Sri Vilvanatheswarar Temple / Sri Vilwanatheswarar Temple /திருவல்லம் வில்வநாதேசுவரர் கோயில், Thiruvalam, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu

While I was searching the Aalayam Kanden web site, understand that Mrs PadmaPriya Baskaran is organizing a one day trip to Thakkolam ( click here ), Melpadi, Pullalur and Thiruvalam on 9^th August 2015 for Ponniyin Selvan Group ( Click here  Click Here ). Even-though I had been earlier to Thakkolam and Thiruvalam temples as a part of pilgrimage yatra to cover 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalangal (for details CLICK HERE ) thought of doing once again with a group of heritage enthusiasts. 

 

Kolattam by ladies

 

The new things learned in this trip are....

Sri Vinayagar is sitting on his vahana –moonchuru holding mango in the right hand, The reliefs associated with the history of this temple are highlighted in the front mandapam during the recent renovation. The Adhi Shiva temple is at a lower level with lot of inscriptions.

 

As per Mr Venkatesh understood that Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan - Vanthiya thevan' s birth place is Thiruvalam.

 The relief  on the pillar Bull and elephant- Rishaba Kunjaram 

  Emblem of Vijayanagars dynasty

Kannappar worshiping Lord shiva – removing his eyes and keeping his legs on Shiva’s eyes as a location – see the bow’s thread.

A relief on Adhi Vilvanathar Temple wall

 Adhi Vilvanathar Temple 

 Thiruvilayadal Puranam – Pittukku man sumanthathu 

 Iranya kasibu and Narasimhar

 Reliefs on Ambal sannadhi wall 

 Reliefs on Ambal sannadhi wall 

 Reliefs on Ambal sannadhi wall

HISTORY  AND INSCRIPTIONS

The Lord Shiva is called in different names. Nandhivarma Pallavan-III (CE863) – Theekali Vallamudaya Parameswarar, Mahavali Vaana  bana Raja ( Vikramathiya I) ( CE888) – Theekkali Perumanadikal,  Rajaraja Cholan ( 991 CE) – Thirutheekkali Alwar, Rajendra Cholan (1015 CE)-Thiruvallamudayar, Vikrama Cholan ( 1123 CE ) –Thiruvallamudaya Mahadevar, Kulothunga Chozhan III ( 1212 CE) _ Thiruvallamudaya Nayanar.

The temple has the inscriptions of Pallava and Chola periods. The place was called in different names as per the inscriptions. Nandhivarman ( 793 CE ) – Vaanapuram, Rajaraja Cholan ( 991CE ) – Theekkali Vallam and in Arunagirinathar’s  Thiruppugazh – Thiruvalam. 

LEGENDS

Mrs Priya explained the history and the sthala purana bas reliefs in detail on the pillars and went round the temple. Had the darshan of Sri Dhanurmathyambal sametha Sri Vilvanatheswarar. ( For My Previous Visit details : CLICK HERE    ).

Cow is milking on Shiva Lingam 

The priest bringing water from the hill for Shiva's abishekam( The history of the temple )

When the demon Kanjan obstruct the way Rishabam killed the demon and tore to 64 pieces which forms as Shiva Lingas on the hill.( History of the temple )

Rishabam turned back to Shiva and watching not to repeat by anybody else ( Sthala purana of the temple ) 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE     : CLICK HERE

I extend my sincere thanks to Mrs Padmapriya Baskaran, Mr Venkatesh, Mr Vaidyanathan Ramamurthy for organizing a wonderful one day Heritage Visit.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai worship at Eraiyur, Kovilur and Sengadu around Cheyyar, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to these Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai sculptures at Eraiyur, Kovilur and Sengadu was a part of  Heritage Visit to the Temples, Thavvai, Kotravai, Durgai, Hero Stone sculpture’s around Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai District on 22^nd August 2021. Thanks to Logesh for his guidance, Babu mano and manoj, for taking me to this place. 

Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai/ Mootha Devi /தவ்வை at Eraiyur

The Thavvai is in sitting posture with flabby belly, thighs and breasts. She wears ornaments around the neck and ears and an yagnopaveetha. A Karanda maguda is shown on her head.  Crow flag and broom are not shown. Her son and daughter Mandhan and Mandhi are shown on her both sides in standing posture.

LOCATION     : CLICK HERE

Jyeshta Devi as Sri Ponniamman / Thavvai, Kovilur.

This Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai was installed in a temple and worshiped as Ponniamman on the eri bund. This was shifted from the previous temple built at a cost of Rs 7000, which is about 50 meters from the present Temple.  Since it was refused to remove the vasthram, couldn’t collect the details especially Mandhan and Mandhi. Only face of Thavvai / Jyeshta Devi and her crow flag are only visible. This Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai may belongs to 9^th to 10^th  Century Pallava period.

LOCATION     : CLICK HERE

Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai / தவ்வை at Sengadu. 

This Jyeshta Devi sculpture is inside a Temple at Sengadu near Kotravai image. Since we couldn’t go near the sculpture and also the care takers refused to open the temple on Sunday, we had taken the Photo from a long distance. Hence the details are not known.

LOCATION       : CLICK HERE 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Kotravai / Durgai worship at Sri Hanumantheeswarar Temple, Anakkavur / Anakkavoor / Anakavur, Sengadu and Palanjur, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to these Kotravai sculptures at Anakkavur, Sengadu and Palanjur  was a part of  Heritage Visit to the Temples, Thavvai, Kotravai, Durgai, Hero Stone sculpture’s around Cheyyar in Thiruvannamalai District on 22^nd August 2021. Thanks to Logesh for his guidance, Babu mano and manoj, for taking me to this place. 

Kotravai at Anakkavur, Sri Hanumantheeswarar Temple.

There are Two kotravai sculptures installed in this temple. The Kotravai near the Nandi sannidhi belongs to latter period.

The Kotravai is standing a buffalo’s head She is shown with 8 hands holding Changu, Chakra, Sword, Arrow / Chithramezhi ..?, Shield and Bow. While she holds a bowl and feeds to a Parrot in the lower right hand and what she is holding in the left hand is not known. She wears ornaments in her elongated earlobes and around neck. An ambura thooli / arrow holder is shown behind her right shoulder. Her vahana antilope or Vari aadu is shown on her back. Two men are shown at her feet. The Man on her right leg is shown like offering his head / Navakandam and the left side man is offering some thing / may be flower to Kotravai.  This kotravai is believed to be belongs to 10^th  to 12^th Century Chozha period.

 

The Old Kotravai is kept on back side of the temple. The Kotravai is standing with left leg in firm condition and right leg folded behind the left leg. She is shown with 8 hands with Conch, Chakra, Sword, bow etc. Lower right hand is in abhaya hastam and left hand is in kadi hastam. A Trident is shown behind her left shoulder. She wears ornaments in her elongated earlobe, around her neck and yagnopaveetha. Dress frills and knots are shown beautifully. Since bottom portion is highly eroded, the details of men in Navakandam and offering are not known. As per the experts this kotravai may belongs to 9^th to 10^th Century Pallava period.

LOCATION     : CLICK HERE

Kotravai, Sengadu.

This Kotravai is installed on the east side of an Amman Temple with colour wash.

Kotravai is standing on a buffalo’s head, whose ears are beautifully chiseled. Kotravai is with eight hands holding Sangu / conch, Chakra, Sword, arrow, bow and Shield. Right lower hand is in abhaya hastam and left hand is in ooru hastam. She wears ornaments in ears and around the neck. The saree frill knot is shown on her right hip. Considering the Maguda, experts of the opinion that this Kotravai belongs to 9^th to 10^th Century Pallava period.

LOCATION    : CLICK HERE 

ஸ்ரீ துர்க்கை அம்மன் ஆலயம் / Kotravai,  பழஞ்சூர் / Pavunjur.

This Kotravai is called locally as Durgai and installed under a tree  of the temple. The Kotravai is standing on  buffalo’s head. She wears ornaments in her elongated earlobes and around her neck. She is with 8 hands holds various weapons like Changu, Chakra, Sword,  Shield, Bow, arrow, Chitramezhi (..?). A deer / antelope is shown on her right side. On both sides of her leg Two men are shown. One man is shown with Navakandam posture ( Cutting his head ) and the other man is in anjali hastam.

LOCATION     : CLICK HERE

Antilope

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Chandramouleeswarar Temple / இருங்கல் சிவன் கோவில், Shiva Temple, Irungal, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Shiva Temple at Irungal was a part of  Heritage Visit to the Temples, Thavvai, Kotravai, Durgai, Hero Stone sculpture’s around Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai District on 22^nd August 2021. Thanks to Logesh for his guidance, Babu mano, Manoj and Logesh of Cheyyar, for taking me to this place. 

Moolavar  : Sri Chandramouleeswarar

Consort    : Sri Anandavalli 

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The original temple is facing east on a small kundru or heap of debris. The temple is in dilapidated condition. The roof slabs pothyals, pillars, balipeedam are strewn around. The original temple was built with simple padabandha adhisthana with three patta kumuda. The sanctum sanctorum was built with bricks.

With effort of Udhayakumar, Two Shiva Lingas and balipeedas are salvaged from the debris and installed under a metacolour sheet shed. Since original Rishabam's / Idabam's head was broken, a new Idabam was made and installed.  Both Shiva Lingas are swayambhu on a round avudayar  of which one is shorter and the other is Taller.

HISTORY

Since there is no inscriptions found, based on the structure of the temple, this temple may be of 400 to 600 years old. As per the experts it is believed that the temple might have been constructed by Sambuvaraya Kings, about 600 years before. As per the purana this place was called as Iringalai and the same was got corrupted to the present name of Irungal. 

Due to negligence of local people, the temple has become dilapidated. A metacolour sheet shed was constructed in front of the dilapidated temple, and the two Shiva Lingas are moved and installed on 15th August 2018. Efforts are on for conducting regular poojas and pradoshams and Maha Shivaratri. A new Amman idol was sculptured and planned to install on 24th August 2022.  

The Caretaker Mr Udhaya Kumar of this temple had prepared a video of this temple based on the present structures and the remains.

LEGENDS

Chandran’s image as a bas-relief was carved on a flat stone slab was salvaged from the debris and installed inside the makeshift Temple.  As per the Sri Vedhapureeswarar Temple of Thoruvothur near Cheyyar, sthala purana it is believed that the Shiva Linga was installed and worshiped by Chandra.

சீதமதி இப்பரிசு சிறந்துயர் நல்வரம்பெற்று

வேதமணி நகர்க்குத்தென் மேற்றிசையில் எய்தியவன்

தீதறுமோர் சிவலிங்கப் பிரதிட்டை செய்து அமிர்தால்

ஏதம்றும் பூசனை செய்து இன்புற்றான் எனவுரைத்தான்

In another legend, Chandra worshiped Sri Vedhapureeswarar at, Thiruvothur near Cheyyar on the banks river Cheyyar, to get rid of the sin caused due to the sexual affairs he had with another deva's wife. Satisfied Chandra's worship Shiva and Parvati appeared in the form of rishabaroodar and  blessed him as a head of all Nakshatras. After getting the boon Chandra came to this place Irungalai ( latter it has got corrupted to the present name of Irungal) on the south west of Vedapureeswarar Temple. He established a Shiva Linga and worshiped with Devamirtha. As per Vedapureeswarar Temple's sthala purana, Suthapuranigar has told this legend to Naimisaranya munis.    

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala pooja special poojas are conducted on Pradosham ( 100th pradosham is planned on 24th August 2022), Maha Shivaratri, etc.

As per FaceBook, with the effort of Mr Udhaya Kumar, 75 pradoshams were conducted, after the Shiva Lingas are salvaged. All the functions are conducted with the help of Sivanadiyars from Various parts of Tamil Nadu.

Readers are requested to participate this temple’s poojas and bring back this temple to its old glory.

Old balipeedam

Old Damaged Idabam / Rishabam

CONTACT DETAILS

Mr Udhayakumar  may be contacted on his mobile number +91 95000 24143 for further details.

A Face book page on this Village and the Temple is also maintained by him.

HOW TO REACH

This place Irungal is 7.2 KM from Cheyyar, 38 KM from Kanchipuram, 66 KM from Chengalpattu, 70 KM from Arakkonam 75 KM from Thiruvannamalai ( District Head quarters ) and 113 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Kanchipuram and Junction Arakkonam or Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE     :  CLICK HERE

Invitation for the 100th pradosham and Kumbhabhishekam 

A Link to the Video : On one of the pradosham day 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---