VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Mallam Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple / Sri Subrahmanyeswara Swamy Temple/ மல்லம் ஸ்ரீ சுப்ரமணிய சுவாமி கோயில், Mallam, Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh.

Thursday, 28 September 2023

Mallam Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple / Sri Subrahmanyeswara Swamy Temple/ மல்லம் ஸ்ரீ சுப்ரமணிய சுவாமி கோயில், Mallam, Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh.

The Visit to this Pallava period Shri Subramanya Swamy Temple at Mallam in Andhra Pradesh and a Shiva Temple in Tiruvallur District was a part of the Shiva and Murugan temples visit on 16^th September 2023.

Moolavar : Shri Subramanya Swamy

Consort(S) : Shri Valli & Devasena

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a Rajagopuram base. The Temple tank with a neerazhi mandapam is in front of the temple. Dwarapalakas are on both sides of the entrance of the Rajagopuram base. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, and Rishabam are in front of the temple. Natarajar with Sivakami and Manickavasagar are at the south side of the mandapam. Again Arumugar with Valli Devasena Utsava murtis are in the ardha mandapam. Moolavar Sri Subramaniar is in the form of Brahma sastha (The old Pallava period Moolavar was replaced by a new moolavar during recent years. It was told that the hands are broken and kept in the sanctum itself – the old idol was a Brahma sastha). In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, and Durga.

In the inner praharam Sri Valli, Devasena, Chandikeswara. Chandran, Nagars, and two Devotees.

In the outer praharam, Vahanas (in glass enclosures), Vinayagar, Navagrahas, Bairavar, a Shiva Temple with Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and Rishabam and Vasantha mandapam with 64 pillars exquisitely carved.

18 number of hero stones are installed on both sides of the Compound wall of the temple, of which one belongs to the Pallava period and the details will be posted separately.

Maha Vishnu - Dakshinamurthy - Brahma

Damaged Pallava Brahma Sastha

Bairavar

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, threepatta kumudam and pattikai. The bhitti starts with Vedikai. The Pilasters are Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, Lotus petals mandi, plakai, and vettu pothyal. Kumbha panjaras are between Deva Koshtas. The Kostas are sala style. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam and Vyyalavari. A Dravida vimanam is on the Bhumidesam, on a raised level. Shiva with Parvati, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the Greeva koshtam.

Praharam with Vrutha Pillars

The Vasantha mandapam, which contains 64 pillars (May have been built during the 15^th to 16^th Century Vijayanagara Period) is on the southeast corner of the temple premises with shobana mandapam. This mandapam is used for important utsavams and celebrations. The front sobhana mandapam was built like a Chariot with two wheels and pulled by two horses. The Pillars and the adhistanam base have the bas-reliefs of Shiva’s various forms, scenes from Epic Ramayana, Dancers, Musicians/Musical instrument players, Hindu deities, Saints, Maharishis, Paintings of Sthala purana of various temples, and some erotic reliefs too. There is an interesting story behind this mandapam.

Rama shoots Vali

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This Brahma Sastha temple otherwise known as Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple belongs to the Pallava period (7^th to 8^th Century) and the same was constructed with stone during the Chozha Period and reconstructed during the Vijayanagara period. Chozha and Vijayanagara period Inscriptions are found on the adhistanam and walls. As per the inscriptions this place Mallam was called “Tiruvanmür”.

The Inscriptions belong to the 11^th to 12^th century Chozha period (Some inscriptions start with Thiribhuvana Chakravarthikal .. and meikeerthi as ஸ்வத்திஸ்ரீ திரிபுவன சக்ரவர்த்திகள் மதுரையும்…) and 16^th – 17^th Century Vijayanagara period. Most of the inscription records the endowment established for prayer/service, burning lamps, and the donations made to this temple.

LEGENDS

As per the legend Sri Subramanya Killed a demon called Malla at this same place. The demon Malla prayed to Subramanya, that this place be called in his name, hence this place is being called Mallam.

The Legends behind the construction of the temple are painted on the antarala and ardha mandapam walls. As per the legend, Kulothunga Pandya Bhupathi ( ..? is there anybody), who ruled this area came to this place for hunting and happened to see bamboo grown on an ant hill. The anthill was grown over Sri Subramanya Swamy, who was doing penance. Without knowing this the king ordered to cut the bamboo for making a palanquin. While Cutting the bamboo the knife/sword cuts the hands of Sri Subramanya Swamy. Blood was oozing out from the ant hill. That night Sri Subramanya Swamy, came into the king’s dream and advised the king to construct a temple to get rid of sin caused by cutting his hand. The King constructed this temple and consecrated it.

There is a local interesting legend behind the 64-pillar Vasantha mandapam. The sculptor who constructed the mandapa had a son who was also a great sculptor. He has the great skill of giving life to the sculptures. After the Horse and the wheels are sculpted for the sobana mandapa, the Sculptor’s son wishes to go and see his lover with the Chariot mandapa. When the sculptor’s son, was about to take off the chariot with stone horses after giving life to them, the Sculptor broke the legs of the horse and the Chariot didn’t move further. With anger, the Sculptor killed his son and killed himself too.