Wednesday, 17 April 2024

Sri Choleeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ சோழீஸ்வரர் கோவில், மல்லசமுத்திரம் / Mallasamudram, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Choleeswarar Temple at Mallasamudram was a part of the Namakkal District Temples and Heritage Sites visit on 23rd February 2024. Thanks to Mrs. Sakthiprakash who accompanied me to this Visit. A Kongu Chozha period temple with Vijayanagara Nayaka’s contributions.


Moolavar  : Sri Choleeswarar
Consort    : Sri Tripura Sundari

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces east with a Deepasthambam. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are in front of mukha mandapam. Vinayagar is at the entrance of mukha mandapam. Two Rishabas are installed on both sides of the steps of the mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are on both sides of the entrance to the ardha mandapam. Moolavar is on a round avudayar. In koshtam, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, and Durgai.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing east on the left side of moolavar (north side). Rishabam and balipeedam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Dwarapalakis are on both sides of the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

In praharam 4 Shiva Lingas & a Vinayagar with his vahana in a mandapam, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Bairavar, Chandran, Suryan, Chandikeswarar, and Navagrahas.



 
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattika. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The pilasters are of brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, mandi, palakai and pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam with nasi kudus. Out of three talas, two tala brick vimanam is above prastaram. The sigarzm is of Nagara style.

The Mukha mandapa pillars have sculptures of Nayaka period Donors and their wives.





The 4 Shiva Linga mandapa pillars have the bas reliefs of Koorma, Narasimhar, Ramar, Kinnara, Elephant, Female deity, and Hanuman. Going by the sculptures, these mandapam pillars might have been brought from elsewhere an old Vishnu Temple.

Shiva Linga mandapam 
Shiva Linga mandapam - Vyagrapadar
Shiva Linga mandapam - Koorma
Shiva Linga mandapam - Rama..?
Shiva Linga mandapam - Ambal 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple may belong to the 10th to 11th century and Chozha period inscriptions are found on the adhistanam and sanctum walls. May have been constructed during the Chozha period and the Moolavar is called Rajendra Choleeswarar.

The temple was reconstructed during Vijayanagara / Nayaka’s period. The Donor's sculptures are found on the Pillars of Mukhamandapam, Shiva Linga Mandapam, and Deepasthamba mandapam.

The inscription at Mathiyampatti, Mariamman Temple records the Gift of Village Uthirapatti alias Thiriyampapuram to this Rajendra Chozheeswarar Temple as Thiruvidaiyattam.

A Chozha King, Rajendra-III’s, 1246 CE inscription starts with his meikeerthi as “Thirumanni Valera….”, records the endowment of Naivedyam, to 3 sandhis to Ulakalanthan Vinnagar Temple, by the Gangaikonda Chozhapurathu Nagarathars. 

The 14th Century inscription records the gift given to this temple for the benefit of Paruthipalli nattu Mallasamudra Gounders, by a person Thoppanathar of Kundrathur.

The 19th-century inscription in the Rishabam Mandapam records the construction of Rishaba Mandapam by Koneri Chetti’s son Krishnanchetti.

Ref:
Salem - Namakal Mavatta kalvettukkal by Dr A Krishnan and published by Thanjavur Tamil University.





POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Fridays, Amavasya days, Adi month Fridays, Pradosham, Theipirai Ashtami, Sankadahara Chaturthi, Pournami, Kiruthigai, etc,.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 07.00 hrs. to 11.00 hrs. and 17.00 hrs. to 19.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH
This temple is on the bus route from Thiruchengode to Salem via Attayampatti,  about 20 km from Tiruchengode & SankariDurg, 25 km from Salem.
The nearest Railway Station is Sankari Durg.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE


Ambal Sannidhi 
 Mukha mandapam 
Mukha mandapam 



--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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