Sri Abivirutheeswarar Temple / அருள்மிகு அபிவிருத்தீஸ்வரர் ஆனந்தவல்லி அம்பாள் கோவில், Okkur, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to Sri Abivirutheeswarar Temple at Okkur near Avudaiyarkoil was a part of Shiva, Vishnu Temples of Pudukkottai  and Sivagangai Districts Visit on 23^rd & 24^th September 2023.

This dilapidated Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta Vimana Shiva temple is one of the three Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta Vimana Temples in Pudukkottai District, apart from Thondai mandalam, in south part of Tamil Nadu, which is rare.

Moolavar  : Sri Abivirutheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Anandavalli

Some of the salient features of this Temple are...

The temple is facing east with a Vinayagar Sannidhi. Rishabam and balipeedam are in front of the temple. Moolavar is little small. A Vinayagar, A Shiva Linga banam, A panel contains Sri Valli Devasena are in the ardha mandapam on both sides of sanctum sanctorum.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south in standing posture  with abhaya varada hastam. A Bairavar with out Dog is in front of Ambal Shrine.

Bairavar

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum Sanctorum and ardha mandapam. The Sanctum sanctorum is in the form of Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta  style on a prati bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, vrutha kumudam and prativari / yazhi vari. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The Pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with square base, naga bandham, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi palakai, veera kandam and Vettu pothyal. A Brick Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum, now in dilapidated condition.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

No inscriptions are found on the wall, but may be in adhistanam. Couldn’t identify the inscriptions on the adhistanam, Since the ground level is raised up to kumudam,

There is also an another Gajaprishta / brushta Vimana Temple is available at Irumbanadu, which is about 7 KM from this place. Since both are constructed very much similar and may be during same period. Based on the iconography of the Bairavar and the style of construction of the temple, this Gajaprishta/ Gajabrushta vimana temple may belongs to 11^th to 12^th Century, Chozhas ( Chozha's period inscription was identified by the History Enthusiasts and will be updated after getting the details. ) or Pandyas and latter received contributions from Aranthagi Thondaimans, who ruled this area independently and under Maratas. 

The Chozha king Kulothunga Chozha-III's ( 1201 CE ) 23rd reign year inscription at the entrance door frame records the endowment of burning a sandhya Deepam by Mizhalai Kootrathu Naduvirkootru Okkur alias Uthama chozha nallur  Seeraman Thirunthachuramudaiyan alias Chembitharaiyan to Vizhutheeswaramudaiyar Temple ( on behalf of his sister ). For the same 9 Pazhagasu was given to the temple Siva Brahmin Narayanan Uthama Battan. The Name of Shiva also mentioned as Agastheeswaramudaiyar.  

Ref:

Avanam 16, 2005, Page 26, Pudukottai Mavatta Kalvettukkal by Karu Rajendran. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Only oru kala Pooja is conducted and special poojas are not conducted.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

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

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

This temple is about 50 meters off from Avudaiyarkoil to Embal Road and Just opposite to okkur Post office.  Town buses are available from Avudaiyarkoil.

This temple is about 9.5 KM from Avudaiyarkoil, 20 KM from Aranthangi, 21 KM from Aranthangi and 31 KM from Karaikudi.

Nearest Railway Station is Aranthangi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Agastheeswarar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ அகஸ்தீஸ்வரர் கோயில் / Ettiyathali Sivan Temple / எட்டியதளி சிவன் ஆலயம், Ettiyathali, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Ettiyathali near Aranthangi was a part of Shiva, Vishnu Temples of Pudukkottai  and Sivagangai Districts Visit on 23^rd & 24^th September 2023.

Moolavar  : Sri Agastheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Akilandeswari

Some of the salient features of this Temple are...

The temple is facing east with an entrance Rajagopuram base. Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati as Rishaba roodar is on the top of the entrance. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in the mukha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a square avudayar. In kostam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south in maha mandapam. There are two Ambal sannidhis in this temple. One Ambal is called as Akila and other Ambal is called as Akilandeswari. Nalvar and Natarajar sabha is in the ardha mandapam.  Navagrahas are in the mandapam before the maha mandapam. Rahu and ketu are found interchanged.

In the outer praharam Vinayagar, Murugan, Chandikeswarar, Bairavar, Chandran ( wrongly written as Suriyan )

Thavvai - Jyeshta Devi

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a maha  mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with vrutha kumudam. Sthamba panjaras are in antarala portion. The Bhitti starts with Vedikai. The pilasters are with square base & Naga bandham, Vishnu kantha body, malai thongal, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam and poo mottu pothyal. The Prastaram consist of lotus petals valapi, kapotam with plain nasi kudus and Chandra mandapam. Yazhi vari is above the kapotam. A two tier stucco vesara Vimanam is on the bhumidesam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu ( Narasimhar ), Brahma are in the Tala and greeva koshtams. Lingothbavar stucco image is on the west side of the 1^st tala.

Chandikeswarar, Vinayagar and Murugan sannidhis are partially built with laterite stones.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple may belongs to early Pandya period and latter the mandapas are added. The 14^th to 16^th Century inscriptions are found on the wall. One of the inscription records an endowment and Shiva as Thiruagatheechuramudayar. 

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Agasthiyar, after worshipping Shiva at Kashi, on the way to Pothigai Hills stayed here to do the ritual of sandhyavandanam. He worshipped this swayambhu Shiva Lingam at Ettiyathali and stayed in the night. The Thondai mandala King Kalingarayan, who was suffering from ashtama Sani, passes through this place. When the King asked Agasthiyar, the way to get rid of Ashtama Shani dosha, Agasthiyar, in-turn asked the King to construct a temple for the Swayambhu Lingam. He further told the king, to install the Navagrahas on the Esanya direction to get more power from Shiva. Also the Navagrahas are in-front of Akilandeswari Ambal’s Sannadhi,  who is also known as Navagraha Nayagi, gets more power from Ambal also.  

In the Navagrahas group, the positions of both Rahu and Ketu are interchanged. Hence this is a Shani, Rahu & Ketu dosha parihara sthalam. Also this is a Kalathira dosha nivarthi sthalam.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Sani peyarchi day, and Saturdays.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile numbers of Gurukkal +91 9894930536 and +91 8939661302, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The Temple at Ettiyathali is about 500 meters from Ettiyathali Main Road Bus Stop. Town bus No 21 From Aranthangi to Peravurani stops at Ettiyathali.

Ettiyathali is about 8 KM from Aranthangi Bus Stand, 18 KM from Peravurani Bus Stand, 22 KM from Avudaiyarkoil and 41 KM Karaikudi.

Nearest Railway Station is Aranthangi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Bairavar

Chandran

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Ponnambalanathar Temple/ ஸ்ரீ பொன்னம்பலநாத சுவாமி கோயில், Silattur /சிலட்டூர், Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to Sri Ponnambalanathar Temple at Silattur near Aranthangi was a part of Shiva, Vishnu Temples of Pudukkottai  and Sivagangai Districts Visit on 23^rd & 24^th September 2023. The Sri Ponnamabalanathar Temple is a Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta Vimana Temple, is rarely available in south part  of Tamil Nadu and one of the three such temples in Pudukkottai District.  

Moolavar  : Sri Ponnambala Nathar

Consort    : Sri Soundarya Nayaki

Some of the salient features of this Temple are...

The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. The 5 tier Rajagopuram is under construction. Balipeedam, Rishabam, Kodimaram are in front of Mukha mandapam. The Donors sculptors in anjali hastam are at the entrance of ardha mandapam like dwarapalakas. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. In kostam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy ( sannidhi is in front of Vimanam, may be due to space constraint ), Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Ambal, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Chandran and Suriyan. Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing South. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a kapota bandha adhistanam with vrutha kumudam. The adhistanam consists of Upanam, Padmam, Kambu, Jagathi, Padmam, kambu, Padmam, Vrutha Kumudam, Padmam, kandam, kambu, Padmam, Pattikai, padmam and Kambu. Sthamba panjaras are in antarala portion. The Bhitti starts above kapotam. The pilasters are with square base & Naga bandham, Vishnu kantha body, malai thongal, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam and poo mottu pothyal. The Prastaram consist of lotus petals valapi, kapotam with plain nasi kudus and Chandra mandapam. Yazhi vari is above the kapotam. The adhistanam is of Gajaprishta/ Gajabrushta style and the same is followed up to greevam. A vesara style sigaram is above the greevam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy and Brahma are in the tala kostas.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The sanctum sanctorum and ardha mandapam may be constructed during 13th Century Pandya period and it resembles Chozha period Temples architecture. The Maha mandapam was extended by the Aranthangi Thondaiman Kings during 15^th to 17^th century, who ruled this area independently and under Thanjavur Maratas and the records are available from 1426 CE. From the copper plates they call themselves as "Aranthangi Kings". The 3 inscriptions belongs to Jadavarman Veerapandiyan ( 1 ), Aranthangi Thondaimans ( 2 ) and latter period Ekapperumal Thondaiman (1 ) are recorded from this temple.

As per the Aranthangi Thondaiman’s inscriptions, this place was called as Sundarapandya valanattu mizhalai kootrathu Silattur and Mizhalai Kootrathu Melkootru MeepampaaRRuNattu Thiru Koorungalur. During Pandya period this place was called as Koorungalur- கூறுங்களூர் then as Chennilathur -சென்னிலத்தூர் and lastly as Silattur - சிலட்டூர். Shiva was called as, திருமிழலை நாட்டீசுரமுடைய நாயனார்- Thirumizhalai Naateechuramudaiya Nayanar,  "Azhagiya Ponnambalanathar" and now called as Ponnambalanathar.

The first inscription - Jadavarman Veera Pandyan’s 16th reign year ( 1269 CE ) inscription records the endowment of burning a Sandhya lamp at this Thirukkoorungalur Naateechuramudaiya Nayanar by Agamperur Kootrathu Pulakudi Veliyatrudaiyan alias Sundara Tholudaiyan Pattalakan. For the same a ma land was gifted after sale.   

The Second Inscription - The 1492 CE Ekapperumal Thondaiman’s inscription was recorded by Archaeology Department in 1942 ( published in the annual report ). This 1492 CE inscription records the King name as eka Perumal. This inscription records Shiva’s name as Silattur Udaiya Azhagiya Ponnambalanathar. This inscription records the gift of land consists of Najai & Punjai with trees, kulam etc, as Thirunamathukani at "Nam Seermai - ( நம் சீமை )  alias Mizhalai kootrathu Mel Kootrathu MeepampaaRRu Nattu .... Nalu kottai paRRu Vaalaiyamanickam puravil Thevangadi periphery limit ( nangellai ).  

The Third inscription - This inscription is incomplete belongs to 1684 CE. This inscription records the gift of land to .. Vellatran Sundara Pandya Valanadu Ilango nattu Aranthangi Brahmana Sri Ranga gurukkal's son Chidambaresura Gurukkal.... Gurkkalukku Bhoomi dhanam  of 440 Kuli field and one ma land.... 

The Fourth Inscription - The fourth inscription below kapotam - records as Aaraintha nadum arul Sennilathar nadum veeru Payil ( The meaning is not known )  - ஆரைந்தா நாடும் அருள் சென்னிலத்தார் நாடும் வீறு பயில்.

The Fifth Inscription ... records as Asaiya Thevan. ( on the pedestal of the statue ). May be one of the Thondaiman King who did the Thirupani. 

One of the mandapa pillar inscription records as “Chidambaram Satha Sevai..” may be the person Chidambaram donated the pillar.

REF:

1. Thanks to கார்த்திக் ராஜேந்திரன், one of my face-book friend for providing me the details and the old photographs. 

2 Inscriptional details from the book வரலாறு 8 ஆய்விதழ் 1998. The article on this temple by K Sridharan, an official of Tamil Nadu archaeology department. 

The open mukha mandapam was built with cement concrete during recent years. The entrance arch was constructed and opened on 06th February 1995. 

The bell was installed on 15^th September 1970 and the same was gifted by Karunanandam Mahamayi. The temple is under the control of HR & CE department.

Pillar inscription

The Thondaiman's images and the left side image pedestal has the inscription as "Asaiya Thevar" 

 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Panguni Uthiram, Thaipoosam, Amavasya days, etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 10.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Archakar Thiru Sethuraman’s mobile number +91 9597005848 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Silatur is about 100 meters from Silattur bus stop and Town buses are available from Aranthangi Bus stand, every 1 Hour.

The temple is about 9.6 KM from Aranthangi Bus Terminus, 25 KM from Avudaiyarkoil and 42 KM from Karaikudi.

Nearest Railway Station is Aranthangi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Suriyan and Chandran 

OLD PHOTOGRAPHS

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---