Ashtalingams around Thiruverkadu - Niruthi Lingam, Sri Balambigai Samedha Sri Paleeswarar Temple / நிருதி லிங்கம் / ஶ்ரீ பாலாம்பிகை சமேத ஶ்ரீ பாலீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், Parivakkam, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

This Sri Paleeswarar Temple at Parivakkam is one of the Ashta lingams around Thiruverkadu Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple, ie eight Shiva temples on eight directions of Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple. This temple is on the South- West direction, called as Niruthi Lingam.  

Moolavar  : Sri Paleeswarar

Consort    : Sri Balambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

An arch is on the road side with stucco image of Vinayagar, Shiva, Parvati and Murugan on the lap of Parvati. The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Stucco image of Shiva with Parvati is on the top of the arch. Balipeedam and rishabam, are in front of the temple, after the entrance arch. Saniswaran and Navagrahas are on the right side of balipeedam and Rishabam ( outer praharam ). Stucco images of Shiva with Parvati, Vinayagar and Valli Devasena Subramaniar are on the top of the temple entrance.

Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on round avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In praharam, Nandhi in worshipping posture, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar and Ambal sannidhi. Ambal sannidhi is facing South. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. A loose sculpture of Brahma is on the back side of the sanctum sanctorum.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple reconstructed with bricks and cement concrete. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam and pattika. The Bhitti starts with Vedika. Pilasters are of brahmakantha pilaster with kalasam, kudam, palakai and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. A two tala Nagara Vimanam is above bhoomi desam. Shiva, Parvati, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are on the tala and greeva kostams. The Sigaram is of Nagara style.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the temple is of 1000 years old, and the present structure may be of 200 to 300 years old.

Maha kumbhabhishekam was performed on 18^th March 2016.

LEGENDS

It is also believed that this is one of the 108 Shiva Lingas installed and worshiped by Agasthiyar in Thondai Nadu.  

During celestial wedding of Lord Shiva with Parvati, all the Devas, sages, maharishis, Munis assembled at Mount Kailash. So the earth on the north went down and south rose up. Seeing this Lord Shiva asked Agasthiyar to go to south to balance the earth. On the way to Podhigai hill Agasthiyar installed and worshiped Shiva Lingas on various places. After installing a Shiva Linga at Thiruverkadu, the sage Agathiyar prayed Lord Shiva for the darshan of Lord Shiva with Parvati’s kalyana / marriage kolam. Immediately Lord Shiva gave darshan to Agasthiyar in kalyana Kolam. When Parvati asked what will Lord Shiva do, if an ordinary devotee wishes to see him...?.  Lord Shiva immediately manifested himself in the form Shiva Lingas on the eight directions around Thiruverkadu, Sri  Vedapureeswarar temple. 

All the eight Shiva Lingas are….  

SL No	SAPTA LINGAM	LOCATION
1	Indra Lingam	at Vallikollaimedu
2	AgniLingam	at Noombal
3	Yama Lingam	at Senneerkuppam
4	Niruthi Lingam	at Parivakkam
5	Varuna Lingam	at Mettupalayam
6	Vayu Lingam	at Paruthipattu
7	Kubera Lingam	at Sundara Chozhapuram
8.A	Esanya Lingam	at Chinnakoladi ( in the midst of fields )
8.B	Esanya Lingam	on Erikarai Chinnakoladi

Some Devotees believes that the Sri Pasupatheeswarar Temple on the erikarai Shiva Lingam is the Esanya Lingam and not the one in the midst of the kazhani /field. Hence written the details of both the temples in separate posts.

Devotees worships Niruthi Lingam to get relieved from debts, to get support for those who are helpless.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Thai poosam, etc, The temple also Celebrates 10 days Manickavasagar Vizha.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Balaji May be contacted on his mobile number +919840335378 for further details.

The following Shiva Devotees of  “AshtaLinga Sivanadiyarkal Sangam” may also contact for more details.. 

M Periaswamy +919940054455

K Kumara Sivachariar +919176539026

V Mahendran   +919380802626

HOW TO REACH

Turn right from RRB energy and the temple is on Poonamallee high Road.

This temple is on the south side of the main road Ambattur to Pattabiram.

This temple is about 5.8 KM from Thiruverkadu Vedapureeswarar Temple, 8 KM from Pattabiram and Avadi Railway Station,  16.3 KM from Koyambedu bus terminus and 23 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway Station is Avadi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

A arch on the road side 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Ashtalingams around Thiruverkadu – Indra Lingam, Sri Indrasenapatheeswarar Temple /இந்திர லிங்கம் / ஶ்ரீ இந்திரசேனாபதீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Vallikollaimedu, Thiruverkadu, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

This Sri Indrasenapatheeswarar Temple at Vallikollaimedu, a part of Thiruverkadu is one of the ashta lingams around Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple, ie Eight Shiva temples on eight directions of Thiruverkadu, Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple and this temple is on the East direction.  This temple is on the banks of Holy River Cooum.

Moolavar  : Sri Indrasenpatheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Gnanambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

This temple is on the road side facing east with a balipeedam and a Rishabam. Moolavar is little large on a round avudayar. There is no provision for the Deva koshtas.

In praharam Vinayagar, Gnana Vinayagar, Ambal Gnanambigai, Durga Parameswari, Murugan, Navagrahas and a Vinayagar with Nagars on a platform.

Ambal shrine is also facing east. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

ARCHITECTURE

The total temple is only with Sanctum Sanctorum without Vimanam. The temple was constructed with bricks.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple / Shiva Linga belongs to Chozha period and the present structure may be 50 to 75 years old. It is planned to reconstruct the present temple as per the temple architecture and the Trustees numbers may be contacted for contributions.

The trustees numbers are +91 90255 08492 and +91 9841317221

AC No       : 277501000013315

IFSC         : IOBA0002775

Branch     : Tiruverkadu

LEGEND

It is also believed that this is one of the 108 Shiva Lingas installed and worshiped by Agasthiyar in Thondai Nadu.

During celestial wedding of Lord Shiva with Parvati, all the Devas, sages, maharishis, Munis assembled at Mount Kailash. So the earth on the north went down and south rose up. Seeing this Lord Shiva asked Agasthiyar to go to south to balance the earth. On the way to Podhigai hill Agasthiyar installed and worshiped Shiva Lingas on various places. After installing a Shiva Linga at Thiruverkadu, the sage Agathiyar prayed Lord Shiva for the darshan of Lord Shiva with Parvati’s kalyana / marriage kolam. Immediately Lord Shiva gave darshan to Agasthiyar in kalyana Kolam. When Parvati asked what will Lord Shiva do, if an ordinary devotee wishes to see him...?.  Shiva immediately manifested himself in the form Shiva Lingas on eight directions around Thiruverkadu, Sri  Vedapureeswarar temple.

All the eight Shiva Lingas are….  

SL No	SAPTA LINGAM	LOCATION
1	Indra Lingam	at Vallikollaimedu
2	AgniLingam	at Noombal
3	Yama Lingam	at Senneerkuppam
4	Niruthi Lingam	at Parivakkam
5	Varuna Lingam	at Mettupalayam
6	Vayu Lingam	at Paruthipattu
7	Kubera Lingam	at Sundara Chozhapuram
8.A	Esanya Lingam	at Chinnakoladi ( in the midst of fields )
8.B	Esanya Lingam	on Erikarai Chinnakoladi

Some Devotees believes that the Sri Pasupatheeswarar Temple on the erikarai Shiva Lingam is the Esanya Lingam and not the one in the midst of the kazhani /field. Hence written the details of both the temples in separate posts.

Indra worshipped Shiva of this temple to regain his original status. Devotees worships to gain promotion, to get government appointments, politicians worships to regain their lost status, etc,.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from Regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Maha Shivaratri days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since the Gate is always kept open, can have the Darshan of Shiva at any time.

CONTACT DETAILS

The following Shiva Devotees of  “AshtaLinga Sivanadiyarkal Sangam” may also contact for more details.. 

M Periaswamy +919940054455

K Kumara Sivachariar +919176539026

V Mahendran   +919380802626

HOW TO REACH

This temple is on the south side of the main road between Thiruverkadu Bus stand to Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple. Lot of Town buses are available from Koyambedu.

This temple is about 500 meters from Thiruverkadu Bus Stand, 1.5 KM from Thiruverkadu Vedapureeswarar Temple, 9 KM from Avadi Railway Station, 11 KM from Koyambedu bus terminus and 17.5 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway Station is Avadi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA --- 

Bibi-ka-Maqbara / बीबी का मक़बरा / பி பி கா மக்பாரா / பிபியின் கல்லறை– Aurangabad, Maharashtra State, India.

The Visit to this Bibi-ka-Maqbara, a mausoleum / grave built for Aurangzeb's wife and one of the world Heritage sites, at Aurangabad  was a part of “Ajanta & Ellora Heritage Walk”, organized by Enthisai Historical Heritage Walk Group - எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக் குழு, from 23^rd to 26^th December 2023. We have made this visit after visiting Ellora Caves. The total complex including the entrance arch / building was illuminated. This Historical monument  is being maintained by Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI  ).

THE HISTORY OF BIBI-KA-MAQBARA. 

இந்த பிபி கா மக்பாரா அல்லது ஒரு பெண்மணியின் கல்லறை, ஔரங்கசீப்பின் மனைவி ராபியா துரானியின் ஞாபகார்த்தமாக  ஔரங்கசீப்பின் மகன் ஆசம் ஷாவால் காம் நதியின் வடக்கு கரையில் கட்டப்பட்டது, இக்கல்லறை பொயு 1668 ஆம் ஆண்டு ஆக்ரா தாஜ்மஹாலின் கட்டிடக்கலைஞரான அஹ்மத் லஹௌரியின் மகன் அதாவுல்லாவால் வடிவமைக்கப்பட்டது. தாஜ்மஹாலின் அமைப்பிலேயே வடிவமைக்கப்பட்டு இருப்பதால் இது மினி தாஜ்மஹால் எனவும், தக்கானத்தின் தாஜ் எனவும் அழைக்கப்படுகின்றது.

தெற்குபகுதியில் இருக்கும் மற்றுமொரு கல்லறை, ஔரங்கசீப்பின் மனைவி ராபியா துரானியின் பணிப்பெண் ராபியா தௌரானியின் கல்லறறை என்று கருதப்படுகின்றது.

குலாம் முஸ்தபாவின் தாவரிக் நாமா, கணிப்பின் படி இக்கல்லறை ஆறு லட்சத்து அறுபத்து எட்டாயிரத்து இருநூற்று மூன்று ரூபாய், ஏழு அணாக்களால் ( Rs 6,68,203-7 - Rupees Six Lakh, Sixty Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Three & Seven Annas ), பொயு 1651-1661, இல் கட்டப்பட்டது.

The beautiful mausoleum of Aurangzeb's wife, is believed to have been constructed by Prince Azam Shah in memory of his mother Rabis –Ud-dauranl alias Dilras Banu Begum between circa 1651-1661CE,  on the banks of north side of the river Kham. An inscription on the main entrance door records that, this mausoleum was designed and erected by Ata-Ulla, an Architect and Hanspat Rai, an Engineer. As the mausoleum architecturally resembles the Taj Mahal of Agra built in 1631-1653 CE, this is known as "Taj of Deccan" or “Mini Taj Mahal”.

There is another tomb adjacent to the southern part of platform believed to be the nurse of Rabia Daurani.

According to the "Tawarikh Namah" of Ghulam Mustafa, the cost of construction of the mausoleum was Rs. 6,68,203-7 (Rupees Six Lakh, Sixty Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Three & Seven Annas) in 1651-1661 CE.

ARCHITECTURE

இக்கல்லறை மற்றும் திவான்-இ-அம், திவா-இ-காஸ் என்ற மசூதியும் 458 x 275 மீட்டர் என்ற அளவில் உயர்ந்த மேடைமீது முகலாயர் மற்றும் நிஜாம் கட்டிடக்கலையில் படி தெற்குப்புற நுழைவாயிலுடன் கட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது. நுழைவாயிலில் இருந்து அழகான தோட்டத்துடன், என்கோண வடிவ நீத்தொட்டி, 61 நீர்ஊற்றுக்களுடன் ஆக்ராவில் உள்ள தாஜ்மஹாலைப் போன்றே அமைக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. இக்கல்லறை கட்டுமானத்திற்குத் தேவையான பளிங்கு / சலவைக்கற்கள் ஜெய்பூரில் இருந்து கொண்டுவரப்பட்டதாக கூறப்படுகின்றது.

இக்கல்லறை, கல்லறைக்குச் செல்ல மூன்றுபுறம் படிக்கட்டுகள், அதனுடன் நான்கு மூலையிலும் எட்டுப்பட்டை மினாரெட்டுகள், நடுவே குவிமாடத்துடன் கட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது. தெற்குபுறம் உள்ள மசூதி ஹைதராபாத் நிஜாம் நவாப் மிர் அக்பர் அலிகான் சிகந்தர் ஜா அசப் அலிஜா- III, என்பவரால் பொயு 1803 – 29ல் நிமானிக்கப்பட்டது.

கல்லறையின் கீழ் பகுதி மற்றும் குவிமாடம் வெள்ளை பளிங்கு கற்களாலும் நடுப்பகுதி பசால்ட் / எரிமலைப் பாறைகொண்டு கட்டப்பட்டு சுண்ணாம்பால் பூசப்பட்டு, சிக்கலான பூவேலைப்பாடுகளுடன் உள்ளது. ஜாலிவேலப்பாடுகள் மிகவும் நுணுக்கமான முறையில் வடிவமைக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. குவி மாடத்தின் நடுவே எட்டுப்பட்டை காட்சிக்கூடம் / கேலரி அற்புதமான வேலைப்பாடுகளுடனான சாளரங்களூடன் கீழே உள்ள கல்லறையைக் காண வசதியாக அமைக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. கீழே உள்ள கல்லறைக்குச் செல்ல தெற்குப்புறம் படிக்கட்டுகளும் உள்ளன.

The mausoleum stands within an enclosed area measuring 458 x 275 meters approximately. The main entrance is on the southern side of the outer wall, and at the centre of the three remaining walls are open pavilions, which were used as Mosque, Diwan-e-Am, and Diwan-e-Khas. These buildings contain beautiful paintings of Mughal and Nizam periods.

The mausoleum is built at the centre of a raised square platform of polished red porphyritic stone provided with a railing in trellis work at the edge. Four tapering octagonal minarets with domed pavilions at the top stand freely at the corners of the square platform. It was approached by a flight of steps from all the sides earlier, but at present it has no approach on the western side as a mosque is constructed by Nizam of Hyderabad in a latter period.

The lower part of the mausoleum along with its dome are constructed with white marble, while the middle portion is of basaltic trap plastered by a fine coat of lime, rendered with marble finish and adorned with stucco work. The doorway on the south leads to an octagonal gallery with low barricaded marble screen running around the interior enabling an imposing view to the grave  of the lower level. The interior portion of the mausoleum is decorated with beautiful carvings. There are windows of marble at the corner angles. Four little chattries with corresponding minarets in each are also seen at the corners of the dome.

A number of rooms with arched domes in diamond cut design are made beneath the platform from all sides. The walls and roof of these rooms are decorated with graffiti designs.

entrance arch / building

entrance arch / building

THE GRAVE OF RABIS-Ud-DAURANL

The grave is simple, devoid of any ornamentation, surrounded with marble screens of exquisite design. A flight of steps descend in to the basement of mausoleum from the southern side, where the grave of Rabis–Ud-Dauranl is enclosed by an octagonal screen made by delicately carved marble.

MUGHAL GARDEN

The Mughal garden, Living Water Management System, Pavements which are ornamented with little kiosks, finely worked brass plated doors, Stucco floral motifs on the shell lime plaster, rank Maqbara among the best of the “Beautiful Mughal buildings of Deccan”.

MOSQUE ( NIZAM )

The mosque is built on a raised platform of tomb to its west. It is believed to have been constructed by the 3^rd Nizam of Hyderabad, Nizam Nawab Mir Akbar Ali Khan Sikander Jah Asaf Jah III during 1803-29 CE. The mosque is entered through an arched opening on the east while the side walls are closed using perforated brick work. Basalt is used as main component of construction of mosque which is further plastered with a fine coat of lime. The interior consists of rows of pillars with corner pilasters interconnected by a series of cusped arches. The whole floor area is divided into rectangles so that it can accommodate one person for offering namaz in one block. These rectangles are surmounted by an arch and can accommodate approximately 377 people at a time to offer prayer.

REF:

1.  Display boards at bibi-ka-Maqbara

2.  Archaeological Survey of India Website. ( https://web.archive.org/web/20111011201131/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_ellora_bibi.asp )

TIMINGS

This mausoleum will kept open between 09.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH

This mausoleum is at Begumpura, a part of Aurangabad, in Maharashtra state.

This mausoleum is about 7 KM from Aurangabad Railway Station, 29 KM from Ellora Caves, 114 KM from Ahmednagar, 185 KM from Nashik and 343 KM from Mumbai.

Nearest railway Station and Airport Aurangabad.

LOCATION OF THE MAUSOLEUM : CLICK HERE

Ceiling dome

 View through the entrance arch / building

View through the entrance arch / building

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---