ Chinnamandalai , Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

மண்ணாதி பூதமொடு விண்ணாதி அண்டம் நீ

மறைநான்கின் அடிமுடியும் நீ

மதியும் நீ ரவியும் நீ புனலும் நீ அனலும் நீ

மண்டலமிரண்டேழு நீ

பெண்ணும் நீ ஆணும் நீ பல்லுயிர்க்குயிரும் நீ

பிறவும் நீ யொருவ நீயே

பேதாதிபேதம் நீ பாதாதி கேசம் நீ

பெற்றதாய் தந்தை நீயே

பொன்னும் நீ பொருளும் நீ இருளும் நீ ஒளியும் நீ

போதிக்க வந்த குரு நீ

புகழொணா கிரகங்கள் ஒன்பதும் நீ

யிந்த புவனங்கள் பெற்றவனும் நீ

எண்ணரிய ஜீவகோடிகளை ஈன்ற அப்பனே

என் குறைகள் யார்க்குரைப்பேன்?

ஈசனே சிவகாமி நேசனே!

எனையீன்ற தில்லைவாழ் நடராஜனே…

ஈசனே சிவகாமி நேசனே!

எனையீன்ற தில்லைவாழ் நடராஜனே…

……சிறுமணவை முனிசாமி முதலியார் நடராஜர் பத்து ( முதல் பத்து ).

The Visit to this Sri Niranjeeswarar Temple at Chinnamandalai was a part of the Temples Visit in Tiruvallur District, before attending the Uzhavarapani at Janamejaya Eswarar temple at Panambakkam and Palalayam function at Senji Panambakkam  Sri Kailasanathar Temple. This is the birthplace of Sirumanavai Munusamy Mudaliar, who is the author of Natarajar Paththu, a popular hymn on this temple’s Natarajar.

Moolavar  : Sri Niranjeeswarar

Consort    : Sri Maragathavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with entrances arches on the South and East sides ( Kept locked ). The south side entrance has the stucco images of Dwarapalakas and Lord Shiva. Balipeedam and Rishabam / Idabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudayar. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

In praharam Karpaga Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Ayyappan, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Chandran, Suriyan, Nalvar, Anjaneyar and Vallalar. Ambal and Natarajar are in a separate sannidhis. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

A Kotravai bas-relief is covered on three sides with a donation(maybe for a Maha Vishnu Temple with Sangu and Chakram ) inscriptions and stone slabs. The details of this Kotravai will be written in a separate post.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam and a open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple padabandha adhistanam, with Jagathy, muppattai kumudam and Pattigai. The Bhitti starts with vedikai and brahma kantha pilasters. The pilasters are with Kalasam, kudam, plain mandi, Palagai, and vettu pothyals. A nonproportionate ekathala nagara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. The floor level was raised up to Kumudam and the details below are not known.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS

Considering the Kotravai panel, the temple may be assigned to the 6^th to 7^th Century Pallava period. This place was called Manavai, Sirumanavai, etc. This place Chinnamandalai may be a part of Manavur, which was the capital of Manavil Kottam during the Chozha Period. The stones are completely painted and couldn’t identify the inscriptions written. Lord Shiva was called as Sirumanavai Kachalaai Eswara / Kachaleeswara and now called as Niranjeeswarar

As per ARE 1944, there are three inscriptions recorded from this temple. ( Thanks to Mrs Padmapriya Baskaran ). As per the inscription 170 / 1944, the 5^th day of Tamil Month Adi, in Virodhi year Lord Shiva was called Sirumanavai Kachalai Eswara. This inscription records the gift of Land by Panchi Tiruvanada Nayaka, the amaram officer of Tupakula Krishnappa Nayaka.

Another inscription 171 / 1944, belongs to Saka Year 1690 ( 1768 CE ) dated the 21^st day of Chithirai month Trayodashi tithi and hastha nakshatra of Sarvadhari year. The inscription records the establishment of Ishta Siddhi Vinayagar by  Kandappan son of Nagappa Mudali, who was the Muddirai karta Raghavanayan Muttu Veerabhadra Nayaka of Thondaimandalam.

The third inscription 172 / 1944 records the excavation of a well for this temple by Kandappan son of Nagappa Mudali. ( The well was closed a decade ago ). Now the inscription is a part of the cover slab stones for Kotravai.

Kotravai Panel covers three sides with a donation (maybe for a Maha Vishnu Temple with Changu, Thiruman, and Chakram ) inscriptions stone slabs. Since inscriptions are not legible, the details are not known.

In addition to this there is an inscription stone with the sun and moon installed inside the temple on the south side entrance along with a memorial / sati tone.  The inscription may belong to the 15^th to 16^th Century and may be a gift given to this temple. The Sun and Moon on the top indicate that this gift should continue till the Sun and Moon exist.  

The temple was reconstructed, with the effort of the late Sri Selvaraj Mudaliar, an ardent devotee of Ramalinga Adigal / Vallalar of Purasavakkam. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted, through the Om Murugashram, Sri Sankarandha Swamigal, of Mambalam on 30^th August 2001( Tamil Vishu year Avani 14^th day ) and later 30^th August 2012.

The original Natarajar was stolen and the details are not known. A new Natarajar was installed in its place. This made Sri Sirumanavai Munusamy Mudaliar to compose the hymns Natarajar Paththu.

   

Inscription panel  on both side of Kotravai

Inscription on the west side of Hero Stone

LEGENDS

It is believed that Adi Shankara and Kanchi Maha Periyava worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. This is a Meena rasi temple,  Navagraha parihara sthalam and pray Lord Shiva to get relief from heart ailments. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala pooja special poojas are conducted on pradosham, maha shivaratri days, arudra darshan, etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala pooja is conducted the pooja timings are unpredictable. The temple will be kept open for devotees' darshan during day time.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mr D Moorthi may be contacted on mobile number +91 9965936221, +9170947 91520, and +9193610 52748 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

Chinnamandalai is about 4 KM from Perambakkam where autos are available, 7.6 KM from Manavur, 11 KM from Senji Panambakkam railway station, 12 KM from Thakkolam, 38 KM from Poonamallee ( City buses are available up to Perambakkam – Thakkolam ) and 57 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway station is Senji Panambakkam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

MahaVishnu

Kotravai - Details are posted separately 

Sirumanavai Sri Munusamy Mudaliar who had composed the Natarajar Pathu ( PC From Web site )

For You Tube Link : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---