Kottai Muniyappan Temple, Kottai Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple, Kottai Veera Anjaneyar temple, Kottai Mariamman Temple, Kottai Vinayagar Temple, Sri Veeramathi Amman temple & Kottai Choleeswarar Temples at Perundurai, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

3^rd June 2019.

After worshiping our Kula Deivam Sri Veeramathi Amman at Talguni near Kolappalur, on the way to Chennai visited these Kottai Mariamman, Kottai Veera Anjaneyar, Kottai Vinayagar, Kottai Veeramathi Amman, Kottai Muniyappan, Kottai Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal & Kottai Sri Choleeswarar Temples at Perundurai.  Even though I had seen all these temples from outside for the past 40 years, I hadn’t ventured inside any of them. I was a little curious to know why these temples are added with Kottai-like initials. All the temples surround the new Bus Stand. The details of the Kottai Sholeeswarar Shiva Temple were covered in one of my posts.

As per the history, it is a fact that a Kottai / Fort existed in this place, and who constructed it is not known. Some claim that the Fort was constructed by a Representative of the Mysore King Wodeyar, and some claim that the fort existed since the early  Cheras and Chozhas. Early Chera King Kanaikal Irumporai ruled this region with Karur as the Capital. Chozha King Chenganan (Ko Chengat Chozhan) defeated the Chera King at Kozhumam and Poonthurai Nattu Perundurai and lodged him at Kudavayil prison. He was ill-treated in prison, and even drinking water was not given. He wrote his condition in the form of a poem to Poigaiyar, a friend and a renowned poet. Poigaiyar composed the Kalavali Narpathu ( 41 stanzas ) praising Chozha’s war against the Chera King. Chozha King Chenganan was pleased by the poem and released the Chera King. Quoting this history, some claim that the fort might have existed since the early Cheras / Chozha period. Hence, the temples bear Kottai as a title.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

All the temples will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

Perundurai is on the way to Coimbatore from Erode. Frequent buses are available from various parts of Coimbatore and Erode District.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

SRI KOTTAI MUNIAPPAN TEMPLE

Now, the Kottai Muniyappan Temple is at an elevated level with 21 steps, and it was said that the original temple was constructed on the boundary wall/rampart of the Fort. The temple was reconstructed in recent years. At the base, a Muniappan is in a standing posture with a sickle in the right hand. Many Trishuls are erected in front of Sri Muniappan. During the Aipasi month, an 8-day festival will be celebrated in which goats and cocks are sacrificed to   Sri Muniappan. It was said that spirit/arrack was also offered.

The top temple is facing North with a sanctum and a mukha mandapam. In front is an oonjal. On the east side, abutting the mukha mandapam, there are three Muniappan Stucco images. All three are holding sickles in their hands.

Bottom Sri Muniappan 

KOTTAI SRI PRASANNA VENKATESA PERUMAL TEMPLE.

This Perumal Temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Deepa  Sthambam and Thulasi Madam are in front. The sanctum sanctorum consists of the sanctum and a mukha mandapam. In the sanctum, Moolavar Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhudevi. The sanctum was built with stone up to prastaram, and a three-tier vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum.  There are murtis in the koshtam. Nagars are under a Peepal tree. Samprokshanam was performed about 3 years before. Outside the sanctum was paved with granite slabs, and trees were also grown.

The Bhattar said that he is the 6^th generation doing pooja to this Perumal. The period of construction is not known, and as per Bhattar, the temple may be more than 500 to 600 years old. This temple is under the control of Kottai Choleswarar Temple, which is on the east side of the Bus Stand.

KOTTAI  SRI VEERA ANJANEYAR TEMPLE.

This Anjaneyar temple was originally small and was reconstructed in recent years. The sanctum sanctorum consists of a sanctum and a mukha mandapam. In the sanctum, Anjaneyar is in the form of a bas-relief, in Vijayanagara Style. The present Bhattar claims that 4  generations are doing pooja to this Anjaneyar. The original temple may be Vijayanagara Period, ie, 400 to 500 years old.

SRI KOTTAI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE.

This Kottai Mariamman Temple bears a new look with a granite sanctum. Amman is in a sitting posture facing North. An eka tala Nagara Vimana is over the sanctum. The outside praharam is under construction. During November, the annual festival will be celebrated grandly.

SRI VEERAMATHI AMMAN & SRI KARUPANASWAMY  & KOTTAI VINAYAGAR TEMPLE.

Do not know this Sri Veeramathi Amman is very old or not. This Amman is a Kuladheivam for a particular Community. Saptha Kannis are in a small sannidhi. Amman is in a sitting posture.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Pelican Sri Muniswarar and Sri Angalamman Temple, Kathivakkam, Ennore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

03^rd March 2019.

This Burma Nagar at Kathivakkam near Ennore constructed a Muniswaran and Sri Angalamman Temple. They named the Muniswarar Pelican Muniswarar in remembrance of the Myanmar (Burma), Pelican (Pelikhan) Muniswarar Temple. 

  

Presiding Deity:         1. Sri Angalamman

                                2. Sri Pelican Muniswarar  

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a 5-tier Rajagopuram. The main shrines are Sri Angalamman and Sri Pelican Muneeswarar. Keeping these two shrines at the center, sub-shrines are constructed around them. Dwajasthambam is in front of Sri Angalamman, and a curved long sword is in front of the Sri Pelican Muniswarar shrine.

In the praharam Durgai, Kaliamman, Abirami with Amirthakadeswarar, Naalvar, Dharmasastha Sri Ayyappan, Kalyana Venkatesa Perumal, Annai Sivagami, Vinayagar, Poochi Ayya, and Navagrahas. Two stucco horses are near the Rajagopuram. On the northeast corner facing east are the large stucco images of Anjaneyar and Amman.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

History says that Indian Tamils had a connection with Myanmar since the Rajendra Chola period. When Burma was taken over by the British in the 18^th Century, Indian Tamil people migrated to Burma, the present Myanmar, to work as laborers in paddy & Sugarcane fields and Tea estates. Most of the agricultural lands were owned by Nattukottai Nagarathars. Later, laborers also purchased lands and started agriculture on their own.

The Indian Tamil people also constructed temples for Village Gods for Muniswaran, Amman, etc., and celebrated annual festivals like in Tamil Nadu. One such place is called Pelican (Pelikhan) in Myanmar. The Annual celebrations allowed them to meet their relatives in a foreign land. It went on smoothly up to the middle of the 20^th Century. In the year 1962, the ruling power was taken over by the military in a coup, and a lot of changes were made, which included the change of the Prime Minister. 

This triggered a panic amongst the Indian Tamil Laborers who started leaving Myanmar in mass numbers as refugees in 1965, leaving all their belongings. The Indian Govt also arranged ships to transport them to India. Some of them stayed back. The Laborers were accommodated in various parts of Chennai. Trichy, Chettinad, etc. The people wherever they stayed were called Burma Nagar or Burma Colony. The Burma Bazaar is also part of it, to do business in selling electronic goods. 

This temple was constructed with the contributions received from the people, who returned from Myanmar (Burma). The donation inscription stones are kept on the walls of shrines.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, the annual festival of “Theemithi” is celebrated in a grand manner in April. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on the west side of the Ennore High Road, and the Bus stop is Annai Sivagami Nagar, alias Burma Nagar.

There are about 10 City buses from Chennai Central Railway Station, Beach Station, Perambur, CMBT, Broadway, Thiruvanmiyur, and Vallalar Nagar to Ennore that pass through this place.

The Kathivakkam Railway Station is about 800 meters from the temple. All Gummidipoondi Local trains will stop at Kathivakkam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Muneeswaran, at Konachi Amman Temple, Paduvanchery, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

..... a continuation post to Sri Thiripurasundari samedha Sri Kailasanathar Temple – A Heritage Visit

30^th July 2017.

After lunch, we planned to visit Kovilanchery Sri Thaanimaraththu Muneeswarar. Since we lost the route and landed at Paduvanchery Konachi Amman Temple.

This Muneeswarar is not so tall and stout as Kovilanchery Sri Thaanimaraththu Muneswarar. This Muneeswarar is in the midst of paddy fields, and during cultivation, one has to walk along the periphery of the paddy fields. There is no direct access to the Konatchi Amman Temple. The Muneeswarar is made of Stucco, and a small Muneeswarar sannadhi is at the base. The base is very simple, without any images. Muneeswarar holds a sickle in his right hand and sits on a base with his left leg folded and his right leg resting on a demon’s head. Looks like a Youth. During our visit, the Aadi month annual celebration was in progress.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

                                          ---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---    

Sri Dilli Paalaachi Amman and Sri Thaanimarathu Muniswarar Temple / Muneeswaran Temple, Kovilanchery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu- A Heritage Walk.

A Continuation Post to Sri Dhenupureeswarar Temple,

30^th July 2017.

Sri  Thaanimaraththu  Muniswarar is on the premises of Sri Dilli Paalaachi Amman Temple, a village deity of Kovilanchery near Tambaram and Medavakkam. Sri Thaanimaraththu Muniswarar is  51 feet tall and one of the tallest stucco statues available in & around Chennai, sitting under the open Sky. (Nandambakkam Muneeswarar is 48 feet). Near this, there is a small Karuppanasamy installed on the banks of the temple tank.

One day, Sri Thaanimaraththu Muneeswaran came in the dream of  Sri V.  Vinayagam Swamikal, one of the devotees,  to install a tall statue for him. With public contributions, Sri V.  Vinayagam Swamikal installed this statue, 51 feet high, and painted it with a light green color in the year 2014. Sri Thaanimaraththu Muneeswaran is in a sitting posture on a pedestal with his right leg resting on a demon. The pedestal has the image of Arjuna with a chariot and a horse. In addition to this, the seven forms of Muneeswarar, Ganesha, and Amman sitting on a lion & Subramaniyar, a female goddess, are found around the pedestal. Elephants, Horses, Nandhis, and Swans are also found on the pedestal.

He is holding a sickle in his right hand and a mace in his left. He looks ferocious & has wide eyes and a big mustache. The images of Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma are on all four sides of his crown.  In his ornament images of Sakthi Amman (maybe Dilli Paalaachi Amman ), Hanuman, and Gajalakshmi. At the base of the Pedestal is a Shiva Linga with Muneeswarar's face with Nandhi. It is believed that Shiva Linga is Sri Thaanimaraththu Muneeswarar. 

HOW TO REACH:

Kovilanchery is about 5 km from Medavakkam and 15 km from Tambaram.

From Medavakkam to Mambakkam via the Ponmar bus, get down at Kovilanchery, and the temple is about a km off the main road.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 Sri Karuppannaswami

 Sri Dilli Paalaachi Amman temple 

 The team of heritage enthusiasts

…. To be continued: Hazarath Syed Badrudeen Dargah, Pallavaram – A Heritage Visit.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---