The
Visit to this Sri Nagabaraneswarar Temple Temple at Melaiyur was a part of the 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 in recent
years. This place Melaiyur was also called Melur.
Moolavar :
Sri Nagabaraneswarar
Consort : Sri
Periya Nayaki.
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram. Stucco images of Meenakshi Sundareswarar's
marriage are 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 the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar isa 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 a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. Images
are also in koshtams. Stucco Dwarapalakis are on both sides of entrances of the 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 is 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 adhistanam is on a pada bandha adhistanam with three
patta kumudam. A few Brahma kantha 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 images of Shiva and Parvati
are in the lalada nasi. There are no images in the Greeva koshtams.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
It
was said that the original temple was built during the Pallava period and the same
was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chozha period and later received
contributions from the Vijayanagara period. A 10th to 11th-century inscription is found on the 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 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 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 underground room, about 15
years before.
Inscription is inside sanctum sanctorum
LEGENDS
It
is believed that Rahu, Ketu, Brahma, Maha Vishnu, and 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 pray to Shiva and Periya Nayaki
Amman for child boon.
Solar and Lunar eclipse
Lizard and Scorpion
Chittu Kuruvi worshipped Shiva at this temple. This panel is above the entrance of Ambal
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, Pradosham, and 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 open 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's Front and back views are below
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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