The
Visit to this Sri Thirumoolattaneswarar Temple at Thellar was a part of Shiva
Temples and Samanar Temples in Tiruvannamalai District Visit on 08th
October 2023.
This
is one of the Thevara Vaippu sthalam, Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal and
Sundaramoorthy Swamigal ( in
Thiruputkoliyur – Avinashi pathigam, one of the Kongu Nadu Paadal Petra sthalam
) has sung hymns in praise of Shiva of Thellaru along with other places.
நள்ளாறும் பழையாறும்
கோட்டாற்றோடு
நலம் திகழும்
நாலாறும் திருவையாறும்
தெள்ளாறும் வளைகுளமும் தளிக்குளமும்
நல்
இடைக்குளமும் திருக்குளத்தோடு
அஞ்சைக்களம்
விள்ளாத நெடுங்களம்
வேட்களம் நெல்லிக்கா
கோலக்கா ஆனைக்கா
வியன்கோடிகா
கள் ஆர்ந்த
கொன்றையான் நின்ற
ஆறும்
குளம் களம்
கா என
அனைத்தும் கூறுவோமே.
…..
Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal (6-71-10).
நள்ளாறு தெள்ளாறு அறரத்துறைவாய் எங்கள்
நம்பனே
வெள்ளாடை வேண்டாய்
வேங்கையின் தோலை
விரும்பினாய்
புள் ஏறு
சோலைப் புக்கொளியூரில்
குளத்து இடை
உள் ஆடப்புக்க
மாணி என்னைக்
கிறி செய்ததே
-
Sundara moorthy Swamigal (7-92-9)
Moolavar
: Sri Thirumoolattanesvarar
Consort : Sri Akilandeswari
Some
of the salient features of this temple are......
The
temple is facing east with an entrance from South. This entrance top has the
stucco images of Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Shiva with Parvati
as Rishabaroodar, Ambal Akilandeswari
and Two Maha Vishnu bas reliefs are on
both sides of the South side mandapam entrance. Stucco Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. An Ambal
is on the back side of Shiva Lingam. A Stucco image of Somaskandar is on the top
of the sanctum sanctorum entrance. In
Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.
Ambal
is in a separate sannidhi facing South. The Dwarapalakis and simha vahana are at
the entrance of Shiva and Ambal sannidhi. Ambal is standing posture with abhaya
varada hastam.
Bala
Dhandayuthapani with stucco images of Saints, are on the right side of the
entrance.
In
the inner praharam, Nalvar, Valampuri Vinayagar, Ayyanar as Sastha / Ayyappan, Sri Valli Devasena
Subramaniar, Arupadai Veedu Stucco images, Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas,
Bairavar, Saraswati, Saniswaran, Suriyan and Vinayagar. In addition Ashta
Lingas are on the wall of the inner praharam as bas relief on the wall with
cement.
Apart
from parivara Sannidhis, Rishabam is on the east side of the Temple along with
Nagars and Durgai.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam. The
ardha mandapam pillars are vrutha style with Pallava period Tharanga pothyal, is
the support the claim of this temple is being existed since Pallava
period.
The
Sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with three patta kumudam. The
Bhitti starts with vedika. The Kostas are sala type and the pilasters are of
Vishnu kantha pilasters with square base & Naga bandham, kalasam, kudam,
lotus petals mandi, palakai and poomottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of Valapi with lotus
petals, kapotam with nasi kudus ( floral design ) and yazhivaari. A two tier
brick vesara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Shiva,
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the greeva Kostas. The Sigaram is
of Vesara style.
Saniswaran
sannidhi Vimanam is of Gajaprishta/ Gajabrushta Style.
Tharangapothyal - Pallava period
Maha Vishnus
A small gajaprishta / Gajabrushta vimanam for Saniswaran sannidhi
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
This
place is a historically important place where it changes the History of Tamil
Nadu History. Nandivarman-III ( 825 – 850 and war 830 CE ) assumed the title of
“Thellaru Erintha Nandivarman”. ( between 6th to 10 reign year,
found the title after his 10th reign year ) after defeating the Pandya King Srimara
Srivallabha at Thellar. The literature Nandi Kalambagam, records the Victory of
Nandivarman at Thellar and the victory of Chera Chozha and Pandyas at various
places. He was also called as Avani Naranan, Avani Narayanan. The Kaveripakkam
near Vellore was called as Avani Narayana Chathurvedi Mangalam. He is also
believed to be one of the 63 Nayanmars, called as Kazharsinga Nayanar. Bharatha
venba composed by Perunthevanar praised Nandhivarman as
வன்மையால் கல்வியால்
மாபலத்தால் ஆள்வினையால்
உண்மையால் பாரான்
உரிமையா- திண்மையால்
தேர்வேந்தர் வானேறத்
தெள்ளாற்றில் வென்றானோ(டு)
யார்வேந்தர் ஏற்பார்
எதிர்”
Inscriptions
are found on the adhistanam and Walls of the Sanctum Sanctorum and prahara
walls too. The inscriptions mentions this place as Jayangonda Chozha
mandalathu, Venkundra Kottathu Vikrama Pandya valanattu Thellaru nattu Thellaru,
Thellaru and Shiva as Thirumoolattanamudaya Nayanar, Mooleswarar,
Thellarudayar, Thirumoolattanam Udayar, etc.
Vikrama
Pandya Thevar’s 6th reign year inscription records the gift of Land
as irayili and the taxes collected for the service to Thirumoolathanam Udayar
Temple Sella Pillai Andar ( Vinayagar ), by the sabha. ( SII Volume 7 Sl 76, AR No 71 of 1900 ).
The
other inscriptions records the Kalingarayan’s Thirupani, Chitramoorthillai
Vanamudaiyan’s endowment of burning a Sandhi lamp etc. ( Ref: Shaivam.org )
On
18th June 1972, Thirupani was started by the K S Narasimha Mudaliar
, Tamil Nadu H R & CE Department.
Maha
Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in, 19th March 1993, for Durgai Amman
and Chandikeswarar. And Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in November 2013.
LEGENDS
As
per one of the inscription ( or a legend ? ), when some ladies are returning
after bath, a drunkard person mocked at them. When this was complained to
Sabha. The sabha enquired and the person was found guilty and ordered to burn a
lamp at this temple. One day the Villagers found that a lady, none other than
the Judge, who gave the verdict was found lighting a lamp on behalf of the
drunkard person. When asked, the Lady replied that, as a judge She had given
the judgement and as a wife She carryout lighting lamp on behalf of her
husband.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from oru kala regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha
Shivaratri, Thaipoosam, Pongal, Vinayagar Chaturthi etc,.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to
20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The
Archagar’s mobile number +919952030848 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
Thellar
is on the way from Vandavasi to Tindivanam bus route, about 14 KM from
Vandavasi, 24 KM from Tindivanam, 28 KM Gingee and 77 KM from Tiruvannamalai.
Nearest
railway Station is Tindivanam.
Ayyanar as Sastha
PALLAVA PERIOD KOTRAVAI IN THE VILLAGE ---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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