VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Uraangkuluntha Nayanar Temple / ஊராங்குளுந்த நாயனார் கோயில் / Shivan Temple, Thellur, Ussoor, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

Wednesday, 21 June 2023

Uraangkuluntha Nayanar Temple / ஊராங்குளுந்த நாயனார் கோயில் / Shivan Temple, Thellur, Ussoor, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

After the Appukkal balancing rock visit, had went to the place Thellur Shiva temple on the way to Vellore. This temple is in the midst of the fields and there is no path straight from the Village. We have to walk through the bunds of the field. It will be very difficult during the rainy season to walk through the fields. Hope the temple lands were encroached including the path to the temple. Thanks to Mr Sugumar Arul for taking me to this temple and the Friends of "Incredible Vellore" Facebook Friends.

Moolavar : Sri Uraangkuluntha Nayanar

Some of the salient features of this temple are...

The temple faces east, in dilapidated condition Moolavar is in the sanctum on Square Avudayar. There are no koshta images. A thorana above the koshtam with a Bairavar image is worshipped in front of the temple. An ant hill and Saptamatrikas panel are in the maha mandapam. Two broken/damaged Amman sculptures are also in worship.

Sri Uraangkuluntha Nayanar
Saptamatrikas panel
body less and broken idols are also worshipped
Makara torana with damaged Bairavar relief is being worshipped
bodyless and head less idol is also worshipped

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. A meta color sheet mandapa has been installed in recent years.

The temple Sanctum Sanctorum and ardha mandapam are constructed on a rocky surface without any excavated foundation. The Maha Mandapam was built abutting the ardha mandapam on the earth Hence this maha mandapam relocated from the top and a gap was formed. Hence major damage happened to the maha mandapam, which was built during the Vijayanagara period.

The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada banda adhistanam with jagathi, threepatta kumudam, and pattigai. The bhitti starts with vedika. The koshtas are sala style. Vishnukantha pilasters with square base & Naga bandham, thamarai kattu, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and Poomottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus and viyyalavari. The viyyalas are in full form like Pandya's architecture. The makara thundam has sculptures of warriors.

The tala above prastaram was constructed with bricks. There is no plastering and images on the Vimanam. The sigaram is of vesara style.

The adhistanam is on the rocky surface

Vimanam inner view PC: Incredible Vellore

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Some of the inscriptions are recorded in Thamil nattu kalvettukkal Thoguthi -XVIII, வேலூர் மாவட்டக் கல்வெட்டுக்கள் தொகுதி – 1.

The temple may belong to 9^th to 10^th Century. Kulothunga Chozha-I and Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the kumudam and fragment stones. As per the inscriptions, this place was called Thellaiyur in Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu, Paduvur Kottathu, Bangala Nadu. Shiva was called Uraangkuluntha Nayanar.

One of the inscriptions records the endowment of burning a lamp at this temple and the donations made.

A 12^th Century fragment inscription records as வழி எல்லாம் இந்த நாயினார் குடிவழி அகக் கட..

A 9^th to 10^th Century Hero stone inscription records the names like Piruthigangaraiyar Nettalpaddi.

நடுகல் கல்வெட்டு பிருதிகங்கரையர் நெத்தல்பட்டி ஆகிய பெயர்கள் குறிக்கப்பெறுகின்றன. கல்வெட்டு வாசகம்...