Savadipalayam Sivan Temple / சாவடிபாளையம் சிவன் கோயில் / A Dolmen converted Shiva Temple, சிவன்கோயிலாக மாறிய கற்திட்டை, நீர்த்தொட்டி / Stone Tub, Savadipalayam, Salem District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sivan Temple, at Savadipalayam, was a part of “Shiva, Vishnu, Amman Temples and Heritage sites from Komarapalayam to Edappadi Visit” – On 19^th May 2024. Thanks to ல மா செல்வராசு, one of my FB friends from Komarapalayam, for taking me to all these places.

  

This Shiva temple has a unique construction. The roof has 4 stone slabs supported by 9 pillars. One stone slab has a hole, and a Shiva Lingam without an avudayar is installed under the hole of the slab, for the sunlight to fall on the Shiva Lingam. A Rishabam and a Balipeedam are also in front of the Shiva Lingam. A Vinayagar sannidhi was also created inside the same structure in 1990.

  

DOLMENS

Actually, this temple was constructed using a dismantled Dolmen. These 4 stone slabs belong to the side walls of a Dolmen cist. These dolmens were erected to bury the dead about 3000 to 4000 years ago. These 4 stone slabs form a square or rectangular-shaped room, called a cist, where the remains of the deceased will be kept along with pots, which contain the favorite article or food of the deceased. Mostly, the east side slab will be provided with a round hole. It was believed that the athma / spirit of the deceased used to come out / go into the cist, through this round hole. Mostly, this cist may be used for the secondary burial. Big boulders will be kept around this cist, called cairn circles. But the cairn circle boulders are not seen near this place.

A STONE TUB

This stone tub is also found near the above, Dolmen converted Shiva temple. This tub measures around 10 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, and a foot deep. This tub has 18^th to 19th-century inscriptions. Since the inscription was heavily damaged, the details are not known. This tub was used to store water for the cattle.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Dolmen / Muthumakkal Thazhi / Vasalurpatti, Kolli Hills / Kollimalai, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Heritage Site with Dolmen, also known as Muthumakkal Thazhi, was a part of the Kolli Hills Heritage walk - “வல்வில் ஒரி தேச மரபு நடை...” organised by எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடை குழு, on 20^th and 21^st May 2023. Thanks to Mr. AT Mohan for taking us to these Heritage sites. 

This Dolmen is identified as “Muthumakkal Thazhi” by the local people since a Thazhi made of mud was found inside this dolmen. The mud pot in which the deceased was buried is called Muthumakkal Thazhi. This may be a primary burial or a Secondary burial. The Dolmen was constructed with 4 slab stones in an anti-swastika formation and covered with a capstone weighing around a ton. The east side slab has a rectangular hole, against the usual, round hole. It is believed that the spirit of the deceased will go out and come back through this hole.

LOCATION OF THE DOLMEN: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Matheswaran Kovil, / Mathaiyan Samadhi / Pallipadai Temple, Avinashi and Mathaiyan Temple ( Shiva Temple / Vinayagar Temple ), Semba Gounden Palayam, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Matheswaran Kovil (believed to be of a Pallipadai temple at Avinashi) and Mathaiyan Temple at Semba Gounden Palayam was part of a Heritage visit to the temples, heritage sites, and Hero stones from Vijayamangalam to Avinashi, on 07^th August 2021. These two temples’ details are written in a single post since both have a connection with Mathaiyan.

 

Mathaiyan Temple (Shiva Temple / Vinayagar Temple), Semba Gounden Palayam

This temple was originally dedicated to Lord Shiva, and now Vinayagar is installed inside the sanctum sanctorum. Two nagars are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. A balipeedam and a Rishabam are in the open mukha mandapam. A bas-relief of a man worshipping, anjali hastam, is on one of the mukha mandapam pillars. It is believed that the Bas-relief is of “Mathaiyan, who built this temple.

It was said that originally the temple was dedicated to Lord Shiva, but later it was converted into a Vinayagar temple.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

A Sword on his left - Believed to be Mathaiyan

Believed to be Mathaiyan at the centre  

Sri Matheswaran Kovil, / Mathaiyan Samadhi / Pallipadai Temple,  Avinashi.

This is a small temple on the west side of the main road from Avinashi to Kunnathur. This temple has only a sanctum sanctorum with a small room in front. A Shiva Linga and 3 stones are installed in the sanctum sanctorum. A Vinayagar is in the front room/mandapam. A Rishabam is also in the sanctum. Stucco dwarapalakas are in Police dress. A nagara-style vimana with a Thulasi madam is on the top of the vimana as Kalasam. Also, there is a stucco Nandi, whose face is turned to the back side of the temple.

Considering the name of Lord Shiva, Police dwarapalakas, and the Thulasi madam on the top of the vimana, experts believe that this temple may be a  Pallipadai Temple of “Mathaiyan”.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per Kinathukadavu Cheppedu, Mathaiyan, as Kurikara Mathaiyan- குறிக்கார மாதய்யன் (குறிக்கார – a member of the Village Sabha)  was an official to Mysore King Krishnaraja Wodeyar (1761 CE, 1734 - 1766 CE). He was looking after the Tax collections, (அட்டவணை – Land Taxes), கந்தாசாரம் (கந்தாயம்), சுங்கம் - Toll, பேரம்). It was said that he had held the office for about 40 years. As per the Historians, this Shiva Temple was constructed by him. The Details of his Pallipadai Temple / Samadhi Temple, which was constructed by his descendants, are written above.  

The Cheppedu records the grant of Taxes (Kandayam – கந்தாயம்), from Kattampatti to the temple of Ponmalai Velayudha Swamy by Kinathukadavu by the King’s agent Kurikara Mathaiyan. 

As per Pulavar Rasu and Amudan (1800 CE Kongu Nadu), Mathaiyan was called Kurikaran, and a small King ruled from Coimbatore under the Mysore King during 1750 - 60 CE. As per the book, he was a Brahmin. He also built a Palace called "Mathe Raja Mahal" on Raja Street of Coimbatore. Later, Hyder Ali used to stay in the Palace. 

As per Kongu Sathagam, Kongu Mandalam comprises 24 subdivisions called Nadus. "Arai Nadu" is one of the 24 Nadus. This Arainadu had 35 villages, of which one village was called "Mathaiyur". Some Historians believe that this Mathaiyur may be named after "Mathaiyan". The Satakam goes like this...

ஆறைநாடு

சேவைநகர் அன்னியூர் வெள்ளாதி கோமங்கை

                    திசைபுகழ வாழ்முடுதுறை

தென்கவசை துடியலூர் நீல நகர் பேரையொடு

                    தெக்கலூர்கரை மாதையூர்

மேவுபுகழ் அவிநாசி கஞ்சைகா னூர்கரவை

                    வெண்பதியும் இருகாலூரும்

விரைசேரும் உழலையொடு வடதிசையில் உறுகின்ற

                    வெள்ளையம் பாடிநகரும்

நாவலர்க்கு இனிதான திருமுருகன் பூண்டியொடு

                    நலசெவளை பழனைநகரும்

நம்பியூ ரோடெலத் தூருக்கிரம் புலவர்

                    நகரமுடன் இனிமையான

கோவில்நகர் தொண்டைமான் புத்தூரு முட்டமே

                    கூடலூர் சிங்கநகரும்

குடக்கோட்டூர் குள்ளந் துறைப்பதியு  வாள்வந்தி

                    கோட்டைக்கரை ஆறு நாடே 

LOCATION OF THIS PALLIPADAI TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Dolmens, Koil Houses, Hero Stones, Veerakallu / நடுகற்கள் /வீரகல்லு, at Melur, Nilgiris of Kongu Nadu, Tamil Nadu.

It was a long wish to see the Hero stones of Melur in Nilgiris District, which has come true through Mr Kumaravel's information. There are about 15 Hero stones with Dolmens. Most of the hero stones are housed in “Koil Houses”. In that the Hero stones are erected either on the back or on all their sides, and the top will be covered with stone slabs. Hence, these Dolmens may be of Koil Houses, and experts are requested to comment on this.

Almost all the hero stones are sati stones. Out of 15 Hero stones, 2 Hero/sati stones seem to be interesting, and the rest are of a very crude finish. These two hero stones are a little different from the Hero/sati stones with 3 tier/4 4-tier found at Thalavadi and Mysore regions. In this, the heroic action, sati and other details are shown keeping the Hero at the centre and the rest around him without segregation. 

PULIKUTHI HERO STONE - 1

In this, the hero is holding a long spear and pointing at the Tiger. The hero is wearing ornaments on the neck and ears. The ears are shown as elongated. The moustache is not shown to the hero. The hero wears a half dress below his hip and a kattar is tied to his hip. The hero’s tuft or the hairstyle is the speciality of this Hero stone. This Hero is shown at the centre. On the right, A male and a Female are shown. This signifies that the hero’s wife might have taken sati. On the left, a Horse and  a Man with a woman are shown. In addition, there is a boy shown with a different type of Legs. The top three persons are shown in a sitting posture.

PULIKUTHI HERO STONE - 2

This is another Hero stone similar to the above. In this, the hero with a big moustache is shown in the centre killing a Tiger with a spear. On the hero's left top, the hero’s wife, who took sati after the hero’s death, is shown. The Hero’s wife is shown with her right hand raised, holding a lemon similar to the sati stones found in the Thalavadi and Mysore regions. The Hero wears ornaments, and the half dress is shown neatly with decorations. The hero’s tuft and the Moustache remind the Nayakas' style.  

On his right, two men are shown, with one man holding a bow with an arrow. At the top, the Sun and the Moon are also shown. Based on the style inscriptions, this hero stone belongs to the 17^th to 18^th century.

One of the Koil Houses was whitewashed. It was learnt from the nearby Shiva temple caretaker that every year, a pooja will be conducted at the Shiva temple. During that time, pooja will be conducted at this Koil House first and then taken to the Shiva temple.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONES:  CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---