VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Kailasanathar Temple / Sivan Kovil / சிவன் கோவில் கைலாசநாதர் உடனுறை காமாட்சி அம்மன் ஆலயம், Arumbavur, Perambalur District, Tamil Nadu.

Tuesday, 28 November 2023

Sri Kailasanathar Temple / Sivan Kovil / சிவன் கோவில் கைலாசநாதர் உடனுறை காமாட்சி அம்மன் ஆலயம், Arumbavur, Perambalur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Kailasanathar Temple at Arumbavur, in Perambalur District was a part of the “Perambalur & Ariyalur Districts Heritage Walk” organized by Aatrupadai - ஆற்றுப்படை – A Tours and Heritage group on 4^th and 5^th, November 2023. We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Mahatma Selvapandian for guiding us to this temple and arranging for the darshan and meals.

சுட்டகாமனை சுந்தரனாக்கினீர்

பட்ட உயிரினை பரவிட செய்தீர் !

அட்ட மூர்த்தியாய் அரும்பாவூரில் நின்றநீர்

இட்டமா யெங்களைக் காத்தருள்வீரே !

Moolavar : Sri Kailasanathar

Consort : Sri Kamakshi

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

The temple faces east with a 3-tier Rajagopuram on the South side. The entrance to the Ardha Mandapam is on the south side. Balipeedam and Rishabam are on the east side of the temple. Vinayagar is at the entrance of Sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar in the sanctum sanctorum is on a round avudayar. In Kostam, Narthana Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. Ambal sannidhi and Navagrahas are in the maha mandapam.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing South with stucco dwarapalakis. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

In praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Arumugar, Ayyappan Shrine with Karuppasamy and Kaduthasamy guardians, Nagars, Shiva Lingam with Rishabam, Chandikeswarar and Ashta Bhairavas.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a Pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and pattika. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The Kostas are of sala style. The Vishnu Kantha Pilasters are with square base, Naga bandham, kalasam, kudam, Lotus petals mandi, palakai, and Poo mottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of Valapi with lotus petals, Kapotam with nasi kudus, and viyyalavari. Nasi kudus has the bhuta gana’s faces. Stucco Vesara Vimanam is on the Bhumi desam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the tala and greeva koshtams. Maha Vishnu / part of Ashtadikpalas are on the greevam.

The basrelief of Ambal Kamakshi as cow worshipping Shiva Lingam, by milching milk on Shiva Linga, is seen in many places of the temple, which includes the nagabandham of Pilasters. Saints, Hanuman, etc, are also in place of the naga bandham of pilasters.

Malai Thongal images

Naga bandham - Cow worships Shiva

Naga bandham image - may be a saint

Shiva & Parvathi Kalyanam and Kannappa Nayanar’s story are painted on the ceiling of the mukha mandapam.

Shiva with Parvati Thiru kalyanam

Kannappar Purana

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This temple was built by Vanakovaraiyars, during the same period as Aragalur Sri Kamanatheeswarar Temple, under Chozha’s reign. Chozha period inscriptions are found on the wall and adhistanam. As per the inscription this place was called Jananatha Valanattu Vembar kootrathu Arumbar. Shiva was called Arumbar Mahadevar, Arumbar Udayar Vada Kailasanathar,.

Kulothunga Chozha- III’s period inscription records the gift of lands to this Mahadevar temple and Alwar temple of this village, for the benefit of his master Chembai Nayagar, by Chozha Modan alias Magathainaattu Velaan.

Another inscription records that Chembai Rajarajathevan alias Vanakovaraian, a regional king, established an endowment of Pooja and thirupani to this Arumbar Udayar Vada Kailayamudayar. For the same the nanjai and Punjai land under the Periya eri and ChiRReri, the lands belong to Durgaipatti, Pidaripatti, Ayyanar, in Rajarajanallur and the taxes like Thoothavari, Srikariyaperu ayam collected from devadhana lands Nanjai and Punjai in Keeraipadi are given to this temple.

Araiyan Thondaiman Perumal Pillai alias Sethirayadevan inscription records the gift of lands for poojas and Thirupani. Also, the taxes collected from the Vinnagara Perumal temple also given to this temple.

Telugu letters are found, on the stones as markings. It was said that these markings were made during the reconstruction of the temple during the 20^th century and the Sthapathis were brought from Andhra Pradesh.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam and Ashta Bhairavas were installed and consecrated on 21^st January 2009. Flooring was done by Solai Ramaswamy of Sri Balaji Real Estate.

Ref: A Handbook issued during the Heritage walk

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Ma Parvati requests Shiva to marry her once again on the earth. Shiva asked to go to Bhulok in the form of a cow and will marry her at the right time. Ambal came to earth in the form of a Cow and worshipped Shiva, by milching milk on Shiva Linga. Shiva Came to earth and married her.

In another legend, the Kamadhenu lost her mystical power and became an ordinary cow due to the curse of a Maharishi. She came to this earth, worshipped Shiva, and got relieved from the Curse, also got back her original power.