VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Jambulingeswarar Temple / Sri Jambugeshwarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ ஜம்புகேஸ்வரர் ஆலயம், Sembakkam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

Sunday 17 September 2023

Sri Jambulingeswarar Temple / Sri Jambugeshwarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ ஜம்புகேஸ்வரர் ஆலயம், Sembakkam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Jambukeswarar Temple at Sembakkam was a part of Shiva & Vishnu Temples and a Shiva Temple with Gajaprishta Vimana, at Melaiyur in Chengalpattu District on 3^rd September 2023. This temple is also called as Vada Thiruvanaikaval.

Moolavar : Sri Jambukeswarar

Consort : Sri Azhakambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

There is an entrance arch at the entrance of the Village with stucco images of Vinayagar, Shiva & Parvati and Murugan. The entrance to the temple is from west side with an arch. Shiva and Parvati’s stucco images are on the arch. A Rajagopuram is under construction, on the east side. The temple tank is on the west side, on the left of west side entrance.

Balipeedam, dwajasthambam and Rishabam are in front of east side entrance. Recent period Dwarapalakas are on the east side entrance. There is also an entrance on the south side to the maha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is little big on a Round Avudayar. Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum, Nalvar and Nayanmars are on the north side entrance of ardha mandapam. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

Ambal Sri Periya Nayaki is in a separate sannidhi facing south with Stucco Dwarapalakis. Ambal is in standing posture with Abhaya varada hastam.

In praharam, An Amman’s head, A Shiva Linga, Parvati are in a temporary shed, Chandikeswarar and Nagars and a Vinayagar temple with open mukha mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam and pattika. The bhitti starts with vedika and brahmakantha pilaster. Brahmakantha pilasters are with kalasam, kudam, mandi, palaka and Vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. The Valapi is plain without bhuta ganas. Adhistanam to prastaram was built with stone and the super structure was built with brick and mortar. The Vimanam above the prastaram is of two tiers. Stucco images of Shiva with Parvati, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the Tala and greeva koshtams. In Tala koshtas, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are with their consorts.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple was constructed during Chozha period and received contributions from Vijayanagara's.

The Vijayanagara King sadasivaraya's representative Peththunayakkan gifted land situated in madapuram to this Village Thiruthoniappar VoRRiyurappar.

The Inscription at Karumbakkam records the construction of Bairavar sannidhi.

Vijayanagara king Venkatavan's representative Ellappa Nayaka's inscription ( 1609 CE ) records the gift of land to Ramalinga Nayanakaru. ( Nayanakaru - Naranavar, Annappillai's name as per an inscription ARE 1933-34, Sl No 112 - 113 )

Another Two inscriptions records the taxes to be paid by those come and live in this village.

Ref:

Tholliyal Nokkil Kanchipuram Mavattam, by sa . Krishnamurthy.

The entrance arch on the main road was constructed and consecrated on 28^th July 1999.

The temple chariot was repaired and brought in to operation after 50 years by S Saraswathi Ammal w/o Shanmugam Achari.

New Dwajasthambam was installed and Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 16^th March 2008.

LEGENDS

It is believed that this temple was built by the Chozha King Ko Changanan, who also built Thiruvanaikaval, near Trichy.

As per the legend Muruga killed Soorapadman with the Vel given by Parvati. Believed that the Head ( siram ), had fallen at this place, hence called Sirambakkam. Latter the same has got corrupted to the present name of Sembakkam. It was told that during Soorasamharam, the flag hoisting will be done by the personnels from Thiruporur.

Adhiseshan, came to this temple and worshiped Shiva to get rid of the sin caused due to spitting poison during churning of milk ocean. Shiva tried to swallow the poison, but ma Parvati stopped at the throat it self.

As per the sthala purana, the childless Ko Chengat Chozha was travelling through this place on his chariot. The Axile has got cut at this place and was forced to stay at this place. Shiva appeared in his dream and asked the king to built a temple. After building the temple, Shiva blessed him with a child.

It was told that water will be found in the sanctum sanctorum when the temple tank is with full of water. Hence this place is called as Vada Thiruvanaikka.

As per the Thiruvanaikaval Sthala purana, due to a curse, two Shiva ganas Pushpadanta and Malyava, were born in the forest as a white elephant and as a spider. The elephant worshiped the Lingam with flowers and do abhishekam with water brought in its trunk from river Kaveri. The spider too worshiped the Lingam, spinning out a web over the Lingam to prevent leaves of the tree, falling on it. The spider's web appeared to be unclean for the elephant and it destroyed the web. This lead to big clash between the two and ultimately resulted in their death. Lord Shiva granted Moksha (salvation) to both. The Spider was born in a royal Chozha family as the great king Ko Chenkananan, a Chozha King who built about 70 temples ( Madakovil ) including the temple of Jambukeswarar at Thiruvanaikoil. Because the king remembered about his earlier birth as Spider, he built 70, mada temples in a such way that no elephant can enter the sanctum sanctorum.