Saturday 16 September 2023

Sri Nagabaranneshwarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ நாகாபரணேஸ்வரர் கோயில் / Shri Periyanayagi ambal sametha Shri Nagabaraneshwarar Shivan Kovil /Melaiyur / Melur, Karambakkam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Nagabaraneswarar Temple Temple at Melaiyur  was a part of Shiva and Vishnu Temples of Chengalpattu District on 3rd September 2023. Even-though this Pallava era Gajaprishta Vimana Temple is dedicated to Shiva, the Temple complex consists of Maha Vishnu and Brahma sannidhis / Temples, constructed during recent years. This place Melaiyur was also called as Melur.


Moolavar  :  Sri Nagabaraneswarar
Consort    :  Sri Periya Nayaki.

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram.  Stucco images of Meenakshi Sundareswarar marriage is on the top of the Mukha mandapam. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are in front of the temple after the Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is little big on a round avudayar. In the ardha mandapam, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Nalvar and balipedam with Rishabam. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

Ambal is in a separate temple, in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. Images are also in koshtams. Stucco Dwarapalakis are on both side entrance of sanctum sanctorum.

In Praharam, Nagars, Chandikeswarar, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Ayyappan, Maha Lakshmi, Sri Lalitha Tripura Sundari, Agasthiyar, Brahma & Saraswati, ChitraGupta, Navagrahas, Bairavar, Balamurugan, Bala Vinayagar, Sarabeswarar, Dattatreya and Saptakannis.

In addition to the above, Varadaraja Perumal with Sridevi & Bhudevi are in a separate temple. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Garudan, Anjaneyar, Sri Krishanar with Bama Rukmani are also in the Mukha mandapam.


ARCHITECTURE
The total temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam.  The adhistanam, sanctum sanctorum and Vimanam are constructed in Gajaprishta style. From adhistanam to prastaram the temple was built with stone and the vimana above prastaram was built with bricks. The adhishtanam is on a pada bandha adhistanam with three patta kumudam. Few brahmakantha pilasters are shown with kalasam and kudam. An ekatala Gajaprishta Vimanam with 5 kalasas is on the prastaram. The Vimanam above the prastaram was built with bricks. Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati are in the lalada nasi. There are no images in the greeva koshtams. 






HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It was told that the original temple was built during Pallava period and the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during Chozha period and latter received contributions from Viajayanagara’s period. A 10th to 11th century inscription is found in side sanctum sanctorum wall.

A Vijayanagara King Veeravasantha Raya's period Saka 1428, ie 1526 CE inscription on a damaged / broken slab stone,  records that Immadi Chaluva Nayaka's representative ( name portion damaged ) gifted a land for the benefit of the King ( ARE 1934-5, Sl No 35 ). 

Ref: 
Tholliyal Nokkil Kanchipuram mavattam, by Sa. Krishnamurthy. 

The construction of Rajagopuram, Brahma & Saraswati sannidhi,  and Jeernodharana ashta bandhana Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 25th March 2015 at a cost of Rs 81,00,000. The total amount was sponsored by S Balasubramaniam chettiar’s son T K Rajabathar Chettiar & R Rani Ammals’ son T R Velumani & Srimati V Lakshmi ( Trustees R R Religious Trust ).

Pancha loka / metal Utsava murtis are unearthed from the under ground room, about 15 years before.    


Inscription is inside sanctum sanctorum

LEGENDS
It is believed that Rahu, Ketu, Brahma, Maha Vishnu, sage Agathiyar, worshipped Shiva of this temple. Hence this temple is a parihara sthalam for Rahu and Ketu doshas.

It is believed that, the marriage obstacles will be cleared if one person continuously attends 5 pradoshams. Also devotees prays Shiva and Periya Nayaki Amman for child boon.

Solar and Lunar eclipse
Solar and Lunar eclipse
Lizard and Scorpion
Chittu Kuruvi worshipped Shiva of this temple. This panel is above the entrance of Ambal
 
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, pradosham, Maha Shivaratri days are celebrated in a grand manner. Special poojas are conducted on Kiruthigai, Sashti, Pournami, etc, minimum of one function, in a month.  
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
Chettiar may be contacted on his mobile no +91 9629823486 for further details.

HOW TO REACH
This place Melaiyur  is  13 KM from Thiruporur, 28.3 KM from Tambaram,  19 KM from Chengalpattu and 59 KM from Chennai Central station.
Nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE









Brahma and Saraswati Temple
Brahma and Saraswati 

Ambal Temple
Ambal Temple
Sri Varadaraja Perumal temple 
Sri Varadaraja Perumal temple  
Rajagopuram Front and back view is below
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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