Pallava period, Thavai / Jyeshta Devi, Ayyanar and Kotravai Sculptures at Saram Village, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Pallava period Jyeshta Devi Ayyanar and Kotravai sculptures at Saram Village was a part of “Shiva, Jain Temples and Heritage Sites Visit”, at Saram and Ananthamangalam near Tindivanam, on 04^th February 2024. 

JYESHTA DEVI AT SRI AGASTHEESWARAR TEMPLE, SARAM. 

There are Jyeshta Devi sculptures found in this Village of which one is installed at Sri Uthama Agastheeswarar Temple at Saram. Jyeshta Devi is in sitting posture with legs apart. A crow flag is shown on her right side. She wears karanda makuda, padra kundala in the elongated earlobes, ornaments around the neck, right hand is abhaya hastam and left hand is touching the pedestal. Manthan and manthi are in standing posture on both sides. This Jyeshta Devi is under worship.

LOCATION OF JYESHTA DEVI       : CLICK HERE

JYESHTA DEVI AT SARAM, IN THE MIDST OF THE FIELDS. 

I was directed to see the second Jyeshta Devi, in the midst of the fields after crossing the Railway line from the Village. This Jyeshta Devi Sculptures is in slanting position. Jyeshta Devi is in sitting posture with legs apart. A crow flag is shown on her right side and a broom is shown on her left side. She wears karanda makuda, padra kundala in the elongated earlobes, ornaments around the neck, right hand is abhaya Hastam and left hand is touching the pedestal.  Manthan and manthi are in standing posture on both sides. Manthi is in a highly eroded condition.   

LOCATION OF JYESHTA DEVI       : CLICK HERE

AYYANAR AT SRI AGASTHEESWARAR TEMPLE, SARAM.

This Ayyanar is installed on the north west corner of the temple. Ayyanar is in Rajaleelasana sitting posture keeping the left hand on the left knee ( Pallava hastam ) and right hand on the thigh.  

LOCATION OF AYYANAR        : CLICK HERE

KOTRAVAI AT SARAM.

This Kotravai idol on a flat stone is installed in an Amman  Temple, facing east. This kotravai is in standing posture on a Mahishn’s head ( buffalo ), in samabhanga. Kotravai is with 8 hands holding Shankha, Chakra, Sword, Shield, bow, and lower left hand is kadi hastam. She wears ornaments around the neck and in the elongated ear lobes. On her right a man is shown in kneeled position with a knife in the right hand ( may be nava kandam ) and on her right side a man is shown in worshipping posture ( Anjali hastam ).

LOCATION OF KOTRAVAI      : CLICK HERE

HOW TO REACH    

The Agastheeswarar temple is about a KM from the Saram Bus stop on GST Road, before Tindivanam.

The temple is about 10 KM from Tindivanam, 91 KM from Tambaram, 121 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway Station is Tindivanam.

Pallava Period Vinayagar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Agastheeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ அகஸ்தீஸ்வரர் கோயில் / Uthama Agastheeswarar Temple, Saram, Tindivanam, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Saram was a part of Shiva, Jain Temples and Heritage Sites Visit at Saram and Anandhamangalam near Tindivanam, on 04^th February 2024. Saram is about 10 KM before Tindivanam, on GST Road from Chennai. The temple is about a KM from the bus stop. 

Moolavar  : Sri Agastheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Akilandeswari

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with an entrance from South.  Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam and Rishabam are on the east side of the temple. Vinayagar and Arumugar are at the entrance of of sanctum sanctorum. Sanctum sanctorum is on a raised level. Moolavar is little large on a round avudayar. In kostam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma Sastha and Durgai.

Ambal Sri Akilandeswari is in a separate sannidhi facing South. Ambal is in standing posture with Abhaya varada Hastam.

In Praharam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Thavvai / Jyeshtta Devi, Ayyanar, Chandikeswarar and Bairavar.

Vinayagar

Arumugar

Koshta Images - Maha Vishnu - Brahma Sastha / Murugan in place of Brahma and Durgai

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha / maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on Pada bandha adhistanam with three patta kumudam and Pattikai. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The Bhitti is of plain walls without pilaster. The Prastaram is with valapi and kapotam. The two tala Vimanam above the prastaram was built with bricks. The Sigaram is of Vesara style. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are on the tala and greeva koshtams.  

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

Based on the sculptures available in the temple, it is believed that the original temple belongs to Pallava period. The same was reconstructed during Chozha and Vijayanagara periods. Fragment and damaged Chozha period and Vijayanagar period inscriptions are found on the Rishaba mandapam base, and main temple adhistanam.

The Ayyanar, Jyeshta Devi with Manthan and Manthi sculptures belongs to Pallava period. In addition to this, happened to see a Jyeshta Devi and kotravai sculptures in this Village. Details are written in a separate Post.

LEGENDS

During Celestial wedding of Shiva with Parvati, all the Devas, Maharaishis, Munis assembled at Mount Kailash. Due to this the north side of this earth went down and south side went up. To balance the earth Shiva asked the sage Agasthiyar to go to south. After getting the boon of Celestial wedding darshan whenever he wants, Agasthiyar started his journey to Pothigai Hills. On the way he installed and worshipped Shiva Lingas on many places. It is believed that sage Agasthiyar worshipped Shiva of this temple. Hence Shiva is called as Agastheeswarar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha Shivaratri and Annabhishekam in the month margazhi.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs. to 10.00 hrs. and 17.00 hrs. to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

T. Dhanasekar +9194426953533 and R Mohan +918838865733 may be contacted for further detail.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about a KM from the Saram Bus stop on GST Road, before Tindivanam.

The temple is about 10 KM from Tindivanam, 91 KM from Tambaram, 121 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway Station is Tindivanam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

Ayyanar, Jyeshta Devi and Kotravai are covered in a separate Post

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai Sculptures / ஜேஷ்டா தேவி / தவ்வைத்தாய் of Perum Pazhuvur, Melapazhuvur, Thirupazhuvur in Ariyalur District and Valikandapuram in Perambalur Districts, Tamil Nadu.

The Jyeshta Devi sculptures are parivara Devathai shrines of main temples in Ariyalur and Perambalur Districts was a part of “Perambalur & Ariyalur Districts Heritage Walk” organised by Aatrupadai - ஆற்றுப்படை – A Tours and Heritage group on 4^th and 5^th , November 2023.

These Jyeshta Devi sculptures are in the Pazhuvettarayar period temples, which indicates that Jyeshta Devi worship might be very much popular during their period. Almost all the sculptures are with similar iconography, but with slight variations. All Jyeshta Devi’s are slim, elegant and beautiful, compared to Thondai mandalam Jyeshta Devi sculptures.

Jyeshta Devi at Valeeswarar Temple, at Valikandapuram, Perambalur District, Tamil Nadu.

In this Jyeshta Devi sculpture looks very beautiful. She is in sitting posture along with Manthan and Manthi. She is shown with karanda makudam, ornaments around the neck, in elongated earlobes and sannaveeram. Crow flag is shown on the right side of her back. The right hand is in abhaya hastam and left hand is resting on the seat. This Jyeshta Devi is under worship in the praharam on the back side of the main temple. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Jyeshta Devi at Twin Temples, Keezhaiyur, Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu.

In this Jyeshta Devi sculpture, Jyeshta Devi is in sitting posture along with Manthan and Manthi. She is shown with karanda makudam, ornaments around the neck, in elongated earlobes and sannaveeram. The surface seems to be unfinished behind, hence the crow flag and broom stick couldn’t identified. She is holding a flower in the right hand. This Jyeshta Devi is not under worship.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Jyeshta Devi at Sri Sundareswarar Temple, Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Melapalur, Ariyalur District, Tamil nadu.

In this Jyeshta Devi looks very beautiful, is in sitting posture along with Manthan and Manthi. She is shown with karanda makudam, ornaments around the neck &  in elongated earlobes and sannaveeram. A crow flag is shown on her left side. She is holding a flower in the right hand. This Jyeshta Devi is under worship in a separate sannidhi on the back side of the main temple.  

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

 

Jyeshta Devi at Maravaneeswarar Mahadevar Temple, Keezha Pazhuvur, Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu.

In this Jyeshta Devi sculpture, She looks very beautiful, in sitting posture along with Manthan and Manthi. She is shown with karanda makudam, ornaments around the neck & in elongated earlobes and sannaveeram. Crow flag and broom stick are not shown. She is holding a flower in the right hand and the left hand is on her thigh like ooru hastam. This Jyeshta Devi is under worship in a separate sannidhi on the back side of the main temple. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---