Gangadeeswarar Temple (Nandhi Theertham)/ கங்காதேஸ்வரர் கோவில் (நந்தி தீர்த்தம்), Thakkolam, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu.

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 21^st October 2023.

This temple is on the banks of the 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 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 the 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.

Annapoorani

ARCHITECTURE

We do not know the architecture of the old temple. The present structure was rebuilt during the recent period. The stones do not match 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 is completely covered. 

A nagara stucco vimanam is over 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 have been constructed during the Pallava period, 8^th to 9^th 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 the 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 the sanctum sanctorum)

Water from Rishaba's mouth (Made to fall)

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosam and Maha Shivaratri days.

 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 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.

The nearest Railway Station is Arakkonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Maybe Vali & Sugriva's fight - damaged during this renovation

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---