Wednesday, 31 May 2023

Sri ThiruValeeswarar Temple / Adhi Thiruvaleeswarar Temple / திருவாலீஸ்வரர் கோயில், குன்றத்தூர் / Kundrathur, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Thiruvaleeswarar Temple at Kundrathur was a part of the “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples visit” – on 30th April 2023. This temple is about 200 meters from Sri Thiruvooraga Perumal temple on Kundrathur to Thiruneermalai Road.  


Moolavar  : Sri Thiruvaleeswarar
Consort    : Sri Balambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east in dilapidated condition. A new temple was constructed in front of this dilapidated temple with new Shiva Lingam and Rishabam. The original Moolavar and Ambal are shifted to Sri Kanthazheeswarar Temple which is about 200 meters from this temple. 

ARCHITECTURE
The temple was built in Gajaprishta style on a square base ie upanam. The Adhisthanam is of pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy and three patta kumudam. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The Kumbha panjaras are between koshtas.
 



HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the original temple was constructed with bricks during the Pallava period and the same was converted into a stone temple during the Chozha period. Since the temple is in dilapidated condition, the Original Shiva Lingam with Ambal was moved to the nearby Sri Kanthazheeswarar Temple and installed in a separate sannidhi.

But, as per the book on Tholliyal Nokkil Kanchipuram mavattam written by Sa Krishnamurthy, .. The temple was built as a Stone temple in the year 1223 CE, the Chozha King Rajaraja-III’s period. 

An inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp at this temple.

The Telugu Chozha Veerakanda Gopalan’s 5th reign year ( 1270 CE ) inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp at Vaduga Pillaiyar Sannidhi by Perumal Pillai alias Ilang-Kavirithenna Vizhupparaiyan Perumal Pillai. The same money was received by the Brahmins.

Another Inscription records that Swarna Kasiyapan Kulothunga Mangalathirajan Seerala Devan received land as Vaithiyakani from the Urar. He is a Barbar ( Navithan also as Pandithan ). Still, it is observed that Barbar families are living near this temple. He had given the gift of Cows for burning Lamps at this temple.
  

Ref:
*Tholliyal Nokkil Kanchipuram mavattam by Sa. Krishnamurthy
*Kanchipuram mavattam Tholliyal kaiyedu

LEGENDS
It is believed that one of the Ramayana epic Characters Vali, installed and worshipped Shiva of this temple. Hence Shiva of this temple is called Thiruvaleeswarar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Since the original temple is in dilapidated condition, poojas are conducted to the new Shiva Lingam and are kept in the Temporary shed, in front of the dilapidated temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
Since the temple is dilapidated condition, the opening and closing times are not applicable.

CONTACT DETAILS
The temple is about 500 Meters from the Kundrathur bus stand and on the way to Kundrathur Murugan temple.
The temple is about 11 KM from Porur Junction, 17 KM from Guindy, 24 KM from Koyambedu, and 30 KM from Chennai Central.
The nearest railway station is Guindy.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE


















The present Temple 

Old Moolavar is in this sannidhi at Sri Kanthazheeswarar Temple 
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Tuesday, 30 May 2023

Thiruvooraga Perumal Temple / திருஊரக பெருமாள் கோயில், Kundrathur, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Thiruvooraga Perumal Temple at Kundraathur was a part of the “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples visit” – on 30th April 2023. This Temple is on the way to Kundrathur Murugan temple from the bus stand. After the Sri Kanthazheeswaarar temple visit, had went to this temple. During my earlier visits, this temple was closed and I was lucky to have the darshan of Thiruvooraga Perumal, this time. 


Moolavar  : Sri Ooraga Perumal
Thayar     : Sri Thiruvirunthavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces West with a 5-tier Rajagopuram.  The Rajagopuram Ceiling has the bas relief of 12 Rasis. Deepasthambam, Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, and Garudan are immediately after the Rajagopuram. Alwars  are in the ardha mandapam. Dwarapalakas Jayan and Vijayan are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is a little tall about 7 feet, standing on a lotus pedestal. He is wearing Dasvatara Ottiyanam and a garland made of salagrama. Sri Ooraga Perumal is with 4 hands. The upper hands are holding Sankha and chakra. The lower right hand is in abhaya hastam and the left hand is in uru hastam. Utsavar is with Sridevi and Bhudevi ( Ubhaya Nachiyar ) are in front of moolavar. 

There is no provision for koshtam and hence there are no koshta images. In Praharam, Sri Thiruvirundavalli Thayar ( Utsava murti is in front ), Andal, Sri Rama with Sita and Lakshmana and  Anjaneyar.  Thayar, Andal, and Sri Ramar sannidhi are facing east.

Anjaneya, Ramanujacharya and Alwars are found in the mandapam.




ARCHITECTURE
The whole temple was built with bricks and Karnapathis are protruding outside as padra style. A two tala nagara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Maha Vishnu avatars are in the Tala and Greeva koshtams.

The ardha mandapa was built by Chozhas and Chozha period inscriptions are found on the vrutha pillars.








HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Even, though it is believed that this temple was built during the Pallava period, inscriptional evidences are found only from the Chozha period.

The Chozha King Rajarajan-III’s 14th reign year inscriptions on the Vrudha pillar, in the ardha mandapam record the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp, by a Dancing lady of Sri ThiruNageswaramudayar temple of this Village and the priests received the money and agreed to carry out till sun and moon exist.

The Vijayanagara Chieftain, Vijayagandagopala’s inscription ( 1257 CE ) on the east wall of the central shrine, records the gift of Land. The Tax collected from this land has to be utilized for the offerings to the deity of Ilandatta Vinnagar Emberuman ( இலந்தத்த விண்னகர் எம்பெருமான் ) of Kundrathur.

Another damaged inscription on the east wall of the central shrine records the appointment of some people to the service in this temple.

Another inscription found elsewhere in this village records that the Gopuram and maha mandapam of Thiruvooraga Perumal was built between Pramathi and Vishnu, in the year 1701 CE ( 1697 CE..?), by Kudal Nayinar Mudaliar Sokkappar. This is all probability refers to the base of the Rajagopuram. The Bricks/stucco superstructure was added in 2012 and Maha Samprokshanam was conducted. 

Ref:
*Tholliyal Nokkil Kanchipuram mavattam by Sa. Krishnamurthy
*Kanchipuram mavattam Tholliyal kaiyedu
*Vishnu Temples of South India by Chitra Madhavan


LEGENDS
In 2001, the Mangalasasanam was done by Sri M R Bhakthavatsalam an ardent devotee of Maha Vishnu and a Tamil Scholar /Pulavar, inscribed near the west side entrance of the temple. The Poem was seeking Thiruvooraga Perumal for a bountiful rain to save the people from draught. It was said that that year rained heavily for several days in the whole of Tamil Nadu. The poem goes like this…

மாலே! மணிவண்ணா! மாவினங்கள் நீராட
காலே நிலைகொள்ளா நீர்கண்வாய் – மேலேயும்
பாய்ந்தோடச் செய்தருள்வீர்! பைநாகப் பாயுடையாய்
ஆய்ந்தொடியார் பூசைக்கு மாங்கு

வான்மழை வாராதோ? வையம் குளிராதோ?
தேன்மழை சிந்திடும் தொங்கலைப் பூண்டவரே!
அன்று அடர்மழை ஆட்கொண்ட அண்ணலே!
இன்று தொடர்மழை தா..

கார்மேகம் சூழ்ந்தும் கடுமழைதான் காணோமோ?
பார்முகம் நீர்பாசி படராதோ? கார்வண்னா!
கோவர்தம் கைக்கொண்ட கோவிந்தா! நீரின்றி
கோவர்கம் யார்காப்பார் கூறு?

கூறிடத்தான் ஒல்லுமோ நீர்க்கொடுமை? கூட்டமாக
மாறிடத்தான் கொள்ளுமோ மாற்றுமண்? சொற்புள்ளும்
கூட்டாய் பறந்தனவே! கோகிலமும் ஓய்ந்தனவே
காட்டுப்பூ காய்ந்தனவே காண்.

கண்ணீன்ற கார்மேகம் கண்ணீர் கசியாமல்
விண்ணின்று மெல்ல விலகினவே – எண்னற்ற
நீர்நிலை வற்றினவே! நீலவண்ணா! பாற்கடலில்
நீரின்றி வாழ்வீரோ நீர்?

நீரின்றி வேறுண்டோ நீலவண்ணா? நல்லுயிர்க்குப்
பாரின்றி வேறுண்டோ பார்பதற்கு? பாரிலே
ஊரகம் வேறுண்டோ உற்றார்க்கு? ஊற்றுநீர்
ஊரகத்தே வேறுண்டோ ஊன்று.

ஊட்டிச் சுருங்கினவே! ஊழல் பெருகினவே
கோட்டிக் குடங்கொள: கோதிலார் மெட்டி
எதிரொலிக்க கேட்டிலையோ? கண்ணா
அதிர் மழை செய்வீர்டர்ந்து

ஊரகத்தான் உள்ளளவும் ஊனமில்லை! வூராரின்
பேரகத்தே நின்ற பெருமாளே கார்மேகம்
கல்மழையைக் கொட்டாதோ? கண்வாய் நிறையாதோ?
தொல்லுலகில் தோன்றாதோ தெம்பு?

சக்கரமும் சங்கும் சரிந்தனவோ? சாரங்கா
அக்கரமம் எங்கும் அலைமோத! தேக்கநீர்
வற்றினவே எம்மருங்கும்! வேளாண்மை வேண்டியே
பற்றினோம் பாதம் பணிந்து.

கொறுக்கை முறிந்தன! கேருதயம் கெட்டு
உறுத்தை மெலிந்தன; ஊற்றாக ஊறும்
எறுக்கை யொழிந்து … கை முதிர்ந்து
அறுக்கை அழிந்தது வாண்டு.

ஊழி முழுமுதலே! ஊரவர் போற்றிடும்
ஆழி மழைக்கண்னா! ஆரமுதே! நாழிநேரம்
நல்ல மழையருள்வீர், நானிலத்தே நல்லோர் நின்
வல்லமை எண்னடை வகுத்து.

திருவிருந்த வல்லித் திருமகளே ஏற்றும்
திருவிளக்கே! யல்லால் இருளில் – உருவம்
புலப்படுமோ? நீரின்றி ஐம்புலன்கள் மண்ணில்
புலப்படுமோ தாயே? நயந்து.

ஆண்டாள் அருஞ்சொல்லே ஆட்கொண்டேன்! ஆருயிர்
மாண்புற்ற வாழ்விற்கே! மாபலி வேண்டற்க!
நல்ல மழையருள்வீர் நானிலத்தே நல்லோர் நின்
வல்லமை எண்ண வகுத்து.

This inscription stone was installed by T Pa Janarthanan & J Vaitheki Ammal in memory of his father and mother T Ma Parthasarathi Achari & Pa Andal Ammal.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas as per Vaikhanasa agama, special poojas are conducted  on Chithirai as Tamil New Year Day, Chitra Pournami, 3 days Pavitrotsavam in the month Aadi, Garuda Sevai on the fourth Saturday of Purattasi, Vaikunda Ekadasi in the month Margazhi.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 09.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs. These times will change on celebration days.

CONTACT DETAILS
The mobile number +91 9710436436 may be contacted for further details.  

HOW TO REACH
The temple is about 500 Meters from the Kundrathur bus stand and on the way to Kundrathur Murugan temple.
The temple is about 11 KM from Porur Junction, 17 KM from Guindy, 24 KM from Koyambedu, and 30 KM from Chennai Central.
The nearest railway station is Guindy.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE









--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Monday, 29 May 2023

Sri Chelliamman Temple / Shri Selliamman Temple / ஶ்ரீ செல்லியம்மன் கோயில், Pillaiapakkam, Sriperumbudur / பிள்ளைப்பாக்கம்/ ஶ்ரீபெரும்புதூர், Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Selliamman Temple at Pillaipakkam was a part of the “Gajaprishta Vimana Temples visit” – on 30th April 2023. This Village is on the Sriperumbudur to Mudichur road which passes through many industries. Can be reached through the Road before Sri Eswari Auto Components Private Ltd.


Moolavar : Sri Chamundi as Selliamman.

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple is facing North. Dwarapalakis are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum along with Nagars. Saptamatrikas are in the sanctum sanctorum. Chamundi with Jwalamakuda is worshipped as Selliamman. The other Saptamatrikas Maheswari, Vaishnavi, Brahmi, Kaumari, Indrani, and Varahi are in the sanctum sanctorum.

Balipeedam, simham, and Trishul are in front of the sanctum sanctorum.




ARCHITECTURE
The whole temple was built with bricks and no specific architectural style was followed. The temple consists of a rectangular sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam, and a Mukha mandapam. The adhistanam was built with stone. The sanctum sanctorum is on the adhistanam without Vimanam. A mini gopuram is on the top of the ardha mandapam. No images are installed in the koshtams. 



HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the original temple belongs to the Pallava period ie the 8th to 9th Century. The present structure may be 150 to 200 years old.  

As per தொல்லியல் நோக்கின் காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டம், . கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்திs book, Nrupathungan’s 879 CE inscription records this temple Kali Pidari as Guarding Deity of this Village.

LEGENDS
It was a practice of establishing the Saptamatrikas temple to safeguard the Village, from evil spirits, forces, and diseases, entering into the Village during the Pallava period. Later the Saptamatrikas are replaced with a Single Amman as Ellai Amman, Selliamman, etc.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular oru kal poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pournami, Amavasya days, and Sundays. The annual festival will be held during the month of Aadi.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open during morning hours for a brief period.  

HOW TO REACH
The temple is 4.5 KM from Sriperumbudur, 18 KM from Kundrathur, 25 KM from Poonamallee, 39 KM from Koyambedu,  45 KM from Kanchipuram, and 45 KM from Chennai Central.
The nearest railway station is Koyambedu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE


--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---