The Visit
to this Sri Gangadeeswarar Temple at Thakkolam was a Part of the “Shiva & Vishnu Temples and Hero Stones of
Tiruvallur District Visit” on 21st October 2023.
This
temple is on the banks of river Kosasthalaiyar river, one of the 7 ancient temples of Thakkolam, and behind one of the Thevara
Paadal Petra Shiva temples of Thakkolam, Sri Jalanatheeswarar Temple. This place
Thakkolam played a main role which changing the History of Chozhas, where the
Chozha king Rajadhithan also called - யானை மேல் துஞ்சிய தேவர் - was
Killed in a war with Rashtrakutas.
During the rainy season, water used to come from the Rishabha’s mouth, which is on the back
side of the sanctum sanctorum. ( During my visit no water was coming ). A
Rishaba’s head with a water spout is installed in the temple tank and water
from the borewell is made to flow.
It is
believed rather the temple authorities claim, that Thirugnanasambandar has
sung hymns of this Shiva of this temple as Umapatheeswarar. ( Since This temple
and Jalanatheeswarar temple are on the banks of Kosasthalaiyar River and during
Thiruganasambandar’s visit both temples might have been without compound walls
and in the same complex. How the Jalanatheeswarar obtained this name has to be
studied further, since Moolavar was made of sandstone and abhishekam will not
be performed ).
மாறில் அவுணர்அரணம் அவைமாயஓர் வெங்கணையால் அன்று
நீறெழ் எய்தஎங்கள் நிமலன் இடம் வினவில்
தேறல் இரும்பொழிலும் திகழ்செங்கயல் பாய்வயலும் சூழ்ந்த
ஊறல் அமர்ந்தபிரான ஒலியார்கழல் உள்குதுமே
... திருஞானசம்பந்தர் தேவாராம்
Sekkizhar,
records that Thirugnanasambandar after worshipping Shiva of Thiruvirkolam (Cooum), came to this temple. In that, he also mentions that the Devar’s Guru
Vyazhan’s brother ( Ilaval ) Samvardha Muni’s penance was appreciated by Shiva
of this temple.
தொழுது பலமுறை போற்றிச் சுரர்குருவுக்கு இளையமுனி
வழுஇல்தவம்புரிந்து
ஏத்த மன்னினார் தமை மலர்ந்த
பழுதுஇல் செழும் தமிழ்மாலைப் பதிகஇசை புனைந்து அருளி
முழுதும் அளித்தவர் அருளால் போந்தனர் முத்தமிழ் விரகர்.
திருத்தொண்டர் பலர் சூழ்த் திருவிற்கோலமும் பணிந்து
பொருள்பதிகத் தொடை மாலை புரம் எரித்த படிபாடி
அரும்புகழி ஆண்டகையார் தக்கோலம் அணைந்தருளி
விருப்பினொடும் திருவூறல்மேவினார் தமைப் பணிந்தார்.
…… சேக்கிழார். பெரிய புராணம் ( 1006 )
This temple is also one of the Thevara vaippu sthalam sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal.
உஞ்சேனை மாகாளம் ஊறல்
ஒத்தூர்
உருத்திர கோடி
மறைக்காட் டுள்ளும்
மஞ்சார் பொதியின்மலை
தஞ்சை வழுவூர்
வீரட்டம் மாதானங் கேதா
ரத்தும்
வெஞ்சமாக் கூடல்மீ
யச்சூர் வைகா
வேதீச்சுரம்
விவீச்சுரம் வெற்றி யூரும்
கஞ்சனூர் கஞ்சாறு
பஞ்சாக் கையுங்
கயிலாய நாதனையே காண
லாமே.
.... Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal Kshetra Kovai - 06-71-08
Moolavar : Sri Gangadeeswarar / Umapatheeswarar
Consort : Sri Mohanavalli
Some of
the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a temple tank with a rishaba’s head (water is made
to flow through its mouth). Moolavar is on a square avudayar. There is no
Kostas, hence there are no images.
In the
inner praharam Sri Mohanavalli, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, and the Rishabam ( water used to come through its mouth ).
Ambal
Mohanavalli’s sannidhi faces east on the right side of the Moolavar
sannidhi. Ambal is in a standing posture. While the upper hands hold Pasa
angusam and the lower hands are in abhaya varada hastam.
In the
mukha mandapam Karpaga Vinayagar, Kasi Viswanathar & Visalakshi, and Annapoorani.
ARCHITECTURE
We do not
know the architecture of the old temple. The present structure was rebuilt during the recent period. The stones
are not matching with each other and some ceiling beams are used on the wall. A
moat was constructed around the sanctum sanctorum, through which the water from
Rishaba’s mouth flows to the Temple Tank.
This
reconstructed temple consists only of the sanctum sanctorum. The prahara is
supported with pillars and vettu pothyal and covered completely.
A nagara
stucco vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Shiva with Parvati, Dakshinamurthy,
Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva kostam.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Since
Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Shiva of this temple ( as
claimed by Temple authorities – both this temple and Jalanatheeswarar
temples might have been on the same
premises, during Thirugnanasamandar’s Visit ), this temple may be constructed
during Pallava period 8th to 9th Century.
Maha
kumbhabhishekam was conducted in September 2023.
LEGENDS
It is
believed that the Shiva Lingam installed in the mukha mandapam was worshipped
by Uthitha Maharishi. As per the legend, Uthitha Munivar’s son Theerkathar
Munivar lost his eyes due to the Curse of Kamadhenu. Hence Uthitha Muivar came
to this place Thakkolam on the banks of river Kosasthalaiyar River, installed
as Shiva Linga and Rishabam, and worshipped,
to get rid of his son Theerkathar Munuivar’s curse. After taking a bath from the
Ganga water from Rishaba’s mouth, Theekathar Munivar’s curse from Kamadenu’s
Curse. It is believed that the water that comes out from Rishaba’s mouth is from the
river Ganga.
Rishaba’s head - no water is coming - water will come during the rainy season ( On the back side of sanctum sanctorum )
Water from Rishaba's mouth ( Made to fall )
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosam, maha
Shivaratri days.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to
19.00 hrs
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
Bus facilities are available from Poonamallee,
Koyambedu, Arakkonam and Kanchipuram.
The Temple is 16 km from Arakkonam, 28 km from Kanchipuram, 54 km from Ranipet, the district headquarters, and 61 km from
Chennai.
Nearest Railway station is Arakkonam.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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