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 16th
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.
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.
The
Vasantha mandapam, which contains 64 pillars (May have been built during the 15th
to 16th 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.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
This
Brahma Sastha temple otherwise known as Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple belongs to the Pallava period (7th to 8th 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 11th to 12th century Chozha
period (Some inscriptions start with Thiribhuvana Chakravarthikal .. and
meikeerthi as ஸ்வத்திஸ்ரீ
திரிபுவன சக்ரவர்த்திகள் மதுரையும்…) and
16th – 17th 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.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from 4 kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on Tuesdays, Kiruthigai
Panguni Uthiram, Kandar Sashti etc,.
Horse Vahana
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 05.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to
20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The temple Web site :
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mlmssswamy/
The
mobile number of the temple +91 98499 05718 may be contacted for further
details.
HOW TO REACH
The
temple at Mallam is about 28 km from Naidupet, 85 km from Nellore, and 131 km from Chennai.
The nearest
railway Station is Naidupet.
Every
half an hour, APSRTC Buses are available from the Naidupet bus Stand
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Temple back side lake
Pillar reliefs
Pillar reliefsPillar reliefs
Vasantha mandapa
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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