The visit to this Sri Bhuvana Manicka Perumal Temple
at Ukkal was a part of the REACH Foundation’s Epigraphic field visit on 26th
February 2023. The village Ukkal is on the banks of the river Cheyyar, a tributary
river to the Palar. This place, Ukkal, is about 12 km from Magaral, a Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam.
உக்கல் என்ற ஊர் திருவண்ணாமலை
மாவட்டத்தில் பாலாற்றின் உப நதியான செய்யாற்றின் கரையிலும், பாடல் பெற்ற தலமான மாகரல்
என்ற சிவன் கோயிலுக்கு 12 கிலோமீட்டர் தூரத்திலும் அமைந்துள்ளது. ஸ்ரீ புவன மாணிக்க பெருமாள்
என்ற இக்கோயில் பல்லவர் கால கட்டுமானம் மற்றும் சோழர்கால கட்டுமானத்துடன் அதிட்டானம்
வரை மட்டுமே காணப்படுகின்றது. 19ஆம் நூற்றாண்டுகளிலேயே சிதிலம் அடைந்துவிட்டதாக Hultzsch’s (1893 CE) ஆவணம்
கூறுகின்றது. பின்னாட்களில் சிதிலம் அடைந்த கற்களைக் கொண்டு கருவறை சுவர்கள் மட்டும்
கட்டப்பட்டு உள்ளது. பதிவு செய்யப்பட்ட 17
கல்வெட்டுக்களில் முதலாம் ராஜராஜ சோழர் கால கல்வெட்டுகள் அவரின் வெவ்வேறு காலக்கட்டங்களின் மெய்கீர்த்திகள் காணப்படுகின்றன.
Moolavar: Sri Bhuvana Manicka Perumal
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a mandapam in front. A balipeedam is in front of the
temple. A damaged two-part Vishnu sculpture made of green stone is lying on the
back side of the balipeedam. In the sanctum sanctorum, moolavar is with Sridevi and
Bhudevi. Alwars are in the ardha mandapam.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum with ardha mandapam and a meta colour
Sheet mukha mandapam. The structure of adhistanam is intact. Above adhistanam, the
sanctum sanctorum was constructed during recent years. The adhistanam is of pada bandha adhistanam with jagathi and threepatta kumudam. The koshtas are
padra koshtas, little protruding outside.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple belongs to the 8th to 9th
century Pallava Period. As per the inscriptions, this temple was called “Bhuvana Manicka Vishnu Graham”. This
place was called Utkar / Utkal. About 17 inscriptions belonging to Pallavas,
Chozhas, Rashtrakudas, Sambuvarayars, and Vijayanagaras are recorded. Of these, the Pallava King Kampa Varman’s period (878 – 883 CE), 10th and 15th
reign year inscriptions are the earliest. (SII Volume III, Part I).
As Hultzsch’s 1893 CE visit report records, “of the shrine itself, only the lower portions remain standing, and the mandapa
in front of the shrine threatens to collapse at any moment. The bases of the shrine
and the mandapa bear 17 inscriptions. Of these, 14 inscriptions were copied and
published, and the remaining three were omitted as they are incomplete”. The Chozha king Rajakesarivarman’s period
inscription speaks about the ancient name of Ukkal as… “Sivachudamani Mangalam”.
Another name, “Aparajita Chaturvedi Mangalam”, is undoubtedly Pallava's name. Rajasimha bore the name “Sivachudamani”, and Aparajita was the last
Pallava King. Hence, we may conclude that during the 7th century, this
place was called Sivachudamani Chaturvedi Mangalam, in the name of
Rajasimha, and the same was changed to “Aparajita Chaturvedi Mangalam” during the Aparajita Pallava period, and once again the same was changed to Sri “Vikramabharana
Chaturvedi Mangalam” during the Chozha period.
The name of the Moolavar / temple name, as Bhuvanamanicka
Vishnu Gruham, might have been obtained from the Queen of Nrpatunga varman as
“Pritivimanickam”. The two names Pritivimanickam and Bhuvanamanickam there absolutely the same and have no difference. Hence, if we study further the
fragment inscriptions on the wall, it may throw some light on the name of
moolavar. The Chozha inscription refers to Moolavar’s name as “Thiruvoymozhidevar”.
Pallava King Kambavarman’s 10th reign
year inscription records the endowment of feeding two Brahmins daily from the
interest of 100 kadi paddy, for the same 400 kadi paddy was given to this
temple’s sabha.
The Pallava King Kampavarman’s 15th
reign year inscription records that the Sabha of Ukkal received 1000 kadi paddy
from Sadayan (The same person referred to in the previous inscription), and
agreed to collect 500 kadi yearly as interest on 1000 kadi and hand it over to the annual committee (Samvatsara Variya
Perumaakkal ), to a specified purpose / to excavate an eri. (?).
The Chozha King Aditha–II (Karikala) (964 CE)
4th reign year inscription starts with his meikeerthi as
Veerapandian Thalai koNda – வீர
பாண்டியன் தலை கொண்ட - records that a cultivator named as
Vellalan …. Puliyan’s son Senai granted one patti of land from the proceeds of
which water (3 tubs through etram) and
fire pans had to be supplied to the mandapa frequented by Brahmanas. For the
meritorious purpose of supplying to the Brahmasthana in this village for
6 months and fire pans for 6 months, and of
constructing a water lever in front of the western part of the mandapa.
The Chozha King Rajaraja Chozha-I’s 13th
reign year ( 998 CE ), the inscription starts with his meikeerthi as – salai
kalamaruthu – சாலை கலமறுத்து.., records the endowment of Naivedyam to moolavar Thiruvaimozhidevar’s mid-day pooja. For the
same 550 kuli, land was gifted to this temple by Chozha Nattu Kaduvangudi
Kadungudaiyan Narayanan Rajasimha.
The Chozha King Rajaraja Chozha-I’s 14th
reign year (998 CE), an inscription records the gift of land of 530 kuli in two pieces after being bought, to the sabha for maintaining the
nandavanam by Chozha nattu Thenkarai Thiruvamunthur Nattu Kazhanivayal Village
Kazhanivayaloorudayan PeRRan Adittan.
The Chozzha King Rajaraja-I’s 1(7)th reign
inscription records that the men elected to take care of the Tank are entrusted to levy a fine of one kalanju gold in favour of tank funds,
on those who sell betel leaves in other
places except Pidari Temple.
The Chozha King Rajakesarivarman’s 23rd
reign year inscription records the endowment of feeding 12 learned Brahmins
from the interest earned on the deposit of 200 Kalanju gold, Brahmadhiraja.
Another Parakesarivaraman alias Rajendra Chozha-I’s
4th reign year inscription records the maintenance of two boats
plying in the Village eri for the same 3000 kuli land as irayili after sale and
5 water levers were gifted by Rajendra Chozha-I’s servant Komulan Araiyan Balathevan, of Kuvalaikodu alias
Anavarata Sundaranallur, a village in
Kuvalaikodu nadu of Venkuntra Kottam.
The Rajakesarivarman alias Rajaraja Chozha-I’s 29th
reign year inscription records the excavation of a well in the name of the King, assigned an allowance of
Paddy to the men who distributed water in a shed which was near the well at
Ukkal Melaiperumvazhi by the King’s servant, who belongs to Chozha Mandalathu
Thenkarai Nattu, Nidha Vinotha Valanattu Aavoor KooRRathu Aavoorudayan Kannan Aaruthan.
Rashtrakooda King Krishnan-III’s 16th reign year ( 956 CE )
inscription records that land owners are verified after exempting taxes. A
Penalty of 108 Kanam will be levied on those who couldn’t produce the documents
in their name.
This Rajaraja-I’s 24th reign year
inscription records an interesting event. This interesting inscription records
the issue of order from his capital Thanjavur on the 124th Day of
the 24th reign year, which was engrossed on the 143rd day
of the same year. The order deals with defaulters of land revenue in villages
held by Brahmanas, Vaikhanasas, and Jainas in the Chozha, Thondai, and Pandya
countries. The Villagers were authorised to confiscate and sell the land on
which no taxes had been paid for two full years.
The Chozha King Vijayalaya Chozha and grandfather
of Parantaka-I’s 16th reign year inscription records that the
Villagers granted certain land to the temple at the request and approval of
the temple manager Chakrapani Nambi. The land was gifted for the Seven Days Festival and Poojas.
Parantaka chozha-I’s 37th reign year (944 CE) refers to this place as Kaliyur Kottathu thankootru Siva Soolamani
mangalam, alias Sri Vikramaparana Chathurvedi mangalam. This inscription records
the endowment of burning two perpetual lamps, Deepa malas, and poojas. For the same
nandavanam, Nanchei & Punjai lands are situated at Jothiambakkam on the
north side of this Village. If any default occurs 108 kanaam penalty will be
levied.
The Chozha king Rajakesarivarman’s 17th reign year inscription
records the decision of the Village
assembly, but was left unfinished for unknown reasons.
Another inscription records that the naivedyam and lamps
for 4 sandhis/kala were arranged for the Maha Sastha of the same Village by
Kizhamaiyudaya Thattur Kizhavan Sadainakkayan.
In the Chozha King Rajaraja Chozha-I’s 24th
reign year (1009 CE), an inscription records that the village sabha passed a
resolution that, upon receipt of varagu,
paddy yield from the village’s common land of 1000 kuli, by the village sabha. The
taxes Kuzhivari collected lands are
exempted from the resolution.
There is a measuring scale “Rajanarayana Nilaikol”,
in the name of Sambuavaraya King Rajanarayanan, inscribed in the temple.
The Vijayanagara King Sadasiva Theva Maharayar period
(1543 CE) inscription records the gift of the village Mepakkam to this temple
moolavar Ukkal VeeRRiruntha Perumal.
Ref:
1. South Indian Inscriptions – Volume 3 Part 1 and
2. The details are given by the temple authorities.
LEGENDS
The devotees pray to Perumal for marriages, Child
boon, etc.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Oru kala pooja is conducted, and no important
functions are celebrated.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
Since oru kala pooja is conducted, the opening and
closing times are unpredictable.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The Mobile numbers of Thirupani Kuzu may be
contacted for further details and donations for the reconstruction of the temple.
+919843732608, +919787433205 and +919943708131.
The temple authorities request donations for the reconstruction of the temple.
The Account No: 926676997, Indian Bank Mamandur
Branch, Cheyyar, Tiruvannamalai District.
HOW TO
REACH
This place Ukkal is Kanchipuram to Vandavasi road,
18 km south of Kanchipuram and 2.5 km from Koolamandal, 51 km from
Chengalpattu, 66 km from Tambaram and 95 km from Chennai.
The nearest Railway Station is Kanchipuram.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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