The visit
to this Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Ponneri was a part of “Gajaprishta Vimana
Temples Visit – Part-2" on 07th May 2023.
This
Sri Agstheeswarar temple is on the banks of river Arani, which originates from
Pichatur lake, in Andhra Pradesh and joins with sea at Palaverkadu / Pulicat. To signify the
name of this place Ponneri, there are Two Kalappai – ஏர்- கலப்பை - used
for plow engraved on the wall of
the sanctum sanctorum. This denotes the name of the place as Pon er- பொன்+ ஏர்
= பொன் ஏர், பொன்னேரி..
This place is also called Kumbhamuni Mangalam.
(ஏர்- கலப்பை ), பொன்+ ஏர் = பொன்னேர், பொன்னேரி- The bas-relief sculpture ஏர் responsible for the name of the place as Ponneri
Moolavar : Sri Agastheeswarar
Consort : Sri Anandavalli
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a 16-pillar mandapam and a Temple tank. Sri
Atrangarai Vinayagar temple is on the left side of the entrance with stucco
images. A 3-tier Rajagopuram is after the entrance gate to the temple.
Dwajasthambam, balipeedam, Rishabam is after the rajagopuram. A Somaskandar
mandapam is on the right side of the mukha mandapam.
Dwara
Vinayagar and Palani Andavar / Murugan are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum
with stucco Dwrapalakas. In koshtam Vinagara, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar,
Brahma and Durgai.
Ambal
is in a separate temple on the right side of moolavar temple, facing east.
Stucco dwarapalakis are at the entrance of the Ambal temple. Moolavar and Ambal
temples are in a straight line.
In
the inner praharam Sannidhi Vinayagar, Nagars, Gnanappoongothai,
Kalahastheeswarar, Abeethagujambal, Vinayagar, Vinayagar, Sri Valli devasena
subramaniar, Ganapathy, Naga Lingeswarar, Ganapathy, Angarahan, Chandikeswarar,
Veerabhadrara, Bairavar and Natarajar. Navagrahas are in the outer praharam.
ARCHITECTURE
The
Temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and a common ardha mandapam for the Moolavar and Ambal temples. The sanctum
sanctorum is of Gajaprishta Vimanam style on a pada bandha adhistanam. Jagathi
and Kumudam are not visible. The 3 tier
Gajaprishta Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Various forms of Shiva’s
stucco images are on the Vimanam.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Even-though it is
believed this original temple was built during Pallava period, no inscription
found, might have been damaged during Vijayanagara period and 9th
century inscription is found damaged. தமிழ் நாடு கல்வெட்டுக்கள் தொகுதி –XVII, திருவள்ளூர்
மாவட்ட கல்வெட்டுக்கள் தொகுதி -1.
அகத்தீஸ்வரர்
கோயில் கருவறை நுழைவாயில் படியில் உள்ள 13 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு கல்வெட்டில் மண்டபம் எடுத்தவர்
குறித்த விவபரம் உள்ளது. பதிணெண் பூமி ரதக்கான மண்டபம் கட்டியுள்ளார்.
On the step at the
entrance into the central shrine of the Agasthísvara, the 13th-century inscription records that the temple at Ponneri in Ponneri taluk does not mention the king and year. But
it may be 13th century C.E. Name Padhinenbümi Radhakan constructed this
mandapa.
அகத்தீஸ்வரர் கோயில் கருவறை நுழைவாயில் படியில் உள்ள கல்வெட்டு அரசன் பெயர் ஆட்சியாண்டு உள்ள பகுதி முழுவதும் சிதைந்து விட்டது. ஒருவேதம் ஓதுபவர்க்கு வழங்கப்பட்ட தானம் கூறப்படுகிறது. பவிழ்ழியம், ஆரண்யம் போன்ற சொற்களும் இடம் பெறுகின்றன.
The fragment
inscription on the entrance belongs to the 9th century CE. The
inscription records an endowment made for the maintenance of a person capable
of teaching one Veda including the Paviliyam and Arnă.
அகத்தீஸ்வரர் கோயில் விநாயகர் சிலைக்கீழ் உள்ள 18 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு கல்வெட்டு சிலை செய்தளித்தவர் பெயரைப்
பதிவு செய்கின்றது.
The 18th-century inscription on the wall of the central shrine of
Sri Agastheeswarar Temple below the Vinayaga statue records that the statue was
made by Sivakkolundu.
LEGENDS
During
the celestial wedding of Shiva and Parvati, all the Devas, Rishis, and Munis
assembled at Mount Kailash to witness the marriage. Due to this the earth, the South side rose up and the north side went down. Shiva asked Agasthiyar to go to the South to balance it. On the way to Podhigai, Agasthiyar installed and worshipped
Shiva Lingas at many places. It is believed that the moolavar of this temple
was also installed and worshipped by Agasthyar. Hence Moolavar is called as
Agastheeswarar.
Agasthiyar
is also called Kumbhamuni. Once Agasthiyar, to reduce the speed and the
river flowing, filled the Kaviri water completely in his kamandala. Hence
he was called Kumbha Muni. It is
believed that he stayed in this temple to get rid of his stomach pain and
worshipped Shiva in this temple. A Stucco image of Agasthiyar worshipping a Shiva
Lingam is at the entrance of the Sanctum Sanctorum from Mukha mandapam.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Navaratri, Maha
Shivaratri, etc,.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.30 Hrs to
20.00 hrs.
HOW TO REACH
The
temple is on the banks of river Arani and about 250 meters from old Ponneri Bus
Stand, 1.3 KM from Ponneri Railway station, 12 KM from Minjur, 24 KM from Periyapalayam, 37 KM from
Koyambedu and 36 KM from Chennai Central.
The
nearest Railway Station is Ponneri.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Veerabhadra
Atrangkarai Vinayagar Sannidhi
A 16 Pillar mandapam in front of the temple
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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