Monday, 6 November 2023

A Pallava Period Dhara Lingam as Siddhar Lingam / Sri Adhipureeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ ஆதிபுரீஸ்வரர் கோவில் / Adipureeswarar Temple, Sonallur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Adipureeswarar Temple at Sonallur was a part of the “Shiva & Vishnu Temples, Hero Stones and Heritage Sites Visit”, from Ponmar to Karunilam, near Guduvanchery, in Chengalpattu District on 24th October 2023.
 

This Shiva temple little away from human habitation and on the banks of Sonallur tank, a drinking water source created under the Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam at an estimated cost of Rs 10.79 lakhs.

Moolavar  : Sri Adhipureeswarar / Adipureeswarar 
Consort    : Sri Kamakshi

Some of the salient features of this temple are,...
The temple faces east with balipeedam and a Rishabam. Vinayagar  and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar Sri Adhipureeswarar is of swayambhu on a round avudayar. A Dhara Lingam ( sodasa lingam with 16 fluted surfaces ), written as Siddhar Lingam and Ambal is in the sanctum itself.

Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, and Nagar are around the sanctum sanctorum.




ARCHITECTURE
The total temple is under an asbestos shed. An asbestos shed with two pipe supports is erected in front of the temple.



HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Considering Siddhar Lingam, a Dhara lingam ( sodasa lingam with 16 fluted surfaces ), this Shiva Temple may be a Siddhar Peedam or a Samadhi temple. Dhara Lingas are usually worshiped during the Pallava period. Hence this Dhara Linga as Siddhar Peedam may have existed from the 07th to the 08th Century.

An 18th to 19th Century inscription stone is erected on the left side of Vinayagar. Since oil was applied for a long period the letters are very difficult to read. May be a donation stone to this temple.


HOW TO REACH
The temple is about 500 meters from the Village of Sonallur and Sonallur is about 1 KM from Sonallur Junction on Kelambakkam to Vandalur Road.
The temple is about 3 KM from Mambakkam, 6 KM from Ottiyambakkam, 8 KM from Kelambakkam, 15.8 KM from Vandalur, and 40 KM from Chennai Central Station.
Nearest Railway Station is Vandalur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE









Gangai Amman Temple - just before Shiva Temple
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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