The
visit to this Sri Moolanathar Temple at Bahour was a part of “Shiva and Maha
Vishnu Temple of Puducherry Visit” on 06th March 2026.
Moolavar : Sri Moolanathar
Consort : Sri Vedambigai
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a base of Rajagopuram/ mandapam. A stucco image of Shiva
and Parvati is on the top of the mandapam. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam, and
Rishabam are after the main entrance. Vinayagar and Thirugnanasambandar
sannidhis are on both sides of the ardha mandapam/ maha mandapam entrance. Stucco
dwarapalakas images are at the entrance of the Ardha Mandapam. Moolavar is on a
round avudaiyar. Nalvar and Utsavar idols are in the ardha mandapam. Rishabam
and balipeedam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. In koshtam, Vinayagar,
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.
Ambal
Sri Vedambigai is in a separate sannidhi that faces south. Ambal is in a standing
posture with abhaya varada hastam.
In the praharam, Sri Vimosanamuadaiyar with Rishabam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena
Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Sri Thirusobanamudaiyar with Rishabam, Sri Valli
Devasena Subramaniar, Navagrahas, Pongu Saniswarar, and Bairavar.
Chandikeswarar is in the form of a bas-relief on the ardha mandapam wall (inside)
Maha Vishnu in the koshtam and Thirugnanasambandar on the right side entrance to the Maha mandapam
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha
mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam and pada bandha adhistanam with
jagathy, threepatta kumudam and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikal. The
pilasters are of Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai and
tharanga pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with bhuta ganas, kapotam
with nasikudus and yazhivari. Thevimanam was built with stone from upanam to
prastaram. An eka tala brick nagara vimanam is on the bhumi desam. Shiva,
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are on the greeva koshtams. Maha Vishnu
is as Narasimhar slaying Hiranyakasibhu. Brahma is with his consorts.
The
upanam is with sculptures of elephants, dances, monkeys, donors, Kings with
Queens, etc.
The Chozha period ardha mandapam
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
It
is believed that the original brick temple was constructed during the Pallava reign, and the same was reconstructed as a stone temple during the Chola period. As per
the inscriptions, this place was called Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu Pavithra
Manicka valanattu Vahoor, alias Azhagiya Chozha Chaturvedi Mangalam. Shiva was
called Sri Moolasthanamudaiya Thevar.
Koparakesari
Rajendra Chozha’s 10th reign year inscription records the supply of
6 nazhi paddy as an interest for the 20 kalam paddy received by the Battars.
This has to be utilised for the early morning naivedyam (Kariyamuthu) to
Dakshinamurthy.
Kannara
Devan’s 26th reign year incomplete inscription records the gift of 4
kallu(?) to the padai(?) by the Minakkan Sankaran.
The
Chozha King Adita Karikalan’s 5th reign year inscription starts with
his title, “பாண்டியன் தலை கொண்ட….”, records the
endowment of burning a perpetual lamp, by Perungondrai Thevai Battar’s son
Nambi Dhamodran.
Rajaraja
Chozha-I’s 17th reign year inscription starts with his meikeerthi. The
inscription records the gift of Nandavanam, Land, 10 ewes by the Queen for
burning 3 perpetual lamps, and the Queen’s servant Poovanazhaku gave a gift of
90 ewes for burning a perpetual lamp.
Kannaradevan’s
22nd reign year damaged inscription records the gift of land after
purchase.
Another
Kannaradevan’s 22nd reign year damaged inscription records the
burning of a lamp.
Kannaradeva’s
22nd reign year inscription records the gift by a Devaradiyar to
the Mandradis (Herders)
Rajaraja
Chozha-I’s 11th reign year inscription starts with his meikeerthi.
The inscription records the tax on the lands which gets water from the eri/
reservoir.
Rajakesaribarmar
Thiribhuvana Chakravarthi Vikrama Chozha’s 5th reign year partially damaged
inscription starts with his meikeerthi. The inscription records the endowment
of burning a lamp.
The
Chozha King Ko Rajakesaribanmar Rajendra Chozha’s 4th reign year
inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by this village, Vellatti (Servant) Mari and Chetty.
The
Chozha King Rajaraja-I’s 25th reign year inscription starts with his
meikeerthi. The inscription records the endowment of burning 3 perpetual lamps
by Adhivaniyan Porkaman Pukiyan. For the same 90 ewes are gifted.
The
Chozha King Rajaraja-I’s 12th reign year inscription records the
endowment of 2 sandhi naivedyam and burning of sandhi lamp at Porsalai Nangai
temple. For the same land was gifted to the temple, and the periphery limits are
mentioned.
The
king Kannaradevan’s 27th
reign year inscription records the endowment of naivedyam by Govindhabattar
Somachiyar’s son Madhisoothakaviththan, for the same land was given to him by
the temple authorities.
The
King Kannaradevan’s 27th reign year inscription records the endowment
of conducting poojas, abhishekam and the person to bring water, a land was
gifted.
Koparakesaribarman
Rajendra Chozha’s 6th reign year inscription records the gift of a
Sama Lamp by Thirumoolattana Pichi. For the same 12 ewes were gifted.
The
Chozha King Kulothunga Chozha-I’s 35th reign year inscription
records the gift of paddy to naivedyam to artha Jama Kulothunga Chozha sandhi, to
the person who does the abhishekam, oil bath, and garland.
In the Chozha king Rajendra Chozha-I’s 5th reign year, an inscription records
the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp by Vellalan Enthiraiyan Kali
Uthaman’s wife, Mathangai. For the same, 72 ewes were gifted to this temple.
The
temple is under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Ref
South
Indian Inscriptions Volume 07, Sl Nos: 798 – 814.
Maha
Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 2017.
LEGENDS
As
per the legend, the Chola King Parantaka Chola-I’s wife was suffering from a skin
disease. She prayed to Moolanathar to get rid of the disease. Shri Moolanathar
came in her dream and asked her to construct a separate temple for him inside
the temple complex and worship. After the temples Sri Vimosanamuadaiyar and Sri Thirusobanamudaiyar were constructed and worshipped,
the King’s wife was relieved from the skin disease.
Sri Vimosanamuadaiyar with Rishabam
Sri Thirusobanamudaiyar
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar
Chaturthi days.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 06.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 16.30 hrs to
21.00 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
Website:
HOW
TO REACH
The
Sri Moolanathar temple at Bahour is about 14 km from Cuddalore, 22 km from
Puducherry, and 42 km from Villupuram.
The nearest Railway Station is Cuddalore.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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