Sri Vaidhyanatha Swamy Temple / ஸ்ரீ வைத்தியநாத சுவாமி கோயில், உக்கல் / Ukkal, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Vaidhyanatha Swamy Temple at Ukkal was a part of the REACH Foundation’s Epigraphic field visit on 26^th 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, பாடல்பெற்ற தளமான மாகரல் என்ற சிவன் கோயிலுக்கு 12 கிலோமீட்டர் தூரத்திலும் அமைந்துள்ளது. இக்கோயிலில் மஹாசிவராத்திரியும் தைபூசமும் சிறப்பாகக் கொண்டாடப்படுகின்றது. பல்லவ மன்னனின் வயிற்றுவலி தீர்த்தமையால் இக்கோயில் சிவன் வைத்தியநாத சுவாமி என அழைக்கப்படுவதாக இக்கோயில் தல வரலாறு கூறுகின்றது. இக்கோயில் சோழர்கள் காலத்தில் கட்டப்பட்டு இருக்கலாம் என்பதற்கு சாட்சியாக கோஷ்ட தெய்வங்களும், தவ்வைத் தாயுமே சான்று.

Moolavar  : Sri Vaidhyanatha Swamy

Consort    : Sri Maragathambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance arch/base of the Rajagopuram on the south side. A stucco image of Shiva & Parvati as Rishabaroodar is on the top of the entrance arch. Balipeedaam, Dwajasthambam / Kodimaram and Rishabam are in front of the mukha mandapam. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Vinayagar and Murugan are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. The Moolavar is a little tall on a square avudayar. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

In the mandapam, Utsava murtis, Vinayagar, an Ambigai as Vishnu Durgai, Bairavar, Ayyanar and Elephant Vahana. 

In the outer praharam, Navagrahas, Vahanas, Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar and Chandikeswarar and Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south towards the entrance arch. Nagars are on the left side before the entrance of the temple.

 

   

Ambal

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam.  The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathi, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam kudam, mandi plain palakai, and vettu pothyal are on the bhitti. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasis and vyyalavari. An eka tala vesara vimanam is on the prastaram. Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva are on the greeva koshtam. Maha nasis are on the cardinal directions on the sigaram.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The Bhuvana Manuka Perumal Temple, Rajakesarivarman’s period inscription speaks about the ancient name of Ukkal as … “Sivachudamani Mangalam”. Another name, “Aparajita Chathurvedi 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 7^th 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 “Vikrama Bharana Chaturvedi Mangalam”  during the Chozha period.

It is believed that this temple was constructed during the 6th-century Pallava period. But the structure and the sculptures seem to be of the Chozha period, hence this Shiva temple might have been constructed during the Chozha period, ie 10^th to 11^th century.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 28^th April 1961.

LEGENDS

It is believed that this Shiva Temple was called “Perumthiranar Koyil” and later called Vaidhyanatha Swamy Temple.

As per the legend, Narasimha Pallava II, who constructed the Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar temple and the Mahabalipuram Shore temples, was affected by severe stomach pain. One night, Shiva came in the dream of this Pallava King and advised him to go to Ukkal Perumthiranar Temple and worship him. The Pallava King came to Ukkal and worshipped Shiva and was relieved from the stomach pain. Hence, Shiva was called Vaidhyanatha Swamy.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pournami, Amavasya, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Thaipoosa peruvizha, Arudra darshan, Karthigai, etc.

Thaipoosa Peruvizha will be conducted on the banks of the river Cheyyar. On that day, 18 village Utsava Murtis will participate along with this Sri Vaidhyanatha Swamy Temple’s Utsavar. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.0 hrs to 10.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

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

Nagars

KOSHTA MURTIS

Vinayagar & Dakshinamurthy

Mha Vishnu, Brahma and Durga

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---