While I was searching the Aalayam Kanden website, I understood that Mrs Padma Priya Baskaran is organizing a one-day trip to Thakkolam (click here), Melpadi, Pullalur, and Thiruvalam on 9th August 2015 for Ponniyin Selvan Group (Click Here, Click Here). Even though I had been to Thakkolam and Thiruvalam temples as a part of a pilgrimage yatra to cover 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam (for details, CLICK HERE) thought of doing it once again with a group of heritage enthusiasts.
Second level 3-tier Rajagopuram view from Mottai Gopuram entrance
This temple is on the banks of the River Palar. This temple and Arinjaya Cholan’s Pallipadai are under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is about 500 meters from this temple.
Moolavar : Sri Somanatheeswarar
Consort : Sri Thabaskirutha Devi.
Some of the Important features of this temple are...
The temple faces east with an entrance on the south side. There is no Rajagopuram, but up to the mottai Gopuram level. There is a second-level Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and Rishabam are in the outer prakaram.
In the outer praharam, Ambal (No koshta moortham in the sanctum niches), Navagrahas, and statues of Pichadanar, Shiva Parvati, Sapthamatrikas, Vinayagar, excavated at the temple (Kept in an enclosure), Bhairavar, Yagasalai, and madapalli. In the inner praharam, there is no sannadhi except Rishabam.
In the koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu (in place of Lingothbavar), Brahma, and Vishnu Durgai.
In koshtam – Dakshinamurthy
In koshtam – Vinayagar
In koshtam – Durgai
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and mukha mandapam. Moolavar vimanam is of eka tala vesara stone vimanam, and the kalasam is also made of stone. The sigaram and the kalsam are dark black/ green colour stones.
For making this idol, it was believed that Kundavai was the model.
Moolavar Vimanam - Complete stone structure
Outer praharam
Dwajasthambam, Rishabam, and balipeedam
Ambal Sannadhi in the outer praharam
Relief of Subramaniyar
A Pallava Style Pillar
A stone bowl and Shiva Lingam with broken avudayar
HISTORY
The temple belongs to the 10th-century Chozha period. A lot of inscriptions around the sanctum wall.
This inscription is dated in the
of The Chôla king Rajaraja I’s 14th year of the reign inscription, on the south
wall of the Sri Somanatheswara temple, and mentions the conquest of Kudamalai nâdu
and of the Seliyas (ie. Pandyas) in addition to those recorded in No. 3 of this
volume. Instead of Tadigaipâdi, Tadigapadi or Tadiyavali it reads Tadiyapâdi.
The king is designated by two different names, viz. Rajaraja-Rajakėsarivarman
and Mummudi-Chôladeva. The second name means * the Chôla king (who wears) three
crowns, viz. those of the Chola, Pandya and Chêra kingdoms.
The inscription records that Îrâyiravan Pallavayan, a well-known officer of
Rajaraja I and Rajendra Chola, made over 15 kalañju of gold to the assembly of
Tiruvallam, who, in return, assigned 1,000 kuli of land in the hamlet of
Vanasamudram near Tiruvallam to the Chôlêndrasimheśvara (now Somanâtheśvara)
temple at Râjāśraya-puram (ie. Mêlpadi). This land was made over to an
inhabitant of Rajāśrayapuram, who had to supply ghee for a lamp in the temple.
Ref:
South Indian Inscriptions Volume 3.POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, etc.
Saptamatrikas (Not full set) & Vinayagar
Saptamatrikas (Not full set) & Vinayagar
TEMPLE TIMINGS
Since oru kalapoojas are conducted, the opening and closing times are unpredictable.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
The Pallipadai Temple is about 1 km from the village of Melpadi, 19 km from Vellore, and 22 km from Ranipattai.
The nearest Railway Station is Katpadi.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
The left side mandapam
Relief at the entrance of Mottaigopuram
HERO STONE
A Hero Stone is installed on the right side of the temple complex from the entrance. It faces right, holding a shield and an angusa-like weapon.
A hero stone facing right, holding a shield and an angusa-like weapon.
I extend my sincere thanks to Mrs. Padmapriya Baskaran, Mr. Venkatesh, Mr Vaidyanathan Ramamurthy, and other organizers of the Photo Walkers for organizing a wonderful one-day trip.
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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