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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