Sri Kailasanathar Temple / Ammangudi Durga Devi Temple / அம்மன்குடி துர்காதேவி திருக்கோயில், Ammangudi, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Kailasanathar Temple at Ammankudi, was a Part of “Kumbakonam Temples Visit” - on 09^th March 2024. Since I couldn't join the Thukkachi Kumbhabhishekam & Heritage walk organized by கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம், 2^nd and 3^rd September 2023, visited this temple, previous day of the Saptha Mangai Temples Visit, on 10th March 2024. 

Even-though the temple is dedicated to Shiva, Durga has become famous and called as Durga Temple. Important festivals are celebrated related to Durga. 

Moolavar  : Sri Kailasanathar Temple

Consort    : Sri Parvati

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

The temple facing east with balipeedam and rishabam. There is an entrance arch on the south side also. Yoga Sarasvati and sthala Shiva Lingam are on both side entrance of ardha mandapam. Dwarapalakas are on both sides of antarala. Moolavar is on a square avudayar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai. In ardha mandapam, Bairavar, Shani and Suriyan.

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

Durga Amman sannidhi is also in the ardha mandapam. Durga is with 8 hands / ashtabhuja, holding various weapons. Mahisan’s image is at her feet. A Simha vahanam is in front of sannidhi. Stucco image of Durga is on the compound wall. 

In praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, A Shiva Linga banam with Rishabam, Chandikeswarar and Sthala vruksham.

 Maha Vishnu and Brahma

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a upanam, adhistanam with jagathy, vrudha kumudam and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedika. Vurudha pilasters are on the bhitti with kalasam, kudam, palakai and tharanaga pothyal. The deva koshtas  are padra Kostas. The prastaram consists of valapi with bhuta ganas, kapotam with nasi kudus and viyyalavari. The Vimanam above bhumidesam was built with bricks, Consist of a tala, greevam and sigaram. The sigaram is of vesara style. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma are on the tala and greeva kostams. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to Chozha period and received contributions from Vijayanagaras, Thanjavur Nayakas and Maratas. 10^th to 11^th Century Chozha period inscriptions are found on the adhistanam and pillars. The temple authorities claims that the temple was built during 944 CE and the temple was also called as Rajarajeswaram. It was the birth place of Rajaraja Chozha’s Chieftain Krishnan Raman, Brahmarayan ( who constructed the outer praharam of Thanjavur Rajarajecharam. 

In general the inscription mainly records the endowments created for burning the lamps and donations made to the temple.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, after Mahishasura was killed by Durga, the Shiva Lingam from Mahishan’s neck was brought and installed at this temple by Durga. To get rid of Brahmahathi dosha, Durga did a penance and worshipped Shiva of this temple. Hence this place is being called as Ammankudi, since Durga did a penance, this place was called as Devi Thabovanam. The temple tank is on the north side of the temple, where Durga washed the blood of Mahisan and took bath. Since Durga acted as a head of all Grahas, there is no separate sannidhi for navagrahas.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shiva Ratri days, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Theipirai Tuesdays, Valarpirai ashtami, Chaturthi which follows Tuesdays, Amavasya, Pournami, etc,.

Rahu and Sukran dosha parihara poojas are conducted in this temple. Devotees worships Durgai Amman to get rid of all doshas and child boon.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

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

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH

This place Ammangudi is on the Thiruneelakudi road, between Thiruneelakudi and River Arasalaru.

The temple is about 4 KM from Thiruneelakudi, 18 KM from Kumbakonam and 60 KM from Thanjavur.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

A Shiva Linga Banam

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Abathsagayeswarar Temple / ஶ்ரீ ஆபத்சாகயேஸ்வரர் ஆலயம், துக்காச்சி / Thukkachi, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Abathsahayeswarar Temple at Thukkachi, was a Part of “Kumbakonam Temples Visit” - on 09^th March 2024. Since I couldn't join the Thukkachi Kumbhabhishekam & Heritage walk organized by கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம், 2^nd and 3^rd September 2023, visited this temple, previous day of the Saptha Mangai Temples Visit, on 10th March 2024. 

This temple is on the banks of River Arasalar. This temple is also called as “Then kalahasti”. This is one of the three temples built with Sarabeswarar in Kumbakonam. This place was called as Videlvidugu during Nadivarma Pallava-II and latter has got corrupted to Thukkachi.

Moolavar  : Sri Abathsahayeswarar

Consort    : Sri Soundara Nayaki

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a with a 5 tier Rajagopuram with madas ( also called as Nangam ) in the first and second tier. The second level Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar in the sanctum is on a round avudayar. In Koshtam, Nataraja with Sivagami, Ardhanareeswarar, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma, Kubera and Durgai.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing south. Dwarapalakis on flat stone slab is on both sides of entrance to the sanctum sanctorum. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. The other sannidhis in praharam are, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Maha Lakshmi, Sarabeswarar, Saptamatrikas, varahi, Jyeshta devi / Thavvai and Durgai ( facing South ).

Saptamatrikas

Saptamatrikas - Veerabhadra & Varahi 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was built with stone from upanam to prastaram in mada style. The temple stone consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam, mukha mandapam and a sobana mandapam. The sobana mandapam was built like a chariot with wheels pulled by horses. The steps side is adorned with elephant with soldiers.

The sanctum sanctorum is on a upanam and pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, vrudha kumudam and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedika. The pilasters are of indra kantha pilasters with square base, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi and poo mottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with lotus petals, kapotam with nasi kudus and viyyalavari. The two tier brick vesara vimanam is on the bhumidesam. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the tala and greeva koshtams.

The deva koshtams are of padre koshtams with Padma jagathy, vrudha kumudam and pattikai.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This place Thukkachi was called as Videl Vidugu Thukkachi Chaturvedi mangalam during Nandivarman-II ( 730 – 795 CE ), Sathriya Sigamani Valanattu Thirunaraiyur nattu Thukkachi during Rajaraja-I, ( 992 CE ), as Vijaya Rajendra Chaturvedi mangalam during Rajathiraja –I ( 1018- 1034 CE ) period, as Kulothunga Chozhanallur during Kulothunga Chozha-I ( 1118 – 1136 CE ), as Kulothunga Chozhanallur alias IrumaPoonthooi. The temple might have been built during Rajendra Chozha-I ( 1014 to 1044 CE ).

Since the temple was considered as Then Thirukalathi equivalent to Kalahasti and Shiva as Then Thirukalathi Mahadevar and the same was changed as Vikrama Chozheeswaramudaiyar, during Vikrama Chozha period.

It believed that Durgaiatchi has got corrupted to the present name of Thukkachi.

Vikrama Chozha ( 1122 CE ) inscription records the endowment created during Kulothunga Chozha-I ( 1100 CE )  for reciting Thevara thirupathigam, by the Uyyankondar Valanattu ThiruNaraiyur Nattu Vijaya Rajendra Chaturvedi mangalam  Village Sabha. For the same  the land exempted from Tax was gifted.  ( This inscription is inscribed on a separate stone slab was installed in the praharam, with the effort of Kumbakonam Vattara Varalatru Research Sangam, by Thirupani Chemmal Kovai. Rasa.Vasanthakumar ). This was recorded in 1918 by ASI ).

Kulothunga Chozha-III’s  ( 1213 CE ), 35^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp  at Vikrama Chozheeswaramudaiyar Temple by Oyma Nadu Village Araiyan Rajarajathevan.

Rajaraja Chozha-III’s 23^rd reign year inscription records the gift of land by Senthamangalam Udaiyar. Irregularity of income was  rectified by Seerandan Munaivaraiyan to get an income of 2000 kalam paddy. The same person gifted utsava images of Saniswaran & Guru, to take processions during celebrations and special worship. For the same he established an endowment.

Koneritheva maharaja’s ( 1491 CE ) inscription records the gift of Palanquin and Chokkar’s image to the Vikrama Chozheeswaramudaiya Thambiran Temple.

A Nayaka’s period inscription records that a 16.5 saan measuring scale called “Samantha Nayakka Ayyan”, for measuring the lands. 

Ref:

Leaflet issued by Kumbakonam Vattara Varalatru and Research Sangam in connection with maha Kumbhabhishekam day.

The temple renovation was completed Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 2^nd and 3^rd September 2023. ( Vaidhyanathan - +91 435 2463354  may be contacted for further details ). It was learned that the total renovation cost was sponsored through the trust run by Sri Vasanthakumar, Owner of Karpagam College Coimbatore. 

PC. Mr Gopinath, Founder  கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்

PC. Mr Gopinath, Founder  கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்

PC. Mr Gopinath, Founder  கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்

LEGENDS

As per the legend Vikrama Chozha was infected with vitiligo decease. To get rid of the decease, he went to many temples and prayed to Shiva. When he was camping near this place, Shiva came in his dream and asked to worship him for 48 days continuously. Vikrama Chozha has got relieved from Vitiligo decease and expanded the temple.

It is believed that the place obtained it’s name from Durga atchi,( who ruled this place – Durga+Atchi ) the presence of Durgai in this temple. Which has got corrupted to the present name of Thukkachi.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Mahashivaratri days,.

Sarabeswarar

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Vaidhyanathan - +91 435 2463354  may be contacted for further details

HOW TO REACH

Thukkachi temple is about 2 km from Thiruppandurai, one of the Thevara paadal Petra Sthalam, 6 KM from NachiyarKoil, 15 KM from Kumbakonam and 57 KM from Thanjavur.

The nearest Railway station is Kumbakonam. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

SOME OF THE OLD AND KUMBHABHISHEKAM PHOTOGRAPHS

Thanks to the Friends and Unknown Photographers

PC : Sri Vidhya Subramaniam

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---