The
Visit to this Sri Paleeswarar Temple at Gummidipoondi was a part of “Shiva,
Maha Vishnu, Saptamatrikas and Jain Tirthankara Temples Visit”, in and around
Gummidipoondi and Minjur on 13th May 2023. This Baleeswarar Temple
is about a KM through the subway. The temple bears a recently constructed
temple’s look, which I didn’t expected. The Temple lost its sanctity, antiquity and
Chozha period Charming look.
Moolavar : Sri Baleeswarar
Consort : Sri Parvati
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple is facing east with a dilapidated Rajagopuram on the South side. Both
Moolavar and Ambal are facing east direction.
Balipeedam and rishabam are in front of the Shiva sannidhi. Moolavar in
the sanctum is little tall on a round avudayar. There is no images in the
koshtams. Natarajar is in the inner
praharam facing South.
In
the outer praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Ayyappan, Suriyan,
Chandran, Kalabairavar, Navagrahas and Chandikeswarar.
ARCHITECTURE
Total
temple consists of, sanctum sanctorum, antarala and common ardha mandapam of the maha mandapam. The original temple’s, South side Rajagopuram and Compound walls are built
with laterite (
செம்பூராங்கற்கள்
) stones. The Southside
Rajagopuram is not touched so far for the renovation. The present temple was
constructed with Bricks & Cement. A 3 tala vesara Vimanam was built over
the sanctum sanctorum, which is not proportionate to the size of sanctum
sanctorum. Mandapa, sanctum sanctorums are laid with tiles which gives a shabby
look.
The Rajagopuram was constructed with laterite stones, even the
sculptures, kapotam, kumbha panjaras are also done and lime mortar was applied
over it. The Rajagopuram was built on a kapota bandha upanam, pada bandha
adhisthanam with silambu ( Kataka vari ) kumudam. The adi tala has the niches
with, Brahma, Shiva etc,.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
As per Tiruvallur
Mavatta Tholliyal Kaiyedu…. There is a hearsay
that this temple was constructed by
Rajendra Chozha-I, while returning with Ganga water, to justify this
claim there is no evidence available in this temple. Maha Vishnu, Lingothbavar
and Dakshinamurthi may belongs to Chozha period. The iconography of
Dakshinamurthy may be compared to the
Gangaikonda Chozha puram Chozheeswarar Temple’s 13th Century
sculpture. Please not that non of the sculptures are available or installed in
the Temple. The Chandikeswarar seems to be the old one and it may belongs to
Chozha period.
During
my visit, an inscription flat stone was found near Iyyappan Temple. The bottom
line mentions the King’s Name as Rajaraja… Going by the style of inscription
this temple may belongs to Rajaraja-II or III. The original temple Mandapam was
extended by the Vijayanagara Nayakas.
The
present structure was built with brick and concrete, after pulling down the old
beautiful structure. So sad, since the old style was not followed. The
Vijayanagara nayakas period Mandapa pillars are dumped out side and inside the
temple.
The
temple alone was renovated and Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 02nd
February 2015 ( But as per Dinamani .. it is on 2nd May 2017 ) and
the Rajagopuram was un touched and still in bad shape.
The only chozha inscription lying in the temple premises
LEGENDS
It
is believed that this is one of the prihara sthalam from Sani Bhagavan. It is believed that Kamadhenu and Siddhars
worshipped Shiva of this temple.
Since
Shiva and Parvati are in Kalyanakolam, devotees worships Shiva and Parvati to
get rid of marriage obstacles.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, maha
Shivaratri, Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi, Navaratri, Chithirai Vishu,
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to
20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
Contact this number : +91 9092777195 and +91 9444175185.
Email address : Sankarngpd@gmail.com
HOW TO REACH
The
temple is about 3.8 KM from Gummidipoondi railway station, 16 KM from Ponneri, 20 KM from Periyapalayam,
43 KM from Chennai central and 60.6 KM from Tiruvallur.
Nearest
railway station is Gummidipoondi.
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Iyyappan Sannidhi
RAJAGOPURAM
Walls are built with Laterite stones and below are the Mandapa pillars
Top- new - Old Bottom
PC - Website
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
வேலுதரன் please call me 9444175185
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