This Shiva Temple is at Sivan Koodal, close to Pillai
Chatram on Chennai Kanchipuram (Chennai
to Mumbai highway). Transport ( Auto ) facility is available from Pillai
Chatram and Sunguvarchatram. This Shiva Temple is under the control of the Tamil
Nadu Archaeological Department, as a protected monument. As per the name board, this
temple belongs to Rajendra Chozha-I, but
there is no Rajendran-I’s period inscription recorded from this temple instead
Virarajendra Chozha’s inscription is the earliest.
Moolavar : Sri Sivakozhundeeswarar
Consort : Sri Maragathavalli
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with an entrance from the South Side. Rishabam and balipeedam
are in the ardha mandapam. Moolavar in the sanctum is on a Square avudayar.
Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In Koshtam Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.
Vinayagar
and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar are
in ardha mandapam. A Shiva Lingam, Chandikeswarar, loose sculptures, Suriyan,
Chandran, Dakshinamurthy, Durgai or Ambal, and Brahma in damaged condition are in
the praharam.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha
adhistanam ( Sroni bandha style – ஸ்ரோனி பந்தம் ) with
three patta kumudam. The Bhitti starts with Vedhikai. Brahma kantha pilasters in
Karnapathi, Vishnu kantha pilasters in Salaipathai. The Pilasters are with malai thongal,
kalasam, kudam/ amalaka, Lotus petals mandi, Palagai and Vettu pothyal. The padra
Thoranas are with various bas reliefs like Gajalakshmi, Kubera, and a King who
worships Kubera, Elephant, and Kalinga Nardhanar. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam and
Vyyalavari. In kapotam lotus medallion, Chandra mandalam and Kodipalai. Bhuta
ganas are in the valapi. There is no Vimanam above the sanctum sanctorum.
The
ardha mandapam is supported by Vrutha pillars with Vettu Pothyals. Ambal
temple is empty now, built with Sandstone. Both Moolavar and Ambal temples are
without Vimanam.
Ambal shrine constructed with sandstone now empty
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
It
is believed that this temple was built
during the Chozha period. There are 18
inscriptions recorded from this temple. Out of 18, a maximum number of
inscriptions belongs to Kulothunga Chozha-I and the rest belong to, Vikrama
Chozha, Virarajendran, Telugu Chozha, Vijayanagara King, and recent years
inscriptions etc. The earliest
inscription belongs to the Chozha King Virarajendran. As per the inscriptions,
this place was called Sivakudal, in Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu URRukattu
Kottathu Nirvelur Nattu Sivakudal, Sivan Koodal, etc. Shiva was called as Sivakudal
Aludayar, Kozhundandavar, Sivakozhunthudayar, Sivakozhunthandar, Sivakozhunthu
Nayanar Thambiranar etc,. Ambal was
called as Thirukamakottamudaya Maragathavalli Nachiyar.
The measurement scale for measuring the lands is mentioned in the inscription as “16 saN kol – பதினாறுசாண் கோல்”.
Most of the inscriptions record the gift of lands
to this temple.
The Chozha king Virarajendra’s
4th reign year ( 1067 CE ) inscription records the gift of land to
the temple of Sivakkolunthudaiyar by the Sabha of Siva Koodal after purchasing
it from the temple.
Chozha King Vikrama Chola’s 12th
reign year much damaged inscription records the sale of land to the temple for
the celebration in the asterism of Uttirattadhi in the month of Ani by the
Bhattars of Brahmadeyam
Kulothunga Chozha-I’s much damaged and mutilated
inscription begins with Meikeerthi / title records the sale of land as tax-free
to the temple of Sivakudal in the name of Adichandesvara deva by the assembly
of that village, situated in the URRukkattukottam in Jayangondachola mandalam.
The assembly also agreed to burn this lamp in the temple.
An inscription without the King’s name, Saka 1420, 1498
CE inscription records the gift of hundred kuli of land to Goddess Durga
Mahadevi of Devakoshta in the temple of Sivakudal by Nalappillai an accountant
of the village.
Kulottunga Chola-I’s 1075 CE, much damaged and mutilated. The inscription records the sale of three hundred kuli of land as Peruvilai
(big-sale), to the temple of Sivakudal with the exemption of tax by the assembly of
that village.
Kulottunga Chola-I’s 1075 CE another
inscription, inscribed below the above inscription records the gift of land for
the food offerings / Naivedyam to the deity of the temple.
A much-damaged Chozha period 12th Century CE inscription records the sale of
land to the temple to celebrate the festival on the day of Uttirattadhi in the
month of Ani, which was a birth star of the King by the assembly and the
Vellalar of the village. The same festival is referred to in the inscription 1. As
the record belonged to King Vikramachola, this also must have been made by him.
Kulothunga Chola-I’s 7th reign year ( 1077 CE )
inscription records the gift of land to recite the sacred hymns of the Devaram (
Thirupathigam ) Trio in the temple of Sivakkolunthandar at Sivakudal of
Nirvelur Nadu, a sub-division of URRukkattukkottam.
Vikramachola’s 10th reign year (1128 CE
) inscription records the gift of 400 kuli of land as tax-free to burn two
perpetual lamps in the temple of Sivakkolunthandar by the assembly and Vellalas
of the village after purchasing it from the temple.
Kulothunga Chola- I’s, 11th century CE,
inscriptions record the gift of 500 kuli of land to burn a perpetual lamp to
the deity
Mahadeva in the temple of Sivakkolunthandar in
Siva Kudal by an individual of Vilathur after purchasing it from the assembly
of Milalai Mangalam.
Kulothunga Chola-I’s
5th reign year ( 1075 CE )
inscription stones are replaced and its
continuation is lost. It records the gift of land for food offerings to the deity
NuRRenmappillaiyar in the temple of Sivakkolunthandar.
Kulottunga Chola –I’s 28th reign year ( 1098 CE )
inscription stones were misplaced during renovations and the continuity is lost.
The inscription records the gift of land to the temple for the food offerings
and abhisheka/sacred bath during the celebration of Thiruvadirai in the
month of Markali, burning a perpetual lamp and flower garden to the deity of
the Sivakkolunthandar temple at Sivan Koodal by certain Panchanadhivanan
Cholendra Muventhavelan of Manimangalam after purchasing it from the assembly
of Sivakudal.
Kulothunga Chozha-I’s 25th reign year
(1195 CE ) inscription records the sale of land to the temple for the food offerings/Naivedyam to the deity of Sivan Kudal by the village sabha of this village (
Stones are misplaced in different locations)
Telugu Chozha King Vijayakandagopalan’s 25th reign
year (1275 CE) inscription records the gift of 2400 kuli of land to the
goddess Maragathavalli Nachchiyar of Tirukkamakkottam in the temple of
Sivakkolunthudaiya Nayanar at Sivakudal of Nirvelur Nadu, in Uttukkattukkottam
a sub-division of Jayankonda- Cholamandalam by Talaikkudaiyan alias Puliyuran
who belongs to the Chola Nadu.
An inscription without the king’s name and year,
with modern characters, records the services done by the individuals to this
temple.
The Vijayanagara King Achchuta Devaraya’s ( Saka 1455, 1533 CE ),
inscription, records the gift of Opulasanallur, a hamlet of Sivakudal to the
food offerings, worship, and burning of lamps to the temple by the Vijayanagara
King Achchuta devaraya while he stayed on the bank of the river Tungabadra at
Virupakshi.
A 17th-century CE Characters inscription records that
the floor was paved by Nayinan son of Sivakozhunthan.
A 10th-century CE character,
fragment inscription, records the sale
of 135 kuli of land to the temple which was irrigated by a channel in the way
of a sluice called “Kamala Narayanan- Thoombu”. The inscription refers
the Taxes like Oorkkazhanju, Kumarakachanam, Echchoru, KooRRunel, Kudimai, etc,.
Two 13th-century CE Characters, fragment inscriptions
record of the same King, of which one refers to the 46th year is also inscribed but stops abruptly.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Oru kala
pooja is conducted and no other special poojas are conducted.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple opening and closing times are unpredictable.
CONTACT DETAILS
Mr
Chinrasu’s mobile number
+919791921924 may be contacted
for further details.
HOW TO REACH
The
Place Sivan Koodal is about 5.8 KM from Pillai Chatram, 12.8 KM from
Sunguvarchatram, 21.4 KM from Sriperumbudur,
23.8 KM from Kanchipuram, and 55.3 KM from Koyambedu Bus Stand.
The Nearest
Railway station is Kanchipuram and the Junction is Arakkonam, 33 km.
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Chitra Thorana's sculpture Kubera and a King who worships Kubera 
Chitra Thorana sculpture - Elephant above Durga
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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