The Visit to this Valeeswarar Temple at
Valikandapuram, in Perambalur District was a part of “Perambalur & Ariyalur
Districts Heritage Walk” organised by Aatrupadai - ஆற்றுப்படை – A Tours and Heritage group on 4th and 5th, November 2023. This place
Valikandapuram is on the banks of river Koneri.
Sri Murugan of this temple was praised by Srimath
Pamban Swamigal, Kumaraguruparar, Dhandapani Swamigal, Chidambara Swamigal,
Ramalinga Vallalar and Thirumuruga Kirupananda Variyar. The 15th
Century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Murugan of this
temple. In that he mentions this place as Valikondapuram and this has got
corrupted to the present name of Valikandapuram.
வாது கொண்டவுணர் மாள செங்கையயி
லேவி யண்டர்குடி யேற விஞ்சையர்கள்
மாதர் சிந்தைகளி கூர நின்றுநட ….னங்கொள்வோனே
வாச கும்பதன மானை வந்துதினை
காவல் கொண்டமுரு காஎ ணும்பெரிய
வாலி கொண்டபுர மேய மர்ந்துவளர் …. தம்பிரானே
Moolavar :
Sri Valeeswarar
Consort :
Sri Valambigai
Some of the salient features of this Temple are...
The temple is facing east with a 7 tier
Rajagopuram. A Vinayagar Sannidhi and a mandapam ( vasantha mandapam – Now with
a Shiva Lingam ) are infront of the temple. A 4 pillar mandapam and a well with
a mandapam are after the Rajagopuram.
Rishabam and a balipeedam are before the entrance of mukha mandapam. The
second level rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. Dwarapalakas, Vinayagar and Valli
Devasena Subramaniar are at the entrance of Ardha mandapam, Vinayagar, Shiva
& Parvati and Valli devasena Subramaniar reliefs are above the entrance. 3 Rishabas are in Maha mandapam, ardha
mandapam and in front sanctum sanctorum ( as bala, Valiba, Yavana ). Moolavar
is of Swayambhu on a round avudayar. Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu,
Brahma and Durgai are in the kostam.
Ambal Sri Valambigai is in the mandapam facing
south and a simha vahana is in the mandapam. Ambal is in standing posture with
abhaya varada hastam. Dwarapalakis painting is at the entrance of Ambal
Sannidhi. Ambal’s various forms are in the Kostas and Chandikeswari.
In mukha mandapam Maha Vishnu, Krishna, Anjaneyar,
Garudan, Loose sculptures of Saptamatrikas, are in the mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakas, Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena
Subramaniar are in the maha mandapam entrance.
In praharam, Balathandayuthapani ( about 7 feet
tall, turning the head ), Shiva linga with 1008 Lingas, Chandikeswarar,
Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Arumugar, Damaged Dakshinamurthy, original
damaged Bala Dhandayuthapani, Nagars, Nataraja with Sivagami, Bairavar without
Dog, Suriyan and Jyeshta Devi. Vinayagar and Valli Devasena Subramaniar .
Bala Dhandayuthapani
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
ardha mandapam and a maha mandapam. The Sanctum sanctorum is on a prati bandha
adhistanam with padma jagathy, Vrutha kumudam and Viyyalavari. The pilasters are
of Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai, pothyal. The Prastaram
consists of valapi, Kapotam with nasikudus and Viyyalavari. An Ekatala vesara
Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.
Ambal sannidhi prahara walls are built with
available stones and bricks during Vijayanagara period.
Mandapa pillars has the bas reliefs of Vali
worshipping a Shiva Lingam, Pichadanar, Hanuman, a Parshvanatha Tirthankara, Gajendra
Moksha, etc,.
Ambal sannidhi mandapam wall was built with stone and bricks during reconstruction
The 7 Tier Rajagopuram is without stucco images
built during Vijayanagara period. The adi tala kalkara has the bas reliefs of
Vijayanagara period sculptures like, daners, fighting scene, the iconic
sculptures of herdsman, etc.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
As per the Temple’s display 134 inscriptions are
recorded from this temple. Shiva of this temple was called as
Thiruvaleesvarathu mahadevar, Thiruvaleesvarathu Perumal, Thiruvaleesvarathu
Alwar, Thiruvaleesvarathu Parameswarar, Thiruvaleeswaramudayar,
Thiruvaleeswaramudaiya Nayanar, Thiruvalinathar, Thiruvaleeswaramudaiya
Thambiran, Sri Valinayagar, Srivaleeswaraswami. This place was called as Keralanthakapuram
during Rajaraja period.
The Adita Chozha-I’s period inscription records the endowment of
burning a ½ lamp by Thirukkovilur Arumbakizhan Sathan, for the same 3 ½ kalanju
gold was given to Valikandapuram Sankarapadi Nagarathar, a group of oil merchants, in turn they agreed to supply
Azhakku ghee to the temple.
This inscription was recorded by Vannattu
Pirathisuramangalam sabha. The inscription records the endowment of Naivedyam
and applying oil to Piragnaradamangalam Thiruchilakundram temple Thirukkettai Kizhaththiyar ( Jyeshta Devi ),
by Kadamban Nagan. For the same 5 kalanju gold was given to the Village Sabha.
With that gold the Village sabha purchased 2 ½ ma land on south side of the
land and gave it to the temple.
Parantaka Chozha-I’s period inscription records the endowment of
burning a perpetual lamp, by Veerachozha Milaadudaiyar’s wife, Naaddaigal who
was also the daughter of Vannadudaiyar. For the same 7 ½ kalanju gold was given
to Valikandapurathu Sankarapadiyar merchant group and they agreed to supply
Ulakku ghee to the temple.
Rajadita Chozha’s period inscription records the
endowments ( what are they… ? ) by Karananayagam Kumaradi Thiruvarangan, an
official Kothandamayilatti.
Rajadita Chozha’s period another inscription
records the endowment of burning a lamp, for the same 7 kalanju gold was given
to Sankarapadi Nagarathar and they agreed to supply ulakku ghee to the temple.
This endowment was established for … There was a fight between Maravan Thoonganai
alias Parantaka Vannadidaiyan and his brother in law Vanarayan Aravindan
Rajaditan. In that Parantakan Vannadudaiyan won in the fight ( this fight was
mentioned as – kozhiporuthi - கோழி
பொருத்தி ). The
actual reason is not known, whether the endowment is for the victory or the
defeat.
Another inscription records the endowment of burning two perpetual lamps by the merchant
group Vannattu Thisai ayiraththu Inootruvar. For the same 15 kalanju gold was
given to the temple. There was a fight between Karkattur Valanjiyan Aiyyatri
and Vanamampadi Udaiyan Vadukan Sadaiyan, in which Sadaiyan died. For the Valanjiyan
Sadaiyan, on behalf of all mandala Veera valanjiyar, this endowment was
established. The 15 kalanju gold was received by two groups Mani Gramaththar
and Senaiyar and agreed to supply Uri Ghee ( 2 ulakku ) ghee to the temple.
Another inscription records the establishment of
Saravana Perumal ( Dhandapani / Murugan ) by Perumal alias Vanavarayar, who has
the Kani urimai / right in villages
Sirukoodal, Brahmadesam, Kilagnaloor. He
also established an endowment of Naivedyam in two nazhi rice, vegetables, and
burning two lamps, apply oil once in a month. For the same 7000 kasu was given
as a gift to the temple. Since the original statue was damaged, which is kept
in the prahara and a new statue was installed during Vijayanagara period.
Arunagirinathar might have sung on this Dhandapani.
Kulothunga Chozha’s ( 1207 CE ) inscription records
that Vannadu kani Urimaiyalar a small regional king Suddhamalan Jayangonda
Chozha Vannadudaiyar prayed to Shiva of this temple for Child boon and promised
to give Gold pattam if Child born with God’s grace. He was blessed with a
child and Suddhamalan Jayangonda Chozha
Vannadudaiyar, gave the Pukazharai Poondi Village as Kani to this temple.
Ref :
A Hand book issued during Heritage walk
The right side Mandapa after the Rajagopuram (
built during Vijayanagara period ), adhistanam Kumudam inscription records the
endowment of burning Lamp at "Arumozhitheva Jinalaya – அருமொழிதேவ சினாலைய…." There is also a Parshvanatha bas relief on one
of the pillar. This indicates that these stones and pillar might have brought
from a Jain Temple, which existed in the same Village or nearby Village.
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A Parshvanath relief on the mandapa pillar
Inscription on the Kumudam of the mandapam adhistanam
There is a British Period 19th to 20th
Century, separate Tamil and English inscription stone on the right side of
Rajagopuram. The inscription records as விளம்பரம்
… சர்கார் சொத்து. மனதறிந்து கெடுதி செய்கிறவர்கள் தண்டனைகுட்படுவார்கள். The same in English reads as, NOTICE … GOVERNMENT PROPERTY ANY WILFUL
DAMAGE THERE TO WILL BE VISITED WITH A PENALTY.
LEGENDS
During Sangam period this place was called in the
name of a King Kandeerpuram, who ruled in this place. Then after Vali
worshipped Shiva, this place is being called as Valikandapuram. It is believed that Vali will get, half of
the opponent’s power when he fights with any body, after worshipping Shiva of
this temple.
It is believed that the Marriage obstacles will be
removed after worshipping Ambal and Krishna, by lighting Ghee lamps on Tuesdays
and Fridays.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, ashtami Theipirai
for Bairavar, Panguni Uthiram, etc,.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 06.30 hrs to
11.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
HOW TO
REACH
This temple is about a KM from the place
Valikandapuram and on the Ulundurpet to Trichy main road.
The temple is about 10 KM from Perambalur, 17 KM
from Tholudur, 39 KM from Ariyalur, 70 KM from Trichy, 80 KM from Thanjavur and
267 from Chennai.
Nearest railway station is Ariyalur.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Vasantha mandapam
Chandikeswara
Chandikeswari
Sri Valli Devasena Arumugar
Vali worshipping Shiva
Gajendra Moksha
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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