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 out side, for the past 40 years didn’t ventured inside the temple. I was little curious to know, why these temples are added with Kottai like initials. All the temple are surrounding the new Bus Stand. The details of the Kottai Sholeeswarar Shiva Temple temple was covered in one of my post.

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

TEMPLE TIMINGS

All the temples will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

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

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

SRI KOTTAI MUNIAPPAN TEMPLE

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

The top temple is facing North with a sanctum and a mukha mandapam. In front is a oonjal. On the east side abutting the Mukha mandapa there are three Muniappan Stucco images. All the three are holding sickle 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 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.  There is no murthis in the Koshtam. Nagars are under a Peepal tree. Samprokshanam was performed about 3 years before. Out side the sanctum was paved with granite slabs and trees are also grown.

The Bhattar told 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  a small temple and was reconstructed in the recent years, The sanctum sanctorum consists of 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 granite sanctum. Amman is in sitting posture facing North.  An ekathala Nagara Vimana is over the sanctum.  The out side prakara is under construction. During November  annual festival will be celebrated in a grand manner.

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 sannadhi. Amman is in sitting posture.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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

03^rd March 2019.

This Burma Nagar people at Kathivakkam near Ennore constructed a Muniswaran and Sri Angalamman Temple. They named the Muniswarar as Pelican Muniswarar in remembrance of 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 is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. The main shrines are Sri Angalamman and Sri Pelican Muneeswarar. Keeping this two shrines at the centre, sub shrines are constructed around. Dwajasthambam is in front of Sri Angalamman and a curved long sword is in front of Sri Pelican Muniswarar shrine.

In the prakaram sannadhi for 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 north east corner facing east are the stucco large size images of Anjaneyar and an Amman.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The History says that Indian Tamils had a connection with Myanmar since Rajendra Chozha period. When Burma was taken over by the British in 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. Latter laborers also purchased lands and started agriculture on their own.

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

This triggered a panic amongst the Indian Tamil Laborers  and started leaving Myanmar  in mass numbers as refugees in 1965, leaving all their belongings. Indian Govt. also arranged ships to commute 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 are called Burma Nagar or Burma Colony. The Burma Bazaar is also part of it, to do business of selling electronic goods. 

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

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, annual festival with “Theemithi” are celebrated in a grand manner in April Month. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is on the west side of the Ennore High road and Bus top is Annai Sivagami Nagar alias Burma Nagar.

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

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

LOCATION: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 had planned to visit Kovilanchery Sri Thaanimaraththu Muneeswarar. Since we lost the route and landed Paduvanchery Konachi Amman Temple.

This Muneeswarar is not so tall and stout  like 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 with out any images. Muneeswarar hold a sickle in his right hand and sitting on a base with left leg folded and right leg is resting on a demon’s head. Looks like a Youth. During our visit Aadi month annual celebration was in progress.

LOCATION: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 in 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 and sitting under open to Sky. ( Nandambakkam Muneeswarar is 48 feet ). Near to 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 devotee,  to install a tall statue for him. With the public contribution Sri V.  Vinayagam Swamikal installed this statue of 51 feet high and painted with light green colour in the year 2014 AD. Sri Thaanimaraththu Muneeswaran is in sitting posture on a pedestal with his right leg resting on a demon. The pedestal has the image of Arjuna with a chariot and horse. In addition to this the seven forms of Muneeswarar, Ganesha, Amman sitting on a lion & Subramaniyar, female goddess, are found around the pedestal. Elephants, Horses, Nandhis, Swans are also found in the pedestal.

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

HOW TO REACH:

Kovilanchery is about 5 KM distance from Medavakkam and 15 KM from Tambaram.

From Medavakkam to Mambakkam via Pomar bus get down at Kovilanchery and the temple is about a KM distance off the main road.

LOCATION: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---