The
Visit to this Sri Koochileeswarar Temple at Veerapuram near Thirukalukundram
was a part of the Heritage Visit to Veerapuram in Chengalpattu District on 16th
April 2023. In fact, Veerapuram Village
has a rich history of more than 1300 years, since the Pallava period. Some of the
Heritage structures and temples in the Village include Koochileeswarar Temple
/ Sri Veera Mangala Nathar Temple, Jyeshta Devi with Manthan / Kulikan and
Manthi, Oyyalamman Temple, Solaivazhi Amman Temple ( a Saptamatrikas Temple )
and Sengazhani Amman Temple.
PC - Mr. Sridharan Krishnappa
Moolavar : Sri Koochileeswarar, Sri Veera mangala Nathar
Consort : Sri Nitya Kalyani Mangalambigai
Some of the salient features of this temple
are….
The temple faces east with Balipeedam and Rishabam. Stucco images
of Shiva with Parvati, Vinayagar & Murugan are on the top of the mukha
mandapam. Vinayagar, Murugan and dwarapalakas are on both side of the entrance
to sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar in the sanctum sanctoum is on square avudayar. A Pallava
period sandstone Somaskandar Panel is on the back side wall. Utsava murtis are
in the ardha mandapam. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar,
Brahma and Durgai.
In Praharam, Ambal Sri Nithya Kalyani
Mangalambigai is in a separate sannidhi, Bairavar, Navagrahas, chandikeswarar
and Maha Vishnu.
Somaskandar /
Vidangar
In this Somaskandar group, Shiva and Uma/
Parvati are sitting on simhasana. Murugan / Guhan is sitting on Parvati’s
lap. An umbrella is shown above ma Parvati. Bhutaganas and Muyalagan are at the
bottom of the Samaskandar panel. Brahma and Maha Vishnu are on the back of
Shiva in a worshiping posture.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum, an ardha
mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. An eka tala vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum
sanctorum. The complete temple was
constructed with bricks and did not follow any temple architectural style. Stucco
images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the Greeva
koshtam. The remains of two Pallava period mandapam pillars with inscriptions and Tharanga Pothyals are used for the Rishabam mandapam. ( the capital / pothyal is kept upside down ).
Pallava period pillar Tharanga pothyal - used as a base of Rishaba mandapam pillar ( தலை கீழாக )
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple was built during the 9th
Century. Till 2019, the temple was in a dilapidated condition. The
Somaskandar was open to the sky. It was learned some of the inscription stones
were taken away by the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department.
As per தொல்லியல்
நோக்கில் காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டம்- ச கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி,.
4 Inscriptions are recorded from this temple.
The inscription records that Veerapuram was in Chembur Kottathu, Nedungundra
Nattu, Nedungundram. ( ARE 92- 95, of 1932-33 ). As per the Chozha period
inscriptions, the temple was called as UnjeeSvarathalvar.
The Mandapam pillars are gifted by Ilangkannan
Eran and Arunilai Nambi Thiruneelakandan. ( The Thali Perumbakkam mentioned in
the inscription may be the present KudiPerambakkam ).
In 988 CE, records the endowment of offering Naivedyam during Uchchikala pooja, by Vidangan, who belongs to the Anukka beeman war group. He also ensured the
continuation of worship and Naivedyam and a land was gifted.
A person called
Devan Vayira Mohan, who belongs to Puliyur sponsored an endowment by
burning a lamp, for the same a land was
gifted to the temple.
Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 11th
September 2019 and Jyeshta Devi was installed on 23rd June 2021.
The Sanctum Sanctorum doors are gifted by
Munuswamy Achari’s sons, M. Punniyakotti Achari, M. Ganesan Achari, and M.
Bharath Achari on 11th September 2019.
Ref:
1. தொல்லியல் நோக்கில் காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டம்- ச கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி,.
2. An article on Veerapuram Vidangar in கல்வெட்டு காலாண்டிதழ் 95. கி. ஸ்ரீதரன், தொல்லியல் துணைக் கண்காணிப்பாளர் ( ப நி ).
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from Regular Poojas, special poojas are
conducted on pradosam, Maha Shivaratri etc,.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open only during
Morning Pooja Hours ie 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
Mr. Chandra Hasan ( usually available on Sundays
) at +91 98403 46076 and Sureshat at +919626297282 may be contacted for further
details.
HOW TO REACH
Veerapuram is about 7.6 KM from Anupuram Bus
stop, 09.00 KM from Thirukalukundram, 21 KM from Chengalpattu Railway Station,
19 KM from Mamallapuram and 74 KM from
Chennai Central Station.
Nearest Railway station is Chengalpattu.
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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