This visit to the Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Nemilichery,
in Chromepet, as a part of Shiva and
Amman Temples in Chromepet, Old Pallavaram, and Madipakkam Visit, on 20th
November 2022. This place was also called Zaminrayapet a part of Chromepet.
It is
believed that this is one of the 108 Shiva Lingas installed and worshiped by
the Sage Agasthiyar in Thondai Nadu. It is also believed that this
is one of the “Thevara Vaippu Sthalam”, sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, in praise of Shiva of Agatheechuram
along with Nandhikechuram, Mahalaechuram, Nagechuram, Kodeechuram,
Kondeechuram, Kukkudechuram, Akkeechuram, Adakechuram, Ayaneechuram
Aththeechuram, Siddheechuram, and Ramechuram.
நாடகமா டிடநந்தி கேச்சுரமா காளேச்
சுரநாகேச் சுரநாக ளேச்சுராநன் கான
கோடீச் சுரங் கொண்டீச் சுரந்திண் டீச் சுரங்
குக்குடேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரங்கூ றுங்கால்
ஆடகேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரமய னீச்சுர
மத்தீக்சுரஞ் சித்தீக்கர மந்தண் கானல்
ஈடுதிரை யிராமேச்சுர மென்றென் றேத்தி
யிறைவனுறை சுரம்பலவு மியம்பு வோமே
…. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் ( 6-71-8 )
Moolavar :
Sri Agastheeswarar
Consort : Sri Anandavalli
Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Stucco images of
Shiva with Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar, and Murugan are on the entrance
arch. The Temple tank is on the right side of the temple. Nagar and Vinayagar are
in front of the entrance arch. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of sanctum
sanctorum.Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the ardhaa mandapam. A stucco image of Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar is on the entrance of Ardha
mandapam entrance top. Moolavar is on a square avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.
Utsavars, Chandrasekarar with Parvati, Natarajar with Sivakami, and Manickavasagar are in the ardha mandapam. Ambal is in a separate
sannidhi facing south in the ardha mandapam. Ambal is standing posture, the upper
hands are holding pasa angusam and the lower
hands are in abhaya varada hastam. A special feature in this temple is, that Suryan,
Chandran, and Bairavar are in a common sannidhi.
The temple is under renovation. Hence Navagrahas, Bairavar,
Suryan, and Chandran are not installed. Chandikeswarar is on the north side of the
sanctum Sanctorum.
PC Website
PC Website
ARCHITECTURE
The complete temple was built with bricks and cement. The temple
consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. The sanctum
sanctorum is on padabandha adhistanam. An eka tala vesara vimanam is on the
sanctum sanctorum. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are on the
greeva kostam.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that this temple is one of the Thevara Vaippu Sthalam, sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Hence the temple might have existed
during his period, ie 7th to 8th century. As per Gurukkal, the tiles were laid on the inscriptions. The temple received contributions from Zamindars.
During the latter part of the 19th century, the temple was
destroyed due to natural calamity.
As per the newspaper cutting pasted on one of the pillars, The temple was reconstructed with new Ambal sannidhi and Vimanas, 1930
by Kodaa Munuswamy Iyer, and maha Kumbhabhishekem was performed. He also donated 1 acre and 49 cents of land
for the maintenance of this temple and service. With the gifted land by Kodaa Munusamy Iyer, the temple had 4 acres and
55 cents of land. However, the temple received no income from the land. After Kodaa
Munuswamy Iyer, the poojas are discontinued due to want of funds for the poojas
and maintenance.
In 1991, Thangaiah, an Executive officer of the HR & CE
Department, a native of this place, and an ardent devotee of Sri Agastheeswarar,
arranged for oru kala pooja through HR & CE Department. In July 1991, Mr S Venkatraman another
devotee, started the renovation works on 5th September 1991,
encouraged by Thangaiah. After completion of the renovation, Maha Kumbhabhishekam
was conducted on 11th July 1993.
"Sri Anandavalli Samedha Agastheeswarar Peravai" was started and
Maha Kumbhabhishekam was also conducted on 25th June 2007 after
completion of renovation works.
Now the temple is under reconstruction with the guidance of Padmashri
Ganapathy, sthapathi from Andhra Pradesh. The renovation cost is estimated at around 16.5 lakhs. It is proposed to construct Sannidhis for Vinayagar, Sri
Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Navagrahas, Bairavar, Suryan, Chandran,
Palliyarai, Natarajar Sabha, Rajagopuram, Maha mandapam, and Utsava Murtis.
LEGENDS
It is believed that this place was once inside a thick forest with a lot of peacocks. “Nemili – Peacock - “நெமிலி செருவு” called as Nemili Cheruvu, which has been corrupted to the present
name of Nemilichery.
As per the legend, during the celestial wedding of
Lord Shiva with Parvati, all the Devas, sages, maharishis, and Munis assembled at
Mount Kailash. So the earth on the north went down and the south rose up. Seeing
this Lord Shiva asked Agasthiyar to go south to balance the earth. On the
way to Podhigai Hill Agasthiyar installed and worshiped Shiva Lingas in various
places. After installing a Shiva Linga at Nemilichery, the sage Agathiyar
prayed to Lord Shiva for the darshan of Lord Shiva with Parvati’s Kalyana /
marriage kolam. Immediately Lord Shiva gave darshan to Agasthiyar in Kalyana
Kolam.
It is believed that, by worshipping Shiva and
Ambal, devotees will get relieved from chronicle deceases.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on monthly
pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Sankatahara Chaturthi, Navaratri, monthly Sashti,
Pournami, Deipirai Ashtami, Karthigai Somavara Sangabhishekam, Arudra darshan,
Adipooram, Navaratri, Panguni Utram, Margazhi month Ayilya nakshatra day to
Agasthiyar, etc,.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between
07.30 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
Jagadish and Sathish are contacted
through their mobile number +9199414, 99506, and +91 9884706265 for further
details.
HOW TO REACH
The temple in Nemilichery / Nemilicherry, on the Thoraipakkam
to Chromepet radial road, after crossing Keelkattalai / Kilkattalai Lake, turn left and the
temple will be about 2 KM off Radial
road.
The temple is 4.4 KM from Chromepet Railway Station, 11 KM from Tambaram, and 27
KM from Chennai Central.
The nearest railway station is Chromepet
Suburban Railway Station.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:
CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
No comments:
Post a Comment