Sri Maragathavalli Sametha Thiru Nageswarar Temple / ஶ்ரீ மரகதவல்லி சமேத திரு நாகேஸ்வரர் கோயில், Kalambakkam, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Nageswarar Temple at Kalambakkam, was a Part of “Shiva & Vishnu Temples and Hero Stones of Tiruvallur District Visit” on 21^st October 2023. This Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta Vimana Shiva temple was built during Pallava’s period on the banks of Holy river Cooum. 

Moolavar  : Sri Nageswarar

Consort    : Sri Maragathavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a mottai gopuram on the south. Stucco Natarajar is on the top of the mottai Gopuram. An inscription Stone slab with Pallava period inscriptions, Two Balipeedas and Rishabams are on the east side of the Temple. The entrance to the ardha mandapam is from South with a mukha mandapam. Vinayagar is at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudayar. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy and Durgai ( separately installed ).

In praharam nalvar, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar ( just back side of the sanctum Sanctorum ), Chandikeswarar, Ambal Sri Maragathavalli, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Vinayagar with Nagars and Suryan

Ambal Sri Maragathavalli is in a separate temple like sannidhi facing east on the left side of the main temple. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

ARCHITECTURE

The present temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. The complete temple was built with bricks and lime mortar. The sanctum sanctorum is on a Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta style adhistanam with Jagathy, three patta Kumudam. Dakshinamurthy and Durga are added during recent years in kostas. The Vimana above greevam is also of Gajaprishta style with 5 kalasas. There is no greeva Kostas too. Stucco images of Shiva, Parvati, Vinayagar and Murugan are in the lalada Nasi of Gajaprishta Sigaram. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to Pallava period. Latter the temple received contributions from Chozhas and Vijayanagaras. A separate slab stone looks like Kapota nasi, of Pallava period with  inscriptions is installed in front of balipeedam. Chozha period fragment inscription stone is found below the adhistanam. Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the kumudam.  The temple might have reconstructed at-least twice.

A 20^th Century inscription stone installed on the wall of Nalvar, records that Sabapathy Mudaliar’s son Pachaiyappa Mudaliar, installed the Navagrahas and for the poojas and Naivedyam, Kani nanjai land was gifted to this Sri Nageswarar temple.

A Pallava period inscription stone ( front & back - below ) 

A 20th  Century inscription

An inscription on the floor

 inscriptions on the adhistanam

LEGENDS

It is believed that, separated couples will get united after praying Shiva of this temple, since Ambal is on the left side ( like Ardhanareeswarar ) of Main sannidhi and facing same direction of moolavar, ie east. 

It is believed that, those who cannot go to Kalahasti can do  pariharam at this temple for naga, sarba doshas.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala pooja is conducted, the opening and closing times are unpredictable. 

CONTACT DETAILS

Gurukkal Mahesh’s mobile number +919444172678 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

Kalambakkam is just after Perambakkam, before Thakkolam on Thandalam to Arakkonam Road, after crossing the river Cooum River. 

The temple is about 2.2 KM from Perambakkam, 9.6 KM from Thakkolam Shiva Temple, one of the Paadal Petra Sthalam, 19 KM from Tiruvallur, 23.2 KM from Arakkonam, 31 KM from Kanchipuram  and 57 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Tiruvallur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Vallapurieswarar Temple / வல்லம் வல்லபபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயில் / Very Ancient Vallapurieswarar Sivan Temple / ஸ்ரீ வல்லபுரீஸ்வரர் சிவன் கோயில், Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Vallapurieswarar temple was a part of “Gajaprsihta / gajabrushta Vimana Shiva temple at Vallam and Jain Temples at Ponnur and Ponnur Hills Visit”, on 22^nd October 2023. This is one of the Pallava period Shiva Temple with gajaprishta / gajabrushta Vimanam in Tiruvannamalai District in Tamil Nadu.

It is believed that the hymns sung by Thirugnanasambandar on Thiruvallam, belongs to this place Vallam and not the Thiruvalam, near Ranipet. In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar mentions Thirugnanasambandar’s route as Thirumalpur – Thiruvallam ( 1003 of Thirugnanasambandar's puranam ) – Ilumbayankottur-Cooum and Thakkolam. In this, both the places Thiruvalam and this Vallam are little far off and routes are not matching.   

எரித்தவன் முப்புரம் எரியின் மூழ்கத்
தரித்தவன் கங்கையைத் தாழ்சடைமேல்
விரித்தவன் வேதங்கள் வேறுவேறு
தெரித்தவன் உறைவிடம் திருவல்லமே.

Moolavar  : Sri Vallapurieswarar

Conort     : Sri Kadina Kujambigai

Some of the Salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with an entrance arch form east. Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati are on the top of the entrance. Balipeedam and Rishabam are immediately after the east side entrance. There is a 3 tier Rajagopuram on the South side which is not used now.  Dwarapalakas, Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of ardha mandapam. Rishabam and a balipeedam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is little big on a Square avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In praharam, Saptamatrikas, Shiva Linga, Nagar, Maha Vishnu, Sri Valli Devasena Arumugar, Suriyan, Navagrahas, Bairavar and Chandikeswarar.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi on the back side of Moolavar sannidhi facing east. Ambal Kadina Kujambigai is in three banga standing posture, while upper hands are holding pasa angusam and lower hands are in abhaya varada hastam. Third eye is on the forehead. The sannidhi is constructed such that circumambulation can be done both Shiva and Ambal Sannidhis.  

Durgai and Ambal

Saptamatrikas

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a maha mandapam. The temple was constructed in gajaprishta style from adhistanam to sigaram. The adhistanam is of pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam and pattika. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The Pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with square base, naga bandham, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and poo mottu pothyal. The Kostas are of sala style. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudus and Viyyalavari. The eka tala Vimanam is of gajaprishta style. Stucco image of Shiva with Parvati is on lalada nasi, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the Greeva Kostas.

There is a Pallava period Kubera’s sculpture is installed at the entrance of the Temple. The bottom has the bas relief of Gurukkal carrying the naivedyam and a person is holding an umbrella on the top of Naivedyam and another person is ringing a bell. The entrance column  and a mandapam Pillar, in place of Naga bandham on the left side, is in the form of Sanga Nidhi.

Nagabandham - Sanganithi

Sanganithi and Padmanidhi

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to Pallava period and reconstructed as a stone temple during Chozha period and received contributions from Pandyas and Vijayanagaras.  

Pandyas and Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the adhistanam and wall. As per the inscriptions this place was called as Jayamkonda Chozha mandalathu Venkundrakottathu Valla Nattu vallam. And Shiva was called as Vallathu aludaiyar Thiruavagathechuramudaiya Nayanar.

Thiribhuvana Chakravarthi Sundara Pandyan’s 12^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning 5 perpetual lamps by Azhipadai Thangi Villagers. The tax collected from all the sources to be given to the temple as irayili.  ( SII Volume-7, No 82 ).

The Vijayanagara Period Mahamandaleswara Chaluva Narasingaiya period inscription records the donation of lands as Thevadhanam. ( SII Volume-7, No 83 ). 

LEGENDS

As per the legend, the demons around this are didn’t allowed to worship Shiva of this temple, when Sugar Maharishi. Shiva with the help of Vinayagar in the form of elephant chased them away. Since Shiva gave the vallamai / strength to Sugar Maharishi, Shiva is being called as Vallapapurieswarar. It was told that the some of the Village names are associated with this legend. Since Vinayagar chased away the demons, at a place called Anaibogi, The villagers gathered and prayed Shiva is called as Urgudi, etc,.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, maha shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Panguni Uthiram, Arudra Darshan etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple is under oru kala poojas and usually kept open around 10.00 hrs. An operator / meikavalar is staying on the back side of the temple, who may help to open the gates for the darshan of Parivara sannidhis.

HOW TO REACH

Vallam is about 2.7 KM off from Vandavasi to Polur Main road and after Ponnur Hills.

The temple is about 17 KM from Vandavasi, 19 KM from Chetpet, 42 KM from Uthiramerur, 47 KM from Polur, 50 KM from Tindivanam and 140 KM from Chennai.

Nearest railway Station is Tindivanam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Veerabhadra..?

Lingothbavar- Dakshinamurthy - Brahma 

Old and New Chandikeswaras 

Pichadanar

Rishaba Vahana

Maha Vishnu and Lakshmi

Bairavar and Suriyan

Suriyan ( Chozha Period )

Dwarapalakas 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---