Athikosa kalvettu / அத்திகோச கல்வெட்டு, Ozhugur, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu

The Visit to this Athikosa Kalvettu was a part of Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta Vimana Shiva Temple and Kanchanagiri Temples Visit around Walajapet, on 15^th October 2023. Thanks to Ramesh Krishnamurthy, who took me to these places.

This Athikosa Kalvettu at Ozhugur near Lala Pettai. This Kalvettu has the images of Elephant with Mahout / or a Soldier with spear on one side and a soldier with a Horse & a surul / kathir aruval is on the other side.

The Parantaka Chozha-I’s 16^th reign year ( 923 CE ) inscription is below the image of elephant and the soldier. This inscription is in damaged condition and not clear on some places. The details of this inscription are….  

This place was called as Paduvur Kottathu Ozhugaiyur Nattu Ozhumur. An order was issued, that the Official who takes care of the Chariot not to stuck in the mud and the Soldiers who takes care ( guard ) of elephants, has to take care ( guard ) of the Elephants and Horses, stationed at this place Ozhumur. What is the brave act they had done is not known. This is an order inscription by the King. The name Ozhumur might have got corrupted to the present name of Ozhugur.  The original inscription reads as...

1. மதிரை கொண்ட கோப்பர கேசரி ப
2. ன்மற்கி யாண்டு பதினாறாவதில்
3. படுவூர் கோட்டத்து ஒழுகையூர் னாட்டு
4. ஒழுமூர் தேர் வய நசரரும
5. த்தி கோசத்தாரு மவை வீரக்
6. கைச் சிறப்பு இவகாவலாய் இவ
7. களே ரக்ஷிப்பார்கள்.

Ref :

கட்டுரை ப வெங்கடேசன் & ப பூபாலன் ஆவணம் இதழ் 2019, பக்கம் 12

HOW TO REACH

This Athikosa Kalvettu is in front of a House off about 50 meter from the Ozhugur High School Road in Ozhugur. This Kalvettu is is about 8.5 KM through Dhanvantari temple, 13 KM from Ranipet ( District Head quarters ), 13 KM from Chennasamudram Toll gate, 14.7 KM from Arcot, 38 KM from Vellore and 109 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Ranipet. 

LOCATION OF THE ATHIKOSA KALVETTU : CLICK HERE

 The author along with the Villagers, who had shown both Athikosa Kalvettu and this Land donation stone to the Shiva temple 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Thrikaleshwarar Temple / த்ரிகாலேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், Ozhugur, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu

The Visit to this Sri Thrikaleshwarar Temple at Ozhugur was a part of Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta Vimana Shiva Temple and Kanchanagiri Temples Visit around Walajapet, on 15^th October 2023. Thanks to Ramesh Krishnamurthy, who took me to these Temples.

PC - Website and thanks to the unknown photographer

Moolavar  : Sri Thrikaleshwarar

Consort    : Sri Tripurasundari

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a two tier mini Rajagopuram on the north side. A Vinayagar bas relief is after the entrance of Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are on the east side of the temple. Moolavar ( seems to be swayambhu ) is in the sanctum on a square avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing South. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

In praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, loose sculptures of Saptamatrikas with Shiva / Veerabhadra and a Shiva Linga with Nagars under Sthala Vruksham bilva tree.

A Green stone Dakshinamurthy

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum was built in Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta style with jagathy, three patta kumudam and Pattikai. The Bhitti starts with Vedika. The pillaters are of Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with lotus petals, kapotam with nasi kudus and viyyalavari. The nasikudus are with floral design and bhuta gana’s head images.  An Eka tala Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta Vimanam is on the Sanctum sanctorum & antarala. Dakshinamurthy, Narasimhar and Brahma are in the greeva koshtam. Three stucco kalasas are on the Vimanam. 

The modified ardha mandapa combining Mukha mandapam and ardha mandapam ( above )  - the old picture with mukha mandapam is given below

 The modified mukha mandapa - above and the old picture of the temple with mukha mandapam on the south side is given below

PC - Website and thanks to the unknown photographer 

PC - Website and thanks to the unknown photographer 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple was built during 7^th to 8^th Century Pallava period as Gajaprishta Vimana temple. The Ambal sannidhi might have been added during 10^th to 11^th century.  Since the Ground level was raised above Kumudam ( partially visible ), we do not know weather there is any inscriptions to prove its antiquity.

Originally the temple was with closed ardha mandapam and open mukha mandapam on the south side. During recent renovation the ardha mandapam and the open mukha mandapams are pulled down and a new ardha mandapam was built with granite stone and stone pillars with small entrances on east and south side. The main sanctum sanctorum and vimanam was not touched. The open space was also paved with granite slabs.

Renovation works are started in 2021-22 and the temple is expecting maha kumbhabhishekam, may be in 2024.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Since the temple is under palalayam, no regular and special poojas are conducted.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Usually the temple will be kept opened during morning hours after Kumbhabhishekam and the opening and closing times are unpredictable.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is on the south west corner of the Village Ozhugur. The temple is about 8.5 KM through Dhanvantari temple ( Walajapet ), 13 KM from Ranipet ( District Head quarters ), 13 KM from Chennasamudram Toll gate, 14.7 KM from Arcot, 38 KM from Vellore and 109 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Ranipet. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

PC - Website and thanks to the unknown photographer

PC - Website and thanks to the unknown photographer

 Vaishnavi

Chamundi

Kaumari

 Varahi

 Brahmi

 Veerabhadra

Land donation stone to the Shiva temple in the midst of throney bush

Land donation stone to the Shiva temple 

 The author along with the Villagers, shown both Athikosa Kalvettu and this Land donation stone to the Shiva temple 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple / Sri Kasi Viswanathar Aalayam / ஸ்ரீ காசி விஸ்வநாதர் ஆலயம் / Walajapet, Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple at Walajapet was a part of Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta Vimana Shiva Temple and Kanchanagiri Temples Visit around Walajapet, on 15^th October 2023. Thanks to Ramesh Krishnamurthy, who took me to these Temples. This Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple is on the main road in Walajapet, which is easily accessible from bus stand.

Moolavar  : Sri Kasi Viswanathar

Consort    : Sri Visalakshi

Some of the Salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Entrance to the temple is on the South side after the Rajagopuram. Stucco image of Shiva & Parvati as rishabaroodar, Vinayagar and Murugan are on the south side entrance to the ardha mandapam.  Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, Rishabam, Vinayagar and Pazhani Andavar are on the east side entrance. Dwarapalakas, Rishabam and balipeedam are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum.  Moolavar is little tall on a round avudayar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

In the inner praharam, Vinayagar, Nayanmars, Nalvar, Chandran, Suriyan, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Shiva Lingam and Parvathavardhini

In the outer praharam, Utsava Mandapam ( Navaratri Kozhu function was in progress during our Visit ), Ardhanareeswarar  and Nagars.

Ambal Visalakshi is in the ardha mandapam facing east with dwarapalakis. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. A 3 tier Stucco vesara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.

The Rajagopuram was built completely from base with brick and lime mortar. It has some rare stucco images of Bhairava, Veerabhadra with Daksha, Nandhi, Maha Vishnu’s various avatars on the east and west sides ), Ravana Anugraha moorthy, Dakshinamurthy, etc,.  

 Bairavar with Nandi

 Veerabhadra with Dakshan

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple may belongs to 15^th to 16^th Century and the sanctum sanctorum might have been reconstructed during 19^th to 20^th Century. No old inscriptions are found to prove its antiquity.

As per one of the small inscription tablet installed at the entrance of  Rajagopuram, the Temple is being maintained by Ayira Vaisya ( Beri Chettiars ) Community of Walajapet, for the past 300 years. But when the temple was constructed is not known. During 1936 CE Mr M Manickam Chettiar was the managing Trustee of this temple.

Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 02^nd September 1949, 09^rd September 1979, 17^th April 2005 and 30^th August 2018.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Sankatahara Chaturthi, Kiruthigai, Pournami, Somavaram, Sukravaram, Theipirai Ashtami, Pradosham, 1^st day of the month, Navaratri, Aippasi month Annabhishekam, Maha Shivaratri, Arudra Darshan, etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Trustees may be contacted on the following mobile numbers +919894756747, +919751196675 and +9194435422956  for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This Temple is on the   Madras- Bombay Trunk Road.

The Temple is about 4 KM from Ranipet Railway Station, 5 KM from Chennasamudram Toll Plaza, 5.7 KM from Arcot,  5.6 KM from Ranipet, 29 KM from Vellore and 109 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Ranipet.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

 Utsava mandapam / Vasantha mandapam / Kozhu mandapam

Nagars with Vinayagar and Murugan

 South Side entrance

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---