The visit to this Sri Abathsahayeswarar Temple at
Thukkachi, was a Part of “Kumbakonam Temples Visit” - on 09th March
2024. Since I couldn't join the Thukkachi Kumbhabhishekam & Heritage walk organized by கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம், 2nd and 3rd September 2023, visited this temple, previous day of the Saptha Mangai Temples Visit, on 10th March 2024.
This temple is on the banks of
River Arasalar. This temple is also called as “Then kalahasti”. This is one of
the three temples built with Sarabeswarar in Kumbakonam. This place was called
as Videlvidugu during Nadivarma Pallava-II and latter has got corrupted to
Thukkachi.
Moolavar : Sri Abathsahayeswarar
Consort : Sri Soundara Nayaki
Some of the salient features of
this temple are….
The temple is facing east with a
with a 5 tier Rajagopuram with madas ( also called as Nangam ) in the first and
second tier. The second level Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. Dwarapalakas are at
the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar in the sanctum is on a round avudayar.
In Koshtam, Nataraja with Sivagami, Ardhanareeswarar, Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Kubera and Durgai.
Ambal is in a separate sannidhi
facing south. Dwarapalakis on flat stone slab is on both sides of entrance to
the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.
The other sannidhis in praharam are, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar,
Maha Lakshmi, Sarabeswarar, Saptamatrikas, varahi, Jyeshta devi / Thavvai and
Durgai ( facing South ).
ARCHITECTURE
The temple was built with stone from upanam to
prastaram in mada style. The temple stone consists of sanctum sanctorum,
antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam, mukha mandapam and a sobana mandapam.
The sobana mandapam was built like a chariot with wheels pulled by horses. The
steps side is adorned with elephant with soldiers.
The sanctum sanctorum is on a upanam and pada bandha
adhistanam with jagathy, vrudha kumudam and pattikai. The bhitti starts with
vedika. The pilasters are of indra kantha pilasters with square base, kalasam,
kudam, lotus petals mandi and poo mottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of
valapi with lotus petals, kapotam with nasi kudus and viyyalavari. The two tier
brick vesara vimanam is on the bhumidesam. Stucco images of Shiva,
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.
The deva koshtams are of padre koshtams with Padma
jagathy, vrudha kumudam and pattikai.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
This place Thukkachi was called as
Videl Vidugu Thukkachi Chaturvedi mangalam during Nandivarman-II ( 730 – 795 CE ),
Sathriya Sigamani Valanattu Thirunaraiyur nattu Thukkachi during Rajaraja-I, (
992 CE ), as Vijaya Rajendra Chaturvedi mangalam during Rajathiraja –I ( 1018-
1034 CE ) period, as Kulothunga Chozhanallur during Kulothunga Chozha-I ( 1118
– 1136 CE ), as Kulothunga Chozhanallur alias IrumaPoonthooi. The temple might
have been built during Rajendra Chozha-I ( 1014 to 1044 CE ).
Since the temple was considered as Then
Thirukalathi equivalent to Kalahasti and Shiva as Then Thirukalathi Mahadevar
and the same was changed as Vikrama Chozheeswaramudaiyar, during Vikrama Chozha
period.
It believed that Durgaiatchi has got corrupted to
the present name of Thukkachi.
Vikrama Chozha ( 1122 CE ) inscription records the
endowment created during Kulothunga Chozha-I ( 1100 CE ) for reciting Thevara thirupathigam, by the
Uyyankondar Valanattu ThiruNaraiyur Nattu Vijaya Rajendra Chaturvedi mangalam Village Sabha. For the same the land exempted from Tax was gifted. ( This inscription is inscribed on a separate
stone slab was installed in the praharam, with the effort of Kumbakonam Vattara
Varalatru Research Sangam, by Thirupani Chemmal Kovai. Rasa.Vasanthakumar ). This
was recorded in 1918 by ASI ).
Kulothunga Chozha-III’s ( 1213 CE ), 35th reign year
inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp at Vikrama Chozheeswaramudaiyar Temple by
Oyma Nadu Village Araiyan Rajarajathevan.
Rajaraja Chozha-III’s 23rd reign year
inscription records the gift of land by Senthamangalam Udaiyar. Irregularity of
income was rectified by Seerandan Munaivaraiyan
to get an income of 2000 kalam paddy. The same person gifted utsava images of
Saniswaran & Guru, to take processions during celebrations and special
worship. For the same he established an endowment.
Koneritheva maharaja’s ( 1491 CE ) inscription
records the gift of Palanquin and Chokkar’s image to the Vikrama Chozheeswaramudaiya
Thambiran Temple.
A Nayaka’s period inscription records that a 16.5
saan measuring scale called “Samantha Nayakka Ayyan”, for measuring the
lands.
Ref:
Leaflet issued by Kumbakonam Vattara Varalatru and
Research Sangam in connection with maha Kumbhabhishekam day.
The temple renovation was
completed Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 2nd and 3rd
September 2023. ( Vaidhyanathan - +91 435 2463354 may be contacted for further details ). It was learned that the total renovation cost was sponsored through the trust run by Sri Vasanthakumar, Owner of Karpagam College Coimbatore.
PC. Mr Gopinath, Founder கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்
PC. Mr Gopinath, Founder கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்
LEGENDS
As per the legend Vikrama Chozha was infected with
vitiligo decease. To get rid of the decease, he went to many temples and prayed
to Shiva. When he was camping near this place, Shiva came in his dream and
asked to worship him for 48 days continuously. Vikrama Chozha has got relieved
from Vitiligo decease and expanded the temple.
It is believed that the place obtained it’s name
from Durga atchi,( who ruled this place – Durga+Atchi ) the presence of Durgai
in this temple. Which has got corrupted to the present name of Thukkachi.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on pradosham, Mahashivaratri days,.
Sarabeswarar
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs
to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
Vaidhyanathan - +91 435 2463354 may be contacted for further details
HOW
TO REACH
Thukkachi temple is about 2 km from Thiruppandurai,
one of the Thevara paadal Petra Sthalam, 6 KM from NachiyarKoil, 15 KM from
Kumbakonam and 57 KM from Thanjavur.
The nearest Railway station is Kumbakonam.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
SOME OF THE OLD AND KUMBHABHISHEKAM PHOTOGRAPHS
Thanks to the Friends and Unknown Photographers
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--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---