Pallava period Sculpture Panels /Sati Stone Panel, Jyeshta Devi Panel and Chandikeswarar, Munnur, Viluppuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to the Pallava Period Sculpture panels - Sati Stone Panel, Jyeshta Devi Panel, and Chandikeswarar at Munnur in Viluppuram District was a part of “Visit to Shiva, Vishnu, & Jain temples and Christian Churches in and around Pondicherry / Puducherry” on 07^th June 2025.

PALLAVA PERIOD SCULPTURE PANEL - SATI STONE PANEL

There are two panels preserved in the Adavalleeswarar temple, one depicting the Linga with other deities, and the other depicting Jyeshta Devi.

The bigger panel measures 27 cm x 18 cm. This panel consists of 5 deities depicting Brahma with three heads, Shiva in the form of a tall cylindrical banam (Shiva Linga, equal to the height of the other deities) on a square peeda, Parvati, Murugan/ Subramaniar, and Narasimha from left to right. All the deities are shown wearing ornaments, with two hands in a seated posture on a common pedestal. The left hand is in dhyana posture, and the right hand is in abhaya hastam. Their right leg is folded, and their left leg is hanging. All the male deities are wearing thick yagnopaveetha. Narasimha is shown with open jaws and ears resembling a lion. Muruga / Subramaniar is identified by his crown / makuda. Enclosing the panels appeared in various books.

As per Dr. Nagaswamy, similar panels are available at Manimangalam, Tenneri, Madurantakam, Uttaramerur, Ukkal, and Brahmadesam. As per the experts, the two panels may be assigned to the sixth-seventh century CE, Pallava period. As per the experts, the first panel with 5 deities is a part of the Sati Stone.   

 Munnur

PC website

PC website

PC website

PC website

JYESHTA DEVI PANEL

This Jyeshta Devi panel measures 20.5 cm X 18 cm, found broken on both sides and heavily worn out. This panel consists of six images, of which the first one seems to be a goddess, and the other two are in Anjali hastam, maybe devotees or the donors. Jyeshta Devi is in a sitting posture with a bovine head and holding a club in her right hand. This image is Manthan, son of Jyeshta Devi. On her right is her daughter Manthi.

Munnur

Ref:

1. Origin of Sculptural Art (c), Chap 2: Pallava period - Pallava period (Social and Cultural History), by S. Krishnamurthy | 2017.

2. Munnur, Manimangalam, Tenneri, Madhurantakam, Uttaramerur, Ukkal, and Brahmadesam, vide Nagaswamy, R., ed. Damalica, Vol. I, Part II, pp. 1–5.

3. R. Nagaswamy, “Sati stones from Tamilnad”, in Art and Culture of Tamilnad, Delhi, 1980, pp. 58–59.

4. Article by Dr. Ravichandran and Munnur Ramesh.

CHANDIKESWARAR

This lone idol installed in front of the Sri Santhaiveli Selliamman Temple was mistakenly identified as Lakuleesar. To prove the idol is Lakuleesar, the club with a snake curled around it is not clearly visible. Also, the sitting posture doesn't match; instead, it matches Chandikeswarar. Hence, the experts identify this idol as Chandikeswarar. 

The Chandikeswarar is in a sukasana sitting posture with the left leg folded and the right leg in a hanging position. Lakuleesar is with two hands, holding a Mazhu in the right hand, and his left hand is on his thigh. He is shown with a karanda makuda and wearing ornaments.

This Chandikeswarar may be assigned to the 07^th to 8^th century Pallava period.

LOCATION OF LAKULEESAR: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Kalahastheeswarar Temple / Purasakudi Sivan temple / புரசகுடி சிவன்கோயில் / ஸ்ரீ காலஹஸ்தீஸ்வர் கோயில், Purasakudi, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kalahastheeswarar Temple at Purasakudi was a Part of the “Saptha Mangai Temples Visit”, organized by Kumbakonam Regional History Research Sangam (K.R.H.R.S) கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம் - on 10^th March 2024.

The village obtained the name of Purasakudi due to the sthala vruksham of this Shiva Temple. The parivara deities' names start with Gnana. This Temple is believed to be the “Southern Kalahasti”.

Moolavar  : Sri Gnana Kalahastheeswarar

Consort: Sri Gnanambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with balipeedam and Rishabam. Stucco images of Shiva and Parvati are on the Rishaba mandapam. Moolavar is on a square avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy,  Gnana Maha Vishnu, Gnana Brahma, and Gnana Durga.

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

In praharam, Gnana Vinayagar, Gnana Valli Devasena Subramaniar,  Gnana Saraswati (with right hand in Chin mudra and left hand holding chuvadi/palm leaves), Gnana Lakshmi, Gnana Suriyan, Navagrahas, Gnana Chandikeswaras (Two), Gnana Sundara Varadaraja Perumal with Ramar, Sita, Lakshman, Anjaneyar, Alwars, Sthala Vruksham Purasa Tree with a Shiva Lingam and Vivak Gnana Shiva Lingam.

Suriyan

Suriyan

 Saraswathi

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an upanam and pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedika. The pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai, and vettu pothyal. The temple was constructed with stone from upanam for half of the wall. The prastaram consists of valapi and kapotam. The Vimanam is of eka tala with greevam and vesara sigaram. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva koshtam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that the original temple belongs to the 11^th to 12^th century Chozha period, and received contributions from Pandyas, Nayakas, and Marathas. Pandya’s Sundara Pandyan period inscription starts with his meikeerthi.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Sri Kannappar (Original name was Thinnan), was one of the 63 Nayanmar and an ardent devotee of Shiva. He used to offer the meat of the animals that he hunted in the forest. Shiva wants to show Kannappar’s bhakti to this world and test him through the flow of blood from his eyes. First, Kannappar removed one of his eyes and applied it to Shiva. Now the flood started coming from the second eye too. Kannappar held Shiva’s eye spot with his leg and tried to remove his second eye too. About to remove, Lord Shiva appeared before Kannappar and blessed him.

In another Legend, Shiva was worshipped by a snake with precious gems, and an Elephant was worshipped with flowers. Hence, Shiva is being called Kalahastheeswara.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosam, Maha Shivaratri days, Amavasya, Pournami days, Fridays, etc.

Chandikeswarar ( 2 )

Chandikeswarar with a beautiful smile

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 08.00 hrs. to 12.00 hrs. and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs, and pooja timings are 09.30 hrs to 10.30 hrs and 18.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

The temple at Purasakudi is about 5.2 km from Ayyampettai, 29 km from Kumbakonam, and 16 km from Thanjavur.

The nearest railway station is Ayyampettai, and the Junction is Thanjavur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Saraswathi and Maha Lakshmi Sannidhi

Gnana Sundara Varadaraja Perumal with Ramar, Sita, Lakshman, Anjaneyar, Alwars,

Sthala Vruksham- Purasu Tree

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Chozheeswaramudaiyar Temple / திருநீலக்குடி சோழீஸ்வரமுடையர் திருக்கோயில், Thiruneelakudi, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Chozheeswarar Temple / Chozheeswaramudaiyar Temple at Thiruneelakudi was a part of the “Kumbakonam Temples Visit” on 09^th March 2024. This Sri Chozheeswaramudaiyar Temple at Thiruneelakudi is about 600 meters from Sri Neelakandeswarar Temple, one of the Thevara Paadal Petra Sthalam of Chozha Nadu. 

Moolavar  : Sri Chozheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Vedantha Nayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with an entrance arch on the east side. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum, under the open mukha mandapam. Vinayagar and Balamurugan are at the entrance of the antarala. Moolavar is old on a newly made avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, and Durga. Stucco images of Shiva and Parvati are on the top of the mandapam.

In praharam Suriyan, Saniswaran, Navagrahas, and Chandikeswarar.

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

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and an open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on an adhistanam with padma jagathy, vrudha kumudam, pattika, and Kapotam. The pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with a square base and naga bandham, malai thongal, thamarai kattu, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and poo mottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with lotus petals, kapotam with nasi kudus, and viyyalavari. The one tala brick vimanam with greevam and vesara sigaram is above the Bhumi Desam.  Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, and Brahma are in the greeva koshtas.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple may belong to the 12^th to 13^th Century Chozha period. The temple was in a dilapidated condition before 2013, the ardha mandapam had fallen down, the avudayar was found broken, Rishabam was moved to a house nearby, the temple surroundings had been encroached, and a patta was also issued to them by the local authorities.

With the great effort of Mr. Mullaivendhan, Thiruneelakudi Panchayat Union President, new houses were built for the encroachers, and patta was transferred to the temple’s name, and renovation works were started. The banam was moved to the ardha mandapam, and an oru kala pooja was started. In 2013, renovation works started in full swing. Much care was taken not to alter or damage the structures and sculptures of the temple, and it took almost a year. In 2014, the Ambal sannidhi renovation was started, and in June 2014, Maha Mandapam works were also started. The circumambulatory path was re-laid, and the compound wall was also constructed. The koshta images are made new. With the tireless effort of Mr. Mullaiventhan, the Rishabam was moved back to the temple.

After the completion of renovations, the Jeernodharana Ashta bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 26^th January 2015, between 7.05 to 7.25 hrs.  

LEGENDS

As per the legend, a Chozha king killed Eranda Munivar accidentally. Due to this, he was affected by the Brahma hathy dosha. He was relieved from the dosha, he took a bath in Nattaru near Vittalur, and worshipped Thiruvidaimarudur Sri Mahalinga Swamy temple Gopuram. As a part of thanksgiving, the Chozha King constructed this temple.

This place, Thiruneelakudi, was mentioned in Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal’s hymns as….

கல்லி னோடுஎனைப் பூட்டி அமண்கையர்

    ஒல்லை நீர்புக நீக்கஎன் வாக்கினால்

நெல்லு நீர்வயல் நீலக்குடியரன்

    நல்ல நாமம் நவிற்றி உய்ந்தேனன்றே

In another legend, Markandeya Maharishi stayed here, worshipped Shiva, and attained the Siranjeevi. As a part of thanksgiving, he carried Shiva in a palanquin to Ilanthulai, Enathimangalam, Thirunageswaram, Thirubhuvanam, Thiruvidaimarudur, Maruthuvakudi, etc. To remember this event, the Chithirai Thiruvizha is conducted annually in this temple.  

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Kiruthigai, Theipirai Ashtami, Adi Fridays, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Annabhishekam on Aippasi Pournami, Gokulashtami, Navaratri, Maha Karthigai Deepam, etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs, and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mr Mullaivendhan, Thiruneelakudi Panchayat Union President, may be contacted on his mobile numbers +918056220511 & +919443091965 for further details.

Website http://www.chozheeswaram.in

HOW TO REACH

Town buses are available from the Kumbakonam Bus Stand.

15 km from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam to Karaikal bus route.

The Temple is 15 km from Kumbakonam, 44 km from Karaikal, 26 km from Mayiladuthurai, 57 km from Thanjavur, and 300 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway Junction is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

 PHOTOGRAPHS BEFORE RESTORATION

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---