The visit to this Sri Janamejaya Eswarar Temple at Panambakkam was a part of the temple visit in Tiruvallur District, before attending the Uzhavarapani at
Janamejaya Eswarar Temple at Panambakkam and Palalayam function at Senji
Panambakkam Sri Kailasanathar Temple.
Moolavar : Sri Janamejaya
Eswarar
Consort : Sri
Jegathambal / Sri Kamakshi Amman
Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple faces east with Balipeedam and Rishabam. Rishabam
is in a mandapam with the main temple’s adhistanam architectural style. Moolavar is
a 16-fluted surface Dhara lingam. Ambal Jegathambigai Chandikeswarar and
Durga, as loose sculptures / damaged, are kept in the maha mandapam. Since the sanctum sanctorum was damaged, moolavar was
shifted to ardha mandapam. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar
and Brahma. All koshta images are made of Greenstone.
There are two more sannadhis on the back side of the sanctum
sanctorum, built for Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, which are without
images now.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha
mandapam, and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhistanam
with vrutha kumuda. The adhistanam is a little elevated with upanam, built like a
mada temple.
Yazhihastha sobhanam with 6 steps, is to climb up to maha mandapam
on both sides. Mangala symbols are on the top of the entrance. Maha mandapam Pillars
have the malai thongal and dancing ladies. The pothyals are of vettu / poo mottu
pothyal with design. The pothiyals of the mandapam are of different styles like vettu, tharanga, and poo mottu pothyals. The centre portion has various designs.
Deva koshtas are padra kostas with jagathy, three patta kumuda, kapotam, and vyyalavari. The mahara toranas have the bas reliefs of Lord
Shiva and Parvati as Rishabandhikar, Kannappa Nayanar, Natarajar, Umasakithar,
Kaman & Rathi, and Prithvi, Ganga Avatharana karanam, Uma Maheswarar, dancing
girls with two females acrobat, etc.
The bhitti starts with vedikai and Brahmakantha pilasters are
with malai thongal, thamaraikattu, kalasam, thadi, kudam, mandi, palagai,
veerakandam and vettu pothyals. Panjaras are between salaipathi and
karnapathi. Kuda panchara with a snake is on the ardha mandapam outer wall. The maha mandapam outwalls also have the koshtas.
The prastaram is with valapi, kapotam, and vyyalavari.
Bhuta ganas with different postures are in the valapi. The kapotam is
with nasikoodus and kodipalai karukku. Nethra nasis are in the karnapathi.
Bhuta gana's faces are with various expressions in the nasikudus.
The stucco vimanam above Bhoomi Desam is of two tiers. The
stucco images are not visible.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE TEMPLE
The temple is in bad shape, and trees have grown on the vimanam
and mandapams. It is not certain whether the tree roots are holding the vimanam or the vimanam is holding the trees. Fearing of sanctum may crumble at any time,
Moolavar was shifted to ardha mandapam. The maha mandapam beams above the
Pillars are in broken condition, due to the pillars sinking below.
Ambal was housed once in a separate sannidhi and now remains only
with a wall. Efforts are on to reconstruct the temple to spring back to its original
glory, by the local politicians and villagers.
Uma MaheswaraLord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabanthikar
Kannappar puranamacrobat
Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar
Dancers and Musicians bas-reliefs on Malai thongal
Nataraja
Mandapam Ceiling - Pillar pothyal and the beam crack
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Based on the inscriptions, this temple was assigned to 10th
century Chozha period. The inscriptions recorded from this temple belong to
Vikrama Chozha, Kulothunga Chozha-III, and Rajaraja Chozha-III. As per the
inscriptions, this place was in Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu Manavil Kottathu
Manavil Nattu Senji, and Lord Shiva was called Jayamatheeswaramudaya
Mahadevar. (Thanks to Anbu Vanthiya Devan, Pon Karthikeyan, and Saikumar).
Vikrama Chozha's 10th reign year inscription records
the endowment of burning two sandhi lamps by NagangkoRRan Aruveliyan's daughter
and Naduvinmalai Perumoor Nattu Venbakkam KoRRamangala Kilan Vadavayirselvan's
wife, for the same 2 Kasu was gifted. The same was received by Sivabrahmin
Kavusigan Madhurantakadeva Battan, Kavusiga Kuzhaintha Bhattan, Kausika Arulveli Bhattan, Athrayan Eru (Sevaka) Bhattan and agreed to carry this endowment
till sun and moon exist. The original inscription reads as...
வீரஸிம்ஹாஸனத்து முக்கோக்கிழாநடிகளோடும்
வீற்றிருந்தருளிய கோப்பரகேசரி பந்மரான திரிபுவனச்சக்கரவத்திகள் ஸ்ரீ விக்ரம சோழ தேவற்கு
யாண்டு பத்தாவது ஜயங்கொண்ட சோழமண்டலத்து உடையார் திருவேகம்பமுடையார் தேவதாநம் மணவிற்
கோட்டத்து மணவில் நாட்டு செஞ்சி ஜயமதீஸ்வரமுடைய மஹாதேவர்க்கு நாகங்கொற்றன் அருவேலி(ய)ன்
மகள் நடுவின்மலைப் பெருமூர் நாட்டு வெண்பாக்கத்து கொற்றமங்கலங் கிழான் வடவாயிற் செல்வன்
அகமுடையாள் கம்படி நங்கை வைத்த ஸந்தி விளக்கு இரண்டு இரண்டும் வைத்த பரிசாவது இக்கோயிலிற்
காணி உடைய சிவபிராஹ்மணந் கவுசிகன் மதுராந்தகதேவ பட்டனும் கவுசிக குழைந்த பட்டனும் கவுசிக
அருள்வேலி பட்டனும் ஆதிரயன் எறு(சேவக) பட்டனும் பக்கல் குடுத்த காசு இரண்டு இக்காசு
இரண்டுங் கைக்கொண்டு இவர்களும் இவர்கள் வம்ஸத்தாரும் சந்திராதித்தவரை இந்த விளக்கு
(இக்)காசிற் பொலிசை கொண்டு விளக்கு எரிக்கக் கடவர்களானமைக்கு"
Kulothunga
Chozha-III’s 28th reign year inscription records the endowment of a burning sandhi lamp at Manavil Kottathu Udayar Thiruvekambamudayar Thevadhanam
Senji Janamatheeswaramudaya Nayanar, by Thiruvan Selvan, one of the Nagan Kootran Vasudevan alias Kaduvettikal,
for the same 2 Pazhangasu / money was received by the Siva Brahmins Nattal
Perumal Avimuktha Nayaka Thirutta Peruman and agreed to lit till the sun and
moon exist from the interest. This was recorded by the Thiruvekambamudayar
Temple Kanakku / accountant Uthiramerurudayan Sana Thevan Thiruvekambamudayan.
Rajaraja-III’s
8th reign year inscription records the endowment of payment for the
people preparing the Thirupallithamam / Garland to Thiruvekambamudayar manavil
Kottam as per Veeranarasingathevar alias
Yadhavarayan’s Thirumukapadi. All the taxes, such as weaving machine taxes /
Saliyathari, Uchchathari Parayar thari kasus, etc., paid to the pandaram have to be
utilised for the above purpose.
Rajarajan
–III’s 11th reign year inscription records the endowment of pooja
and Naivedyam, a land at Yadhavarayar Paadur as Thevadhanam. This was given in
the form of an order/Thirumukapadi on a palm leaf by Veeranarasingathevar alias
Yadhavarayan to the Paadur Village people. The land measures 5 veli, with
periphery limits mentioned. The income from the above land has to be
utilised for the above purpose. The Sivabrahmana’s name was mentioned as
Kuthanda Nayakka Nambi.
Rajaraja
Chozha-III’s 16th reign year inscription records the endowment of
burning a Sandhi lamp by Kunthalalwan, one of the NagangoRRan JagathaNda Nayagan Velan Pillais,
for the same 2.5 Pazhangasu was received by Siva Brahmanan Kausigan Kunichan Perumal Bhattan and the
temple Avimuktha Nayagan
Thirunattapperumal.
Rajaraja Chozha-III’s 18th reign year inscription records the endowment of
burning a sandhi lamp by Komugan alias Pallavaraiyan, of one of the NagangoRRan Adhinathan Velan pillais.
Jadavarman
Sundara Pandyan’s 14th reign year (1250–1268 CE) inscription records the endowment of burning Sandhi
lamp and Maadai (..?) at this Janametheeswaramudaya Nayanar temple by
Panambakkam Nachialwan for the same Siva Brahmanars Era Kausikan Avimuththa
Nayakan and Kavuthaman Bhattan Pillai, who received money to carry out.
LEGENDS
As
per the legend, Janamejayan was the son of Pareetchithu, who ruled the Gurskehtra
for 24 years. Due to the curse of a Brahmin, he was killed by the bite of Nagarajan
Dakshan of Dakshaseelam. Angered Janamejayan, took a vow/oath to kill
Nagarajan Dakshan within a week. So he conducted a Sarbamedha yagna. The
purpose is that all the Nagas will fall into the Gundam and die. All the Nagas died except Karkodakan and
Nagarajan Dakshan. Nagarajan Dakshan wound on the wheels of Surya and escaped.
Karkodakan went and hid behind Lord Shiva, who gave asylum. Karkodakan promised
that he would not bite anybody in this place, and even if he bit people would not
die due to poison. To get rid of this sin, Janamejayan installed this Shiva
Lingam and worshipped.
Since
Janamejayar worshipped Lord Shiva of this temple to get relieved from the sin
caused by the killing of Nagars, this temple is a Rahu, Ketu, Sarpa doshas,
Naga dosham, and Pitru dosha parihara sthalam.
As
per hearsay, Lord Shiva was called Harihara Eswarar, and Janamejayar worshipped
both Lord Shiva and Parvati with equal importance.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from oru kala pooja, special poojas and Brahmotsavam are conducted on Rishaba
vahana through the devotee's sponsorship.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
Since
oru kala pooja is conducted, the opening
and closing times are unpredictable. Only the sanctum sanctorum will be kept
locked; the temple and its architecture can be seen at any time.
CONTACT DETAILS
Trustee
Parasuraman +91 9092903312 and Pravin Bhattachariyar +91 8122191689 may be
contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
This
temple is about 2.6 km from Senji Panambakkam, Railway Station (Share and Autos
are available), 4.4 km from Manavur Railway Station, 6.2 km from
Perambakkam (Autos are available and City buses are available from Poonamallee), 25 km from Arakkonam, 17 km from Tiruvallur Railway Station, 40 km from
Poonamallee and 61 km from Chennai Central.
The nearest
Railway Station is Senji Panambakkam.
