Perambalur District

PLACE	DESCRIPTION
Arumbavur	Sri Kailasanathar Temple
Oottathur	Suttharathnesvarar Temple
S. Aduthurai	Sri Kuttram Poruthavar Sivan Temple
Valikandapuram	Sri Valeeswarar Temple
Venganur	Sri Virudhachaleshwarar Temple

Kotravai and Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai sculptures at Kilkolathur and Anumanthandalam, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to the Kotravai and Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai sculptures at Kilkolathur and Anumanthandalam was a part of Shiva and Vishnu Temples, Sculptures like Kotravai, Jyeshta Devi at Purisai, Kilkolathur, Salukkai, and Anumanthandalam on 2^nd January 2022. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Babu Mano, Mr. Manoj L Chakravarthy, Mrs. Ruth, சுகுமார் அருள், and the members of “தொண்டை மண்டல வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்” for taking me to all these Temples and Heritage sites. 

KOTRAVAI AT ANUMANTHANDALAM

This Kotravai / Durgai Amman is sculpted on a boulder in the form of a bas-relief. This Kotravai is in Samabhanga standing posture with 8 Hands. Her lower hands are in abhaya and kadi hastam, and the rest of her hands are holding various weapons, including a Shankha and a Chakra. She is wearing ornaments on her neck and ears. A dress with frills below her waist and Marbukachu is also shown. A man offering his head /Navakandam is on the right side, and another man with a sword is on her left side.

This Kotravai belongs to the 9th-century Pallava period.

LOCATION OF THE KOTRAVAI: CLICK HERE

THAVVAI / JYESHTA DEVI at ANUMANTHANDALAM

This  Thavvai is installed on the roadside at the entrance of the village Anumanthandalam. She is without her son Mandhan and daughter Mandhi. She is with two hands, while the right hand is in abhaya hastam, and the left hand is holding a small bowl. She is shown with a flabby belly, big thighs, and breasts. A karanda makuda is shown on her head, and she is wearing ornaments on her neck and ears.  This Thavvai/Jyeshta Devi belongs to the 8^th – 9^th Century CE.

It was said that the villagers worship this Thavvai as Nookul Amman, and the annual festival will be conducted in the month of Aadi, and Koolvaarpu is also done. 

   

KOTRAVAI AT KILKOLATHUR

This Kotravai sculpture is on the way to Sri Agastheeswarar Temple, Kilkolathur.  In this, Kotravai is in Samabhanga, standing posture  with eight hands. The lower hands are in abhaya and kadi hastam. The rest of the hands are holding various weapons. She is wearing ornaments on her neck and ears. A dress with frills below her waist and Marbukachu is also shown. An antelope and a Tiger are shown at the top of the sculpture. A person cutting his head/Navakandam, is on her right, and a Lady devotee is shown on her left side. 

This Kotavai belongs to the 8^th - 9^th Century Pallava period.

LOCATION OF THE KOTRAVAI: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Shri Merkava Nachiar Amman Temple / Megathamman Temple, Kadalur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Merkava Nachiyar Amman Temple at Kadalur, near Kalpakkam, was a part of the Shiva and Vishnu Temple and heritage sites along the East Coast Road, visit on 25^th December 2021. Thanks to Mr. Kesavan for accompanying me to all these places.

Moolavar: Sri Merkava Nachiar Amman / Sri Megathamman

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

The temple faces north, with an entrance arch. Stucco images of Amman’s various forms are on the top of the parapet wall. Two Amman, Saptakannis with Nagars, Muniswarar on the Horse are in the prakaram. Balipeedam and Simham are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on an elevated pedestal. Stucco dwarapalakis are in front of the sanctum sanctorum.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, the ardha mandapam, and the open mukha mandapam. The praharam is covered with a concrete structure. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha adhisthana with jagathy, threepatta kumuda, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The koshtas are divided through Brahma kantha pilasters. The prastaram comprises valapi, kapotham, and viyalavari. A two-tier stucco vimana is on the prastaram.

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE

The original temple may belong to the 16^th to 17^th centuries Vijayanagar period.  The praharam was constructed in recent years through public donations.

LEGENDS

Devotees worship Amman to remove marriage obstacles and child boon. Many Devotees worship Amman, treating it as their Kuladeivam.  People offer Vasthra to Amman and do abhisheka after their wishes are fulfilled.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Oru kala pooja is conducted with Abhishekam in the morning hours. Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays, Aadi month Fridays, Annual festival days, New moon days, and full moon days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and from 15.00 hrs to 16.00 hrs. On function days, the time will be extended.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile no +91 9688320599 may be contacted for further details.   

HOW TO REACH

The Village of Kadalur is about 2.6 km from East Coast Road. All the buses to Pondicherry and Cuddalore will stop at Mugaiyur, and Autos are available from there.

Kadalur is about 12.7 km from Kalpakkam, 26 km from Thirukazhukundram, 27 km from Mahabalipuram, 40 km from Chengalpattu, and  81 km from Chennai Central.

The nearest railway station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Agneeswarar Temple / Shri Easwaran Koil / Hero Stone, Kadalur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Agneeswarar Temple at Kadalur, near Kalpakkam, was a part of the Shiva and Vishnu Temple and heritage sites along the East Coast Road, visit on 25^th December 2021. Thanks to Mr Kesavan for accompanying me to all these places.

Moolavar  : Sri Agneeswarar

Consort    : Sri Parvati

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

The temple faces east with a balipeedam and a Rishabam.  Stucco images of Lord Shiva with Parvati, Vinayagar, and Murugan are on the top of the entrance to the maha mandapam. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

In praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Ambal, Bhairavar, Nagar and an Ambal. Ambal is in a separate temple facing south.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of a sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a maha mandapam. The adhistana is of simple pada bandha adhistana with jagathy, three patta kumuda, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The koshats and salas are separated by brahmakantha pilasters with a square base, thamaraikattu, kalasam, thadi, kudam, mandi, palagai, veerakandam and pothyal. The pothyals are of vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam and vyalavari. Eka tala stucco vimanam is over the prastaram. The greeva koshtam has stucco images of Lord Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma. The sigaram is of the vesara style.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

There are no inscriptions found on the adhistana or on the bhitti. One of the Chozha-period style pillars is found in the Murugan / Subramaniyar Temple. Based on this, the original temple may belong to the Chozha period and was reconstructed during the Vijayanagara period. Again, the temple was reconstructed in recent years and is waiting for consecration.

Based on the above facts, the original temple may belong to the 12^th to 13^th century.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Devas and Pancha Bhoothas worshiped lord Shiva of this temple, especially Agni. Hence, Lord Shiva is called Agneeswarar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Since Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted, no regular poojas were conducted. But in Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar sannidhi, regular oru kala pooja is conducted since this temple seems to be very old and was not taken for reconstruction.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala pooja is conducted at Murugan Temple, closing and opening times are unpredictable.

HOW TO REACH

The village of Kadalur is about 2.6 km from East Coast Road. All the buses to Pondicherry and Cuddalore will stop at Mugaiyur, and Autos are available from there.

Kadalur is about 12.7 km from Kalpakkam, 26 km from Thirukazhukundram, 27 km from Mahabalipuram, 40 km from Chengalpattu, and  81 km from Chennai Central.

The nearest railway station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Marugan Sannidhi

A Pallava / Chozha Pillar

Chandikeswarar  and Murugan 

Hanuman and Duragai

Brahma and Maha Vishnu

Dakshinamurthy and Vinayagar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Pallava period Durgai Amman, Jyeshta Devi, Maha Vishnu, Ayyanar as Maha Vishnu Kunnathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to the Pallava period Durgai, Jyeshta Devi, and Maha Vishnu Sculptures at Kunnathur was a part of the Shiva and Vishnu Temple and heritage sites along the East Coast Road, visit on 25^th December 2021. Thanks to Mr. Kesavan for accompanying me to all these places. The Jyeshta Devi and Durgai are in a shrine called Durgai Amman Temple on the banks of a Tank. The Mahavishnu sculpture is in front of a Vinayagar temple. All three statues belong to the 9th-century Pallava period.

Jyeshta Devi...

This Jyeshta Devi is in a sitting posture. She has big breasts, a flabby belly, and thick thighs. She keeps her hands on the heads of her attendants. The crow flag and broomstick are shown on her back. Her son Mandhan and daughter Mandhi are standing on her back.

Durgai Amman...

This Durgai Amman is on the left side of Jyeshta Devi. This Durgai is in a Unique posture. She is standing on Mahishan’s head. Conch and Chakra are in the upper hands. The lower right hand is Kadi hastam, and the left hand is Abhaya hastam. She is wearing ornaments in her ears and neck.

Maha Vishnu.....

This Maha Vishnu statue is installed in front of a Vinayagar Temple. Maha Vishnu is in a standing posture. He is holding the Conch and Chakra in the upper hand, the right hand is in abhaya hastam (broken), and the left hand is in kadi hastam.

Ayyanar as Maha Vishnu...

The Ayyanar temple is open to the sky under a banyan tree. The Ayyanar is in a sitting posture holding a sendu in the right hand, and his consorts are on both sides. Thiruman is applied to Ayyanar's forehead. Even though this is known to some people, many of the villagers worship Maha Vishnu. This Ayyanar may belong to the 14th to 15th centuries Vijayanagara period or the later Pallava period. The complete details of the sculpture are not known since Chandan and Kumkum are applied in many places.

 

HOW TO REACH:

This place, Kunnathur, is 11 km from Mahabalipuram, 14 km from Thirukazhukundram, 27 km from Chengalpattu, and 66 km from Chennai Central.

The nearest railway station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Panchamukha Kailasanathar Temple / Sri Panchamuga Kailasanathar Temple / ஸ்ரீ பஞ்சமுக கைலாசநாதர் கோயில், குன்னத்தூர் / Kunnathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Panchamukha Kailasanathar Temple at Kunnathur was a part of the Shiva and Vishnu Temple and heritage sites along the East Coast Road, visited on 25^th December 2021. Thanks to Mr. Kesavan for accompanying me to all these places.

Moolavar  : Sri Panchamukha Kailasanathar

Consort    : Sri Kanakambigai

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

The temple faces east and is located on the middle school premises, or the middle school was built on the temple’s land. The temple tank is in front of the temple, ie, on the back side of the school. The Moolavar Sri Panchamukha Kailasanathar is unique in shape and called “Thiriyambakeswarar”. In praharam, Ambal Kanakambigai, Bhairavar, Rishabam/Idabam, and Balipeedam. A Trishul in the form of a petroglyph is on a boulder on the ground, which may be a periphery stone for a land gifted to this temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple is under reconstruction. The original temple was completely dismantled, and adhistanam was built with new stone. The adhisthana of the original temple was built of pada bandha adhistanam. The newly reconstructed adhisthana is of the Kapota bandha style. The sanctum sanctorum is being built, keeping the Moolavar in the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

Looking at the inscriptions on the stones of the dismantled temple, the temple may belong to the 14^th to 15^th Century. The available inscriptions are from the Vijayanagara period and the latter. The inscriptions are available in fragments, and the details are not known.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Even though the temple is under renovation, Oru kala poojas are offered during the morning hours. 

CONTACT DETAILS

Sri Panchalinga Kailasanathar Sivanadiyar Thirukoottam may be contacted on their mobile numbers +91 86106 77685 and +919080852519 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

This place, Kunnathur, is 11 km from Mahabalipuram, 14 km from Thirukazhukunram, 27 km from Chengalpattu, and 66 km from Chennai Central.

The nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

A uniquely shaped Shiva Lingam 

Bairavars New and Old 

Soolakal

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---