The visit to this Sri Uttamadaniswara Temple at Keelathaniyam was
part of the “Sivaganga and Pudukkottai Temples and Heritage Sites Visit” on 2nd and
3rd September 2026.
Moolavar :
Sri Uttamadaniswara
Consort : Sri
Savundra Nayaki
Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces east with an entrance on the east
side. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the temple. Moolavar is on a round
avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Dakshinamurthy and Maha Vishnu.
In the praharam, Vinayagar with Nagars, Sri Valli
Devasena Subramaniar, Ambal, Bairavar, Chadikeswarar, Pichadanar, Jyeshta Devi,
and loose and damaged sculptures of Murugan
sitting on a peacock vahana, Ambal, Maha Vishnu/ Murugan.
Ambal Savundra Nayaki is in a separate sannidhi and faces south. Ambal stands in a three-bhanga posture, holds a lotus flower in the right hand, and holds the left hand in Dola hastam.
Dakshinamurthy
Murugan/ Subramaniar
Brahma
ARCHITECTURE
The temple was constructed with stone from
adhistanam to stupi (missing). The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum,
antarala, and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha
adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts
with vedikai. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam,
palakai, and Taranga/ virikona pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi,
kapotam with nasikudus, and vyyalavari. An eka tala nagar vimanam is over the
bhumi desam. The koshtas of the greevam are empty without images. Maha nasis
are on the cardinal directions.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
This apparently is one more of the temples founded
by Muttaraiyar Uttamadani. Although no inscription of Ko-Ilango is found here,
a Rajakesarivarman's inscription attributable to Rajaraja Chola (C.E. 985- 1010)
or perhaps to Chola Gandaraditya (C.E. 949-957) refers to this temple as
Uttamadanisvara. The temple was placed in the 3rd quarter of the 9th century, or early in
the tenth.
Rajakesarivarman’s 4th regnal year
damaged inscriptions on the north prahara wall record a thevadhanam by
Rajaraja Ilango Velalan.
The
Pandya King Kobanmar Thiribhuvana Chakravarthikal Emmandalamum kondaruliya Sri
Kulasekaradevar’s 35th year of reign inscription records that Rajarajcholavelar
ran away after the surety they had given. His parents pledged the land. The
land price was fixed and sold.
Reference
Inscriptions
(Texts) of the Pudukkottai State arranged according to Dynasties.
The Archaeological Survey of India controls the temple.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
No regular poojas are conducted.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
Since there is no regular poojas are conducted, the
opening and closing times are unpredictable. Opening and closing depend on the
ASI caretaker’s availability.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
The
village Melathaniam/ Keelathaniam is 18.2 km from Ponnamaravathi, 31 km from
Pudukkottai Railway Station, and 68 km from Karaikudi.
The nearest Railway Station is Pudukkottai.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Bairavar
LOOSE SCULPTURES
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
No comments:
Post a Comment