The visit
to this Sri Veeratteswarar Shiva Temple was a part of Tiruttani Temples Visit on
31st July 2022. Had been to this temple before Tiruttani Murugan’s
darshan.
Moolavar : Sri Veeratteswarar
Some of
the salient features of the temple are…
The
temple is facing east with a Rishaba mandapam and Balipeedam. Entrance to the
temple on the south side with a mandapam. Stucco images of Natarajar, Sivagami,
Manickavasagar and Devotees are on the top of the entrance mandapam. Moolavar
is little tall, brown in colour. Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma
and Durgai. Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in sitting posture on lotus pedestal.
The
entrance to the ardha mandapam is from east side. Stucco image of Shiva and
Parvati as Rishabaroodar is on the top of the entrance. Vinayagar, Saptamatrikas, Veerabhadra, Suryan are in
the ardha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of antarala. Ambal is in a
separate sannidhi facing south side in ardha mandapam. Nalvar, 63var, Nagar, Chandikeswarar,
Bairavar are in the praharam.
Veerabhadra
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of the Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The Sanctum
Sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha adhistanam with three patta kumudam. The
Bhitti starts with vethigai. The pilasters are of brahma kantha pilasters, with
malai thongal, thamarai kattu, kalasam, kudam, plain mandi, palagai, veera
kandam and tharanga pothyal.
The
prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam and viyyalavari. Bhuta ganas are in the
valapi. The Sanctum Sanctorum is square in shape, but Eka thala Gajabirushta
vimanam is on the bhumidesam. Birds bas-reliefs are in the Greeva valapi. Shiva
and Parvati are on the lalada nasi. The temple from adhistanam to Stupi is
constructed with stone. The Gajabirushta vimanam is constructed with Greenstone.
The
Rishaba mandapam is like Vimanam on the sanctum sanctorum. The Vimanam is of
Nagara style with 2 Tiers. Stucco images of Nandi are in thala and greeva koshtams.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple was constructed during the Pallava period as a Brick temple and the same was reconstructed as a Stone temple during the period of Pallavas. Later received contributions
from Chozhas. The inscriptions belong to Pallavas and Chozhas which are
recorded in SII and Pallava inscriptions.
The
Pallava King Abarajitha Varman, ( 895 CE ) himself had composed a poem in the
form of a venba, in which he mentions this temple was constructed as a stone
temple by Nambi Appi. The poem reads as… ( SII Vol 12- 94 & 95 )…
"ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ
திருந்து திருத்தணியில் செஞ்சடை ஈசர்க்கு
கருங்கல்லால் கற்றளியாநிற்க - விரும்பியே
நற்கலைகளெல்லாம் நவின்ற சீர் நம்பி அப்பி
பொற்பமைய செய்தான் புரிந்து"
-இவெண்பா
பெருமானடிகள் தாம் பாடி அருளதது
The
Vijaya Aparajitta vikramavarman’s ( 913
CE ), 18th reign year inscription records the remission of taxes made
by the assembly of Tiruttaniyal on 1000 kuli land situated on the north side of
the temple, purchased by Nambi Appi from the cultivators of the Village and
given over to the dharmigal of the village for providing offerings ( 4 nazhi
rice twice a day ) and burning of two twilight lamps in the temple, of
Tiruvirattanattudeva in the same Village. They also agreed to pay a fine of ¼ pon
to the ruler of that day, for default and then continue the charity without
fail.
The Kovi
Rajakesaribarmar’s 4th reign year ( SII Vol – 13- No 82 )
inscription records the agreement given by the Sabai of Tiruttaniyal in
Kunravaddana kottam, that their annual committee will supply daily an ulakku of
oil for a perpetual lamp in the temple Tiruvirattanam Udaiya Mahadeva in lieu
of the interest on 12 kalanju of gold received by them from the temple.
The
incomplete and damaged inscription ( SII Vol – 19 No 388 may belong to
Uttama Chozha ), but assigned to Rajendra Chozha-I, records the sale of garden land which was their manjikkam (
common property .. ?) by the sabha of Tiruttaniyal in kunravaddana kottam to
one Velan Nilan of SiruVelur in Ilayur Nadu on the southern side of the river,
a subdivision of Vesalippadai ( Vyasarpadi as per Dr Nagasamy ).
The four fragment estampages ( Tiruvallur mavatta kalvettukal Volume-I ). On the north, west, and South walls of the central shrine of Virattaneswara Temple at Tiruttani. It belongs to the Chozha period. Rajaraja-I, reign year 28 ( 1013 CE ) sale of tax-free land by the sabha of the Jananatha Chaturvedi Mangalam in Menmalai Taniyal nadu of Jayangonda Solamandalam to Parthasarathy for feeding pilgrims going to and returning Srivengadam ( Tirupathi ). ( 1 - 4 together in one inscription ).
Rajaraja-I's 28th reign year ( 1013 CE ) inscription records that the town of Krishnapura gifted food to those who went to Tirupati. Parthasarathy was the Landlord who bought the land from Somaichani, the wife of Balasiriyan Lakshmana Kramavithan. The person who wrote the document on behalf of the council was Thammanandi Eluvan.
Rajaraja-I's 4th reign year ( 990 CE ) inscription, records the gift of 12 kalanju ( Coin ) for burning a perpetual lamp with a supply of one ulakku oil daily, by the members of sabha, from 5th reign year.
Rajendra Chozha-I's period ( 1031 CE ) inscription starts with his long meikeerthi. This inscription records the gift of 30 cows for burning a perpetual lamp, by Nandi Nandieran alias Taniyal Muttariyan, a palli of the Village. The Cows are received by Thuvarayan Orumanavan Ayasampanaan alias Jananatha Thuvaraayan who agreed to supply ulakku ghee.
Rajendra Chozho-I's, 10th reign year inscription ( a much damaged ) records ( in Tiruvallur mavatta Kalvettukal Volume-I )a gift of 7 3/4 kalanju gold as deposit and from the interest earned 1/4, a perpetual lamp has to burn at Subramaniya Pillayar Temple at Tiruttaniyal alias Jananatha Vhaturvedimangalam in Padavur Kottam by a person called Thillai Raman of Parichana Chaturvedi Mangalam alias Kavethipakkam ( Kaveripakkam ) in Paduvur kottam. Another person a servant Pambunikilan, also gave a gift of 1024 kuli land, 90 Sheep ( Sava moova peraadu ) for burning a perpetual lamp.
Vikrama Chozha's 11th reign year ( 1129 CE ), inscription records the gift of 12 sheep for burning a sandhi lamp at the temple of Tiruvirattanesvara Udaiyar by Anukkan Kamakodi.
Outside
Praharam cement flooring was done by Kumaran and Akila Kumaran on 18th
February 1998.
Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 08th July 2012.
Ref:
South Indian Inscriptions Volume -13, and 19.
LEGENDS
There are
8 Shiva Temples in Tamil Nadu called atta Veeratta sthalams ( Thirukovilur –
Killing of Andhakasura, Thiruvathigai – as Thiripuranthagar destroys the Triripuras & Asuras with his laugh, Korukkai – as Kama dhagana murti burns
Kaman, who breaks Shiva’s penance, Kandiyur – as Bairava plucking the 5th
head of Brahma, Thirukadaiyur – as Kala Samhara murti, kicked Yama for Markandeya,
Thiruppariyalur – as Veerabhadra, destroys Dakshan’s Yaga and kills him and
replaced his head with goats head, Vazhuvur – as Gaja Samhara Murti kills
elephant asura and Thiruvirkudi – kills Jalandhara, who came from the eye drop
of Shiva with Chakra and gave Chakra to
Maha Vishnu latter ).
Lord
Shiva destroys the different evil forces in the above 8 places. Also, some of the
temple’s Moolavar will bear the name Veeratteswarar due to some other reasons and this is one of
them. In this place, Sri Shiva laughed in joy after listening to the meaning of
“OM” from his son Thanigai Murugan. Hence Shiva is called Veerattahasar (
Hasam – Laugh ), later the name got corrupted as Veeratteswarar. This is
available in the 128th song in Veerattahasa Padalam of Thanigai
Puranam written by Kachchiappa Munivar.
உட்டுகண் முழுதும் பரிந்துமெய்ப் பொருளி
னொருக்கிய வறிவினீர் தழங்கி
நட்டநின் றியற்றும் வீராட்டகாச
நாதனார் சிறப்பெடுத் துரைத்தாம்
சட்டமூ வுலகும்
போற்றவீற் றிருக்குஞ்
சாமிநா தனுமகிழ் சிறந்தான்
கெட்டுரு வுடையோ நருட்குறி நிறுவி
யியற்றுபூ சனைத்திறங் கிளப்பாம்
…கச்சியப்ப முனிவர்
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham days, Maha
Shivaratri days, Vinayagar Chaturthi, etc,.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to
19.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
This is
one of the temples under the control of Thiruthani Murugan temple. The landline
number +91 4427885247 may be contacted for further details.
Email
address: tiruttanigaimurugan@gmail.com
HOW TO REACH
This
Shiva Temple is about 2 KM from Tiruttani Railway station, 4 KM from Tiruttani
Murugan Temple, 40 KM from Tiruvallur, 55 KM from Ranipet, and 89.2 KM from
Chennai Central.
Nearest
Railway station is Tiruttani.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Chandikeswarar
--- OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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