The
visit to this Sri Bojeswarar Swamy Temple at Samayapuram, near Trichy, was a
part of “Temples, Heritage Sites and Archaeological Excavation Sites Visit
around Thoothukudi”, between Dec 1st
and 2nd December 2023. On the way to Thoothukudi visited this
Hoysala period Shiva temple.
Moolavar : Sri Bojeeshwarar Swamy
Consort
: Sri Anandavalli
Some
of the salient features of this temple are...
The
temple faces east with a mottai gopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are in
front of the temple. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum.
Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of the ardha mandapam. Moolavar is of 16
flat surfaces, Dhara Lingam (Sodasha Lingam) on a round avudayar. In kostam
Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Durgai, and Brahma (the positions of
Durgai and Brahma are interchanged). Bairavar and Suriyan are in the maha
mandapam.
In praharam Sri Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar,
Navagrahas, Nagars, and Amirta Mrityunjay Eswarar (Sivan).
Ambal
is in a separate sannidhi facing south in the maha mandapam. Ambal is in a standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple is built like a mada temple on a raised upanam. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam, and a sobhana
mandapam. The Sobhana Mandapam can be accessed from the South and north directions.
The
sanctum sanctorum is on a kapota bandha adhistanam with jagathy, vrutha kumudam, and kapotam. The bhitti starts with vedika. The pilasters are Vishnu
kantha pilasters with a square base, Naga bandham, malai thongal, thamarai kattu,
kalasam, kudam, mandi palakai, and poo mottu pothyal. The koshtas and aharai / saleelantharam are
inside compared to salaipathi and karnapathi.
The
prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus and viyyalavari. Lotus petals are in the
valapi. A two-tier brick Vesara vimanam is on the Bhumidesam. Shiva,
Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu with Maha Lakshmi, and Brahma with Saraswati are in
(first) tala and greeva kostam.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As
per the Display board at the temple, the original temple was built by the
Hoysala Kings during the 13th Century (1253 CE). Shiva was called Bosaleeswaramudayar. During the 13th century, the Hoysala King Narasimha II chased away the enemies in favor of the Chozhas. His son Veera
Someswaran ruled this area, keeping the Kannanur (now called Samayapuram) as the Capital in 1253 CE, and called this place Vikramapuram. He was also called Chandran of Karnataka. To commemorate the Victory, he had made some gifts to this
temple on Solar eclipse day (01.03.1253). A Cheppedu mentioning his gifts to
this temple is available at the Bengaluru Museum.
Inscriptions
at Thiruvanaikaval and Srirangam record his gifts to the temples. He built
this Poisavesucharam at Kannanur. At Thiruvanaikaval built a temple/sannidhis in memory of his Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, and wife. The places
Veera Someswaram near Srirangam and Someswaranpettai near Trichy Vayalur are
named after him. Now they are called Veerasomeswaram and Somarasanpettai.
The
original temple was reconstructed, maybe during the Vijayanagara Nayaks/19th
to 20th centuries. We may notice that the pilasters are without
continuity, and the stones used in the reconstruction of Mandapas are misplaced. Maha
Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 06.09.62, and 05.03.2017 after attending the thirupani/renovations.
Ref: Display board at The Temple
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from 3 times regular poojas (08.00 hrs, 12.00 hrs, and 18.00 hrs) and
abhishekam (07.30 hrs), special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Karthigai
Deepam, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, etc.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to
19.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The
archagar Vaithy Gurukkam may be contacted on his mobile number +919865331516
for further details.
HOW TO REACH
The
temple is about 300 meters from the Trichy – Tindivanam Highway, 11 km from
Srirangam, 21 km from Trichy, 41 km from Perambalur, and 314 km from Chennai.
The nearest
Railway Station is Srirangam/Pichandarkovil.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
