Ganga Jadadisvarar Temple / Shri Gangajatatheeswarar Temple / Sri Vijayanathar Temple / அருள்மிகு கங்காஜடாதீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில் / கோவிந்தபுத்தூர் கங்காஜடேஸ்வரர் கோயில் / Govindaputhur, Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Ganga Jadadisvarar temple at Govindaputhur, in Ariyalur District, was a part of the “Perambalur & Ariyalur Districts Heritage Walk” organised by Aatrupadai - ஆற்றுப்படை – A Tours and Heritage group on 4^th and 5^th November 2023.  

This temple is on the north banks of the river Kollidam, and the place is called Govindaputhur, which is considered the 121^st Thevara Vaippu Sthalam sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal. But most of the Sivanadiars consider Sri Vijayanatheswarar of Thiruvijayamangai, which is on the south side of the river Kollidam, to be the 101^st Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 47^th Sthalam on the north side of the river Kaveri in Chozha Nadu, sung by Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal.

In another version, some of the experts say that this temple is the Paadal Petra Sthalam. This temple is called Vijayamangai, and the place is called Govindaputhur /Govanthaputhur and Gokaranthaputhur - கோ+ கரந்தபுத்தூர் - Go+Karanthaputhur. This was mentioned in Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal Thevaram as.. கொள்ளிடக்கரைக் கோவந்தபுத்தூரில் வெள்ளிடைக் கருள் செய்விசயமங்கை.

In Periya Puranam, Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshipping Lord Shiva of Thirupugalur.

அந்தணர்விசய மங்கையினில் அங்கணர்

    தம்தனி ஆலயம் சூழ்ந்து தாழ்ந்துமுன்

வந்தனை செய்து கோதனத்தை மன்னிய

    செந்தமிழ் மாலையில் சிறப்பித்து ஏத்தினார்

Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, and Ramalinga Adigalar have sung hymns praising Lord Shiva of this temple.

மருவமர் குழலுமை பங்கர் வார்சடை

    அரவமர் கொள்கையெம் அடிகள் கோயிலாம்

குரவமர் சுரபுன்னை கோங்கு வேங்கைகள்

    விரவிய பொழிலணி விசய மங்கையே

தோடமர் காதினன் துதைந்த நீற்றினன்

    ஏடமர் கோதையோ டினித மர்விடம்

காடமர் மாகரி கதறப்போர்த்ததோர்

    வேடம துடையணல் விசய மங்கையே.

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

பாண்டு வின் மகன் பார்த்தன் பணிசெய்து

    வேண்டு நல் வரங்கொள் விசய மங்கை

ஆண்டவன் அடியே நினைந்து ஆசையால்

    காண்டலே கருத்தாகி இருப்பனே

வந்து கேண்மின் மயல்தீர் மனிதர்காள்

    வெந்த நீற்றன் விசயமங் கைப்பிரான்

சிந்தை யால்நினை வார்களைச் சிக்கெனப்

    பந்து வாக்கி உய்யக்கொளுங் காண்மினே.

........ திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள்

                                                    ---“மாற்கருவின்

கண்விசைய மங்கைக் கனிபோற் பெறத் தொண்டர்

எண்விசைய மங்கையில் வாழ் என்குருவே

--- திருஅருட்பா  வள்ளலார்

Moolavar  : Sri Ganga Jadadisvarar / Vijayanathar

Consort    : Sri Mangalambigai / Mangai Nayaki

Some of the salient features of this Temple are...

The temple is facing east with a mottai Gopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the mottai gopuram. Stucco Dwarapalakas are at the entrance. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Kala samhara moorthy, Ashtabhuja Durgai, and Pichadanar.

In praharam, Ambal, Vishnu Durgai, Rajaraja Chozha, Raja Pathni, Maha Vishnu, Maheswarar, Saptamatrikas, Shiva Lingam, Mothaga Ganapathy, Srusti Ganapathy, Maha Lingam,  Vinayagar, Murugan, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Gajalakshmi, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Navagrahas, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, and Suriyan.

Saptamatrikas

Saptamatrikas

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a kapota bandha adhistanam with padma jagathy, vrutha kumudam, and kapotam with nasikudus. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus, and viyyalavari. An eka tala stucco vesara vimanam is over the sanctum sanctorum. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva koshtam.  

Photo in daylight - PC website

Photo at night

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal have sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before the 7^th century. The sanctum sanctorum was reconstructed during Rajaraja-I’s period with stone, and the rest are in a brick structure.  

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to Madurai Konda Koparakesarivarmar, Parakesari Uttama Chozha, Rajendra Chozha-I, Kulothunga Chozha-I and III, Tribhuvana Chakravarthi Rajarajan (maybe III). As per the inscriptions, this place Vijayamangai was in Vadakarai Rajendra Singavalanattu Periya Vanavan Mahadevi Chathurvedi Mangalathu Vijayamangai (Rajendra Chozha-I period) and Vikrama Chozha Valanattu Innambar Nattu Vijayamangai (during Kulothunga Chozha–III), Periyasrivanavan Madeechaturvedi Mangalam. Lord Shiva was called Vijayamangalamudaya Mahadevar, Vijayamangalathu Mahadevar, Vijayamangalamudaya Paramasamy.

Rajaraja-I’s 3rd-year reign inscription records the construction of the Moolavar vimana with stone by Udayar Mummudi Chozhan Thevar Peruntharaththu Kuvalaalamudayar Ambalavan, Pazhuvur Nakan alias Vikrama Chozha Maharajan (Perumtharathu – a nobleman / a regional King – Kurunila mannan). 

விசயமங்கலமுடைய பரமசாமிக்கு ஸ்ரீ விமானத்தைக் கல்லால்

எழுந்தருளுவித்தவன் உடையார் மும்முடிச்சோழதேவர் பெருந்தரத்து

குவளாலமுடையான் அம்பலவன் பழுவூர் நக்கனான

விக்கிரமசோழ மகாராஜன் ஆவன். (SII Volume XIII)

One of the 3^rd reign year inscriptions was inscribed as per the agreement reached.

One of the inscriptions records the endowment of Naivedyam and service by Madhana Kameecharipurathu Kadan of this Brahmadeya Chaturvedimangalam. For the same land was gifted to this temple.

Another inscription records the endowment of 4 kala poojas, with Naivedyam, as rice, Porikayamuthu, Puzhukkayamuthu, Kariyamuthu, Neiamuthu (ghee rice), Thayiramuthu (Curd rice), Adaikkai Amuthu (beetle nut and leaf), Verungai / vegetables, and the pooja materials like Sandal, Sandal paste, Camphor, Milk, vasthiram (dress cloths), 5 Perpetual lamps, 4 lamps for morning, Uchikalam 8 and night 14 sandhi lamps for which, a land was donated to this temple, by Ambalavan Pazhuvur Nakkan alias Rajaraja Pallavaraiyan.

Uthama Chozha’s period inscription, Kuvalamudaiyan Ambalavan Pazhuvuran Sri Vikramachozhamarayar, rebuilt the temple as a stone temple. Hence, during the Parantaka period, this temple might have been a brick temple. Kuvalamudaiyan Ambalavan Pazhuvuran Sri Vikramachozhamarayar’s wife gave 96 sheep/ewes for burning a perpetual lamp. (Kuvalapuram – Kolar in Karnataka state).

Kuvalamudaiyan Ambalavan Pazhuvuran Sri Vikramachozhamarayar gave 1 ¼ ma land to the temple and received 200 kalanju gold. The Village sabha agreed to pay the taxes like Vasalil pontha Kudimai, Ooridu varipadu, Irai Echchoru, Chenneervetti, etc. Also, they assured that if the Thevarkanmis Brahmins and Karnathar levy taxes, they will be punished by paying 50 kasus as a penalty.   

This inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Adigal Pazhuvettaraiyar Maravan Kandan’s official Kundra kootrathu ARani Nallur Manaperumai Swamy, alias Kundra Nattu KaNdap Perunthinai. For the same, 90 ewes were gifted to this temple.

Rajarajan-I’s 7^th  reign year inscription records that Ambalavan Pazhuvur Nakkan alias Rajarajara Pallavaraiyan established the Natarajar with Umapatalaki ( Sivakami ) and donated ornaments.

The sanctum sanctorum south side adhistanam inscription records the name of this place as Rajendra Singavalanattu Brahmadeya Sri Parantaka Chaturvedi Mangalam, which was earlier called Periya Sri Vanavanmadevi Chaturvedi Mangalam. The sabha of this village assembled at Sri Parantakapereri’s bank and established an endowment of the burning lamp, naivedyam, reciting Thirupathigam, services, and celebration of Rajaraja-I’s birth nakshatra sathaya day in Panguni month (But actual birthday is Sathayam nakshatra day in Aippasi month) at Sri Adita Eswaramudayar Temple. For the same land was gifted to the temple. Also, they gave a gift of land for establishing a flowering garden and supplied 100 Sengazhuneer flowers at Thuraiyur, alias Sri Vanavan Madevi Nallur. This decision was endorsed by the villagers of Keralanthagacheri, Rajarajacheri, Sundara Chozhacheri, Mumudichozhacheri, and Niththavinothacheri representatives.

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s 14^th& 15^th reign years inscription records that Madathipathi Pazhuvur Andan, who took care of this temple, had done malpractices like cutting and selling 32600 betel nut trees,  30400 kasu, which were collected as taxes, held personally without depositing in the Pandaram / treasury. This leads to the loss of the temple. When the King's official and the Village Sabha tried to enquire, he escaped from the house through the back doors. The House was broken open and 40 kalam of paddy and some materials belonging to the temple. His house was demolished, and a Vinayagar temple was constructed on that place, and land was purchased from the kasu recovered.

Rajathi Rajan’s 7^th reign year inscription records that the beetle nut trees in the temple Devadana lands, @140 trees in one ma land, were given to Pazhayanur Udaiyar Pallavarayar. At the end of this inscription, Rajaraja Chozha-III’s 32^nd reign year inscription is also inscribed.    

Rajaraja-I’s 32nd-year reign inscription records that there was a mutt/math called Thiruthondar Thokaiyan Thirumadam that existed during his period.

One of the inscriptions records that there was a sabha that functioned in the village and used to assemble at Vinaiyabarana Vinakara Perumanadigal (a Perumal Temple). Before the sabha assembly, the same will be announced to the villagers through the beating of the drum and blowing of the kalam (a type of air instrument).

Rajendra Chozha-III’s inscription on the outer side wall of the praharam records the Thirugnanasambandar’s Thevara pathigam as...

வாழ்க அந்தணர்

  வானவர் ஆனினம்

வீழ்க தண்புனல்

  வேந்தனும் ஓங்குக

ஆழ்க தீயதெல்

  லாம்அரன் நாமமே

சூழ்க வையக

  முந்துயர் தீர்கவே.    

Thirugnanasambandar's thevara hymns inscription 

Uthama Chozha’s 948 CE inscription records that Thevaram was recited in this temple. Another Rajendra Chozha-I inscription records that Paddy was given for reciting the Thevaram pathigam in the temple.

Ref:

1. Varalaru.com, issue 46.

2. A guidebook issue during the Heritage walk

3. South Indian Inscriptions Volume 13, Sl. Nos. 76, and 124.

4. South Indian Inscriptions Volume 19, Sl. Nos. 214, 272, 273, 314, 331 - 4, 357, and 358.

5. பெரம்பலூர் & அரியலுர் மாவட்ட கல்வெட்டுகள், இல கணேசன்

LEGENDS

The epic Mahabharat’s character Pandu’s son Arjuna worshipped Shiva of this temple and obtained many boons. This was mentioned in the hymns sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal.

பாண்டு வின்மகன் பார்த்தன் பணிசெய்து

    வேண்டும் நல்வரம் கொள்விச யமங்கை

ஆண்டவன் அடியே நினைந்து ஆசையால்

    காண்ட லேகருத் தாகி யிருப்பனே

This place was also called Go + Karantha + Puthur, which means that Cows worshiped Shiva with milk. This legend is depicted as a Stucco image and a kanda pada bas relief in the temple.

In another legend, like Shiva, Brahma also had 5 heads. Due to this, Brahma behaves like Shiva, thinking that he is equally powerful as Shiva. So Shiva sent Bairava to pluck the 5^th head.  This legend, along with the blessing Vijayan, was mentioned by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal in his hymns. Since Shiva blessed Vijayan, this place has been called Vijayamangai.

கொள்ளிடக்கரைக் கோவந்தபுத்தூரில்

    வெள்ளிடைக் கருள் செய்விசயமங்கை,

உள்ளிடத்து உறைகின்ற உருத்திரன்

    கிள்ளிடத் தலையற்றது அயனுக்கே

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Sankatahara Chaturthi, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH

This temple is on the Ariyalur- Muttuvancheri – Govindaputhur Road. 

The temple is about 32 km from Ariyalur, 34 km from Keezhapalur, 66 km from Thanjavur, 48 km from Perambalur,  100 km from Trichy, and 290 km from Chennai.

The nearest railway station is Ariyalur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Maha Vishnu - Pichadanar

Rishi Pathnis

Ashta bhuja Durgai - Kalasmharar

Chandikeswarar - Dakshinamurthy

Maha Vishnu - Brahma

Durgai

Durgai

Shiva

Murugan

Bairavar

A Mandapa with squatting lion ( square ) pillars 

Sthala Purana

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---