The visit to this Sri Abathsahayeswarar Temple at
Thukkachi was a Part of the “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, I visited this temple the previous day of the Saptha Mangai Temples Visit on 10th March 2024.
This temple is on the banks of the River Arasalar and is also called “Then Kalahasti.” It is one of the three temples built with Sarabeswarar in Kumbakonam. This place was called Videlvidugu during Nadivarma Pallava-II, and the latter was corrupted by
Thukkachi.
Moolavar: Sri Abathsahayeswarar
Consort: Sri Soundara Nayaki
Some of the salient features of
this temple are….
The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram with madas (also called Nangam) in the first and
second tier. The second level, Rajagopuram, is of 3 tiers. Dwarapalakas are at
the entrance of the 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 are on a flat stone slab on both sides of the 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 elephants with soldiers.
The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam and pada bandha
adhistanam with jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with
vedika. The pilasters are Indra kantha pilasters with square bases, 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 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 the reign of 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 is believed that Durgaiatchi has got corrupted to
the present name of Thukkachi.
The 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 that 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 the 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. The 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” was used 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 disease. To get rid of the disease, 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 been relieved
from Vitiligo disease and expanded the temple.
It is believed that the place obtained its name
from Durga Atchi (who ruled this place – Durga+Atchi) and the presence of Durgai
in this temple. Which has been corrupted to the present name of Thukkachi.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are
conducted on pradosam, Mahashivaratri days,.
Sarabeswarar
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs
to 11.00 hrs and from 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 KUMBHABHISHEKAM PHOTOGRAPHS
Thanks to the Friends and Unknown Photographers
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--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---