The Visit to
this Sri Vallapurieswarar temple was a part of “Gajaprsihta / gajabrushta Vimana Shiva temple
at Vallam and Jain Temples at Ponnur and Ponnur Hills Visit”, on 22nd
October 2023. This is one of the Pallava period Shiva Temple with gajaprishta / gajabrushta Vimanam in Tiruvannamalai District in Tamil Nadu.
It is believed that the hymns sung by Thirugnanasambandar on Thiruvallam,
belongs to this place Vallam and not the Thiruvalam, near Ranipet. In
Periyapuranam Sekkizhar mentions Thirugnanasambandar’s route as Thirumalpur –
Thiruvallam ( 1003 of Thirugnanasambandar's puranam ) – Ilumbayankottur-Cooum and Thakkolam. In this, both the places Thiruvalam
and this Vallam are little far off and routes are not matching.
எரித்தவன் முப்புரம் எரியின் மூழ்கத்
தரித்தவன் கங்கையைத் தாழ்சடைமேல்
விரித்தவன் வேதங்கள் வேறுவேறு
தெரித்தவன் உறைவிடம் திருவல்லமே.
தரித்தவன் கங்கையைத் தாழ்சடைமேல்
விரித்தவன் வேதங்கள் வேறுவேறு
தெரித்தவன் உறைவிடம் திருவல்லமே.
Moolavar : Sri Vallapurieswarar
Conort : Sri Kadina Kujambigai
Some
of the Salient features of this temple are…
The
temple is facing east with an entrance arch form east. Stucco image of Shiva
and Parvati are on the top of the entrance. Balipeedam and Rishabam are
immediately after the east side entrance. There is a 3 tier Rajagopuram on the
South side which is not used now. Dwarapalakas,
Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of ardha mandapam. Rishabam and a
balipeedam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is little big on a
Square avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and
Durgai.
In
praharam, Saptamatrikas, Shiva Linga, Nagar, Maha Vishnu, Sri Valli Devasena
Arumugar, Suriyan, Navagrahas, Bairavar and Chandikeswarar.
Ambal
is in a separate sannidhi on the back side of Moolavar sannidhi facing east.
Ambal Kadina Kujambigai is in three banga standing posture, while upper hands
are holding pasa angusam and lower hands are in abhaya varada hastam. Third eye
is on the forehead. The sannidhi is constructed such that circumambulation can
be done both Shiva and Ambal Sannidhis.
Durgai and Ambal
Saptamatrikas
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a maha
mandapam. The temple was constructed in gajaprishta style from adhistanam to
sigaram. The adhistanam is of pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta
kumudam and pattika. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The Pilasters are of
Vishnu kantha pilasters with square base, naga bandham, kalasam, kudam, lotus
petals mandi, palakai, and poo mottu pothyal. The Kostas are of sala style. The
prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudus and Viyyalavari. The eka
tala Vimanam is of gajaprishta style. Stucco image of Shiva with Parvati is on
lalada nasi, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the Greeva Kostas.
There is a Pallava period Kubera’s sculpture is installed at the entrance of the Temple. The bottom has the bas relief of Gurukkal carrying the naivedyam and a person is holding an umbrella on the top of Naivedyam and another person is ringing a bell. The entrance column and a mandapam Pillar, in place of Naga bandham on the left side, is in the form of Sanga Nidhi.
Sanganithi and Padmanidhi
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
The
original temple belongs to Pallava period and reconstructed as a stone temple during
Chozha period and received contributions from Pandyas and Vijayanagaras.
Pandyas and Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the adhistanam and wall. As
per the inscriptions this place was called as Jayamkonda Chozha mandalathu Venkundrakottathu
Valla Nattu vallam. And Shiva was called as Vallathu aludaiyar Thiruavagathechuramudaiya
Nayanar.
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthi Sundara Pandyan’s 12th reign year inscription records
the endowment of burning 5 perpetual lamps by Azhipadai Thangi Villagers. The
tax collected from all the sources to be given to the temple as irayili. ( SII Volume-7, No 82 ).
The
Vijayanagara Period Mahamandaleswara Chaluva Narasingaiya period inscription
records the donation of lands as Thevadhanam. ( SII Volume-7, No 83 ).
LEGENDS
As
per the legend, the demons around this are didn’t allowed to worship Shiva of
this temple, when Sugar Maharishi. Shiva with the help of Vinayagar in the form
of elephant chased them away. Since Shiva gave the vallamai / strength to Sugar
Maharishi, Shiva is being called as Vallapapurieswarar. It was told that the
some of the Village names are associated with this legend. Since Vinayagar
chased away the demons, at a place called Anaibogi, The villagers gathered and
prayed Shiva is called as Urgudi, etc,.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, maha
shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Panguni Uthiram, Arudra Darshan etc,.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple is under oru kala poojas and usually kept open around 10.00 hrs. An
operator / meikavalar is staying on the back side of the temple, who may help
to open the gates for the darshan of Parivara sannidhis.
HOW TO REACH
Vallam
is about 2.7 KM off from Vandavasi to Polur Main road and after Ponnur Hills.
The
temple is about 17 KM from Vandavasi, 19 KM from Chetpet, 42 KM from
Uthiramerur, 47 KM from Polur, 50 KM from Tindivanam and 140 KM from Chennai.
Nearest
railway Station is Tindivanam.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE
: CLICK HERE
Lingothbavar- Dakshinamurthy - Brahma
 |
Bairavar and Suriyan
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
Thank you, sir, for the details.
ReplyDeleteYou are Welcome Sir,...
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