Sri Vadavamukhagneeswara Temple / ஸ்ரீ வடவாமுகஅக்னீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Vedal, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the last Pallava and early Chozha period brick temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are two Ambal in a separate sanctum facing south. There are many changes between our last visit and this visit. The fence has been erected. A new Vinayagar sannidhi was constructed, and the Ambal sannidhi renovation is in progress. Still, the Gajaprishta vimanam of the main sanctum is vertically cracked from top to bottom and was not taken for rectification. It was learned that local people are doing thirupani with their own funds. For the details of our last visit through the R.E.C.H Foundation:   Click Here

Moolavar    : Sri  Vadavamuga Agneeswarar

Consort      : Sri  Vasantha Nayagi

Some of the Salient features of this temple are…

The temple faces east. The Balipeedam and Rishabam are on an elevated platform. Koshta murtis are installed at a later stage. In praharam, Ambal Sannidhi, Jyeshta Devi, Saptamatrikas, and Chandikeswaraar. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The complete temple was built with bricks.  The Vimanam is of Gajaprishta Style from adhistanam to sigaram. Lime mortar plastering was done on the walls / bhitti, and no pilasters are shown. The Vimanam is of 3 tiers. There is a huge crack from the base to the top of the vimanam on the back side, during our Visit.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was constructed at the end of the Pallava and the beginning of the Chozha period. Later mandapa was added during the Chozha Period. As per the inscriptions of Rajendra Chozha-I's period, this place was called Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Oyma nattu Panditha Chozha Chatturvedi mangala Vedal (In the egg-shaped inscription stone) and Chozha Kerala Chathurvedimangalam alias Vedal. Shiva was called Vadavayilandavar, alias Vadava Mutheeswarar & Vadavai Mukha Agneeswarar. Chozha-period inscriptions are found around the temple adhistanam stone, the Pillars of the artha mandapam, and an egg-shaped stone. 

As per the Book "Tholliyal Nokkil Kanchipuram Mavattam - by S Krishnamurthy, 12 inscriptions are recorded from this temple. Vadavayilandavar temple 11 inscriptions (1961 - 62/ 175 - 185), Varadharaja Perumal Temple  (1965 -66 / 172-173), and the two inscriptions near the temple tanks are recorded by the Archaeological Survey of India, with reference from Kanchipuram Mavatta Tholliyal Kaiyedu. The author claims that this temple was built during Rajaraja-I's (994 CE) period. However, there are no inscriptions directly mentioning that the temple was built during the Chozha period.

From the recorded inscriptions 3 inscriptions record the burning of perpetual lamps. The two inscriptions near the Temple tank belong to Rajaraja Chozha-I and Rajendra Chozha-I. 

Rajaraja-I's small regional king Pallavan Idaikazhi Nattukkon's alias Eran Suththi's wife Kulirkoil had gifted the images of Koothapiran / Natarajar, Umapattalaki. She also gave a gift of land for burning a perpetual lamp in Palliyarai. 

During Rajendra Chozha -I's period inscription (1028 CE) records the endowment of supplying firewood for 4 months starting from Karthigai and water from Panguni, by Anangur Velippakkizhan Arangan Namiyanandhi. The same land was purchased from Thirumangalakizhan Anunganaraiyan, who belongs to Vedal, and was gifted to the temple on Madapuram. 

The 1032 CE inscription records the endowment of burning perpetual lamps by Kerala Periyaraiyan alias Thuttan Veerathungan, who belongs to Oyma nattu Munnur. For the same, he purchased land from the sabha of Chozha Kerala Chathurvedimangalam alias Vedal and gifted it to this temple as Devadhanam.

1043 CE inscription records the construction of the mandapam and made arrangements for conducting the celebrations of Margazhi Thiruvathirai and Chithirai Visu.

Another inscription records the endowment of burning 4 Lamps at Natarajar sannidhi and continuing the worship by Malaiya Kulanthaka Periyaraiyan. For the same, he had given 30 Panam to the Maha Sabha.   

Rajendra Chozha-I's period (1028 CE) inscription records the construction of the Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple.

Ref

1. "Tholliyal Nokkil Kanchipuram Mavattam - by S Krishnamurthy.

2. Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy 1961-62 and 1965-66.

 

 Egg-shaped stone with Rajendra Chozha-I's period inscriptions around the stone

LEGENDS

There are two Ambals, one of the specialties of this temple, and one was damaged. As per Gurukkal, Lord Shiva came in the dream of the king and asked the king, who tried to remove the damaged one to replace it with a new one, and whether he would change his wife if she got hurt. So the King installed the new one near the old Ambal idol.

LOCATION OF VEDAL SHIVA TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Rishabam with balipeedam in an elevated level

 Temple view

 Dakshinamurthy - This might be installed at a later stage.

 Gajabirusta Vimanam has huge cracks from top to bottom. The temple was constructed with brick

 ( Ambal Sannadhi )

 Temple view from the east

 Two Amman idols - The taller Amman idol was damaged.

 Temple complex view

Saptamatrikas bas-relief

For more Photos in Picasa Web Album: :CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---