This visit to the Shri Lakshmi
Narayana Perumal Temple at Chinnamanur, in Theni
District, was a part of Varusanadu Payanam, a Heritage walk to the temples and
Heritage Sites, organised by Aatrupadai, on 20th – 21st September 2025.
Thanks to திருச்சி பார்த்தி, Prabaharan, and Bala Bharathi.
Moolavar : Sri
Lakshmi Narayana
Thayar :
Sri Maha Lakshmi
Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple faces east with an entrance arch. Stucco
image of Sri Lakshmi Narayana with Sridevi and Bhudevi is in the arch.
Thiruman, shankha, and Chakra are on the compound wall of the temple entrance.
Garudan faces moolavar in front of the mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the
entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Sri Lakshmi Narayana is in a standing posture
with Sridevi and Bhudevi. Maha Lakshmi is on his chest. Shankha and Chakra are
in the upper hand, and the lower left hand is in kadi hastam, and the right hand is
tharai varkum – தாரை வார்க்கும், hastam.
Anjaneyar is also in the sanctum sanctorum.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala,
ardha mandapam, and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a upanam and
pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and pattikai. The
bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahmakantha, kalasam, kudam,
lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and pothyal. The prastaram consists
of valapi and kapotam. One tala brick vimanam with greevam and vesara sigaram
is on the bhumi desam. Maha Vishnu’s various forms are on the tala and greeva
koshtams.
A new mandapam and the renovated mukha mandapam look like Kerala architecture.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple belongs to the 7th century, the early
Pandya period. The Chozha king Rajaraja and Kulothunga Chozha’s vattezhuthu inscriptions
are found on the adhistanam. This place was called Arikesarinallur. Maha
Vishnu was called as Vandyvarapathi Pillai, Thirunaduvur Devar, Naduvirkoyil
Perumal, Thirunaduvu Bhadarar, etc.
Parakrama Pandya’s 15th reign year 1315
CE, inscription on the south side of the sanctum sanctorum records the endowment of
burning a lamp, by Thiruputhuvur (Cumbam) Kizhar’s son Mochcharayan Anantha
Narayanan. For the same 120 Kasu was received by Periyazhvan, his brother Kari
Manickam, and Narayanan Srililango.
The inscription above records
the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Thiruvathavur Pandanaichaththi’s
wife Velanakkan’s mother.
Rajendra Chozha-I’s 5th reign year 1016
– 17 CE, inscription on the west wall of the sanctum sanctorum, records the
gift of land and a Perpetual lamp to Sri Durga Parameswari Temple, by
Perumangalathu Cholai Appi. The endowment of burning the perpetual lamp was
arranged for selling a makani land for 15 kasus.
Sadaiyan Maran’s 46th reign year
inscription on the west wall of the sanctum sanctorum records that the
Srikandan Chanel’s water is to be used for the temple lands. If anybody obstructs
or uses the water unlawfully will be levied 10 kasu as a penalty.
Sadaiyan Maran’s 10th reign (2+8) year
inscription on the west wall of the sanctum sanctorum records the endowment of
burning a perpetual lamp by Avichanoor Kavisiyan Nakkan Thuvethi. For the same
10, Kalanju was gifted.
Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan-I’s 9th
reign year 1277 CE inscription on the west wall of the sanctum sanctorum
records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Thiruputhuvur (Cumbam), Arugan
Aaramosilaiyavanthal’s daughter Nangai. For the same, 50 ewes are gifted to this
temple.
Parakesari Varman Parantaka Chozha-I’s 36th
reign year 943 CE inscription on the north side of the sanctum sanctorum records
the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp, by Thiruchethi Rasadi, on behalf of
his son Rasadi Cholai. For the same reason, Ghee was gifted to this temple.
The inscription on the north side wall of the
sanctum sanctorum records a king’s 2nd reign year inscription
records the gift of land as thiruvidaiyattam to this temple by a person called
Irandakattar.
Sadaiya Varman Kulasekara Pandya-I’s 4th
(3 +1) reign year 1194 CE inscription on the sanctum sanctorum north wall
records some gift to the sabha for some expenses by Sivallavan Thiruneelakandan
Thondaiman alias Nadalwan.
Kulasekara Pandya’s 11th reign year 1279
CE inscription on the north side of the sanctum sanctorum records the endowment of
burning a perpetual lamp by Aniyan Appan.
Sadaiyan Maran (Since with the same name there is
more than one Pandya King, and this 6-line inscription refers to which Pandya King
is not known), 9th (2+7) reign year inscription on the sanctum
sanctorum north wall records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Nagan
Vikramathichan. For the same 50 Saavaa moova, ewes are gifted to this temple.
Maravarman Kulasekara Pandya-I’s 9th
reign year 1277 CE inscription on the sanctum sanctorum north wall records the
endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Athiraiyan Nakkapiran
Udhayanan of Thiruputhuvur Vangimangalam. For the same, 50 ewes are
gifted to this temple.
Maravarman Sundara Pandyan-I’s 11th reign
year 1226- 27 CE damaged fragment inscription on the sanctum sanctorum north
wall records some gift by Sivallavan Thiruneelakanda Thondaiman alias Nadalvan.
Maravarman Kulasekara Pandya-I’s 2nd
reign year 1191 CE damaged inscription on the sanctum sanctorum north wall
starts with his meikeerthi. The inscription records the gift of land to the
maha sabha by Sivallavan Thiruneelakandan for the
cultivating people and those who guard those fields.
Sadayavarman Kulasekara Pandya-I’s 19th (13
+ 6) reign year 1208 – 09 CE damaged inscription on the sanctum sanctorum north
wall starts with his meikeerthi. The inscription records the gift of land after
exempting taxes to the Maha Sabha by Thiruneelakandan alias Thondaiman. The land
was measured by a measurement scale called Pathinettadi.
The Chozha king Rajendra Chozha-I’s 4th
reign year 1016 – 17 CE damaged inscription on the Madapalli wall records the
gift for the temple expenses by the 3 sons of Thiruputhur Mangala Kizhan,
Athiththirayan Sankaran, Thirumalirunjolai
Narayanan, and Narayanan Sankara Battar. This was handed over when the three
sabhas, Arikesarinallur Sabha, Maandragaurava Mangala Sabha, and Arapathasekara
Mangala Sabha assembled at Mukha mandapam of this temple.
The fragment vattezhuthu highly damaged inscription
on the pillar, records the gift of this pillar by Arugan Bharatwaji Narayanan
Nakkan.
Ref:
Theni Mavatta kalvettukkal by Dr Si. Manickaraj,
published by Pandyanadu Panpattu Maiyam.
South Indian inscriptions Volume XXIII, and
XIV
LEGENDS
Mahalakshmi sannidhi is not in this temple, but it
is believed that Maha Lakshmi is in the chest of Maha Vishnu, hence Moolavar is
called as Lakshmi Narayana Perumal.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted
on Vaikunta Ekadasi, Amavasya, Pournami, Anjaneyar Jayanthi, etc.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to
11.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
The Lakshmi Narayana Temple at Chinnamanur is about
9 km from Uthamapalayam, 17 km from Cumbum, 23 km from Theni, and 102 km from
Madurai.
The nearest Railway Station is Theni.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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