Sri Athitheeswarar Temple / Sri Athitheerwara Swamy Temple / ஸ்ரீ அதிதீஸ்வரர் கோயில், Vaniyambadi, Tirupattur District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th December 2019.

The visit to this Athitheeswarar Shiva Temple on the west side banks of River Palar in Vaniyambadi of newly formed Tirupattur District,  was a part of Shiva, Vishnu and Hero Stones Heritage Visit in and around Vaniyambadi scheduled on 29^th December 2019. Thanks to Mr Srinivas of Vaniyambadi, who took me to all these temples and places.

Moolavar : Athitheeswarar

Consort   : Periyanayaki

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

The temple is facing with a three tier Rajagopuram of the west and a 5 Tier Rajagopuram on the east side. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, Nandhi are after the west side Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas Dindi and mundi are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum complex. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy ( Sitting on the nandhi ), Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai.  In the inner prakaram Nagars, Nalvar, Bhairavar,  Sivasuriyan, Maragatha Lingam, Natarajar, Kamala Ganapathy, Deventhira, Saptamatrikas, Chandran and Chandikeswarar.

In the outer prakaram, Parantaka Chozhiswarar, Nagars, Dakshinamurthy, are under a bilva tree, Saraswati, a 16 pillar mandapa and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar.  Ambal is in a separate temple sannidhi facing west, the same direction of Lord Shiva. Navagrahas are in the Ambal temple mukha mandapa.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple complex consists of sanctum, antarala, arthamandpam and a maha mandapam.  The mandapa pillars are the combinations of Pallava, Chozhas, Gangas, Vijayanagaras.  The Ganga period pillars are virutha ( cylindrical ) with Kalasam, Thamarai kattu, kumbam, pali, palakai and Pothyals. The Kumba and Kalasas are with kodi karukku. The malai thongal are beautifully sculptured. There are two Pallava period squatting lion pillars also.

The Adhisthana is of padabandha adhisthana. The prastaram  is of kapotha style. Lord Shiva‘s dance, Lord Shiva’s dance with Kali, in the makara thorana are worth to watch. The two tier Vimana over the prastaram is built with green stone,  may be sourced from Vallimalai region.

Moolavar is swayambhu and is believed that moolavar is  with Ambal.

 Simha pillars

 Kodi karukku on pillars too

 Chozha Inscriptions of pillars are too.. Aditha Karikalan

 Ganga pillars

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was built during 7^th to 8^th Century Pallava period and latter contributions from Chozhas, Gangars and Vijayanagaras.  During Pallavas period this place was called as Narasimha Chaturvedi  mangalam under  Adyar Nadu in Paduvur Kottam. And During Kulothunga Chozha’s period this place was called as Madurantaka Chatuvedi mangalam in Aimpulugur-nadu in Perumbanapadi. Lord Shiva was called as Virunthina Thevar. The Chozha period inscription mentions this place as வாணியந்பாடி.  The temple mainly has the Rajaraja-I, Rajendra-I, Kulothunga Chozha inscriptions. The Rajaraja inscriptions starts with his title / meikeerthi.  The door sides, even Pillars too has the inscriptions.

The inscriptions mainly  speaks about donation  of land, cattle, money for the regular poojas and burning of perpetual and sandhi lamps.

 Adhita karikala's inscription

 Rajaraja-I inscription

 Kulothunga Chozha Inscription

LEGEND:

This is a Punarpoosam nakshatra temple and devotees, who are born in this star offers special prayers on their birth days in this temple, to get rid of doshas.

As per the legend Sri Saraswati was cursed by Brahma to loose her powers and speech. Saraswati came to this place and got back her power. She has sung songs on Lord Shiva of this temple, hence this place is called as Vaniyambadi ( Vani – Saraswati and Padi means singing ).

In another legend saint Kashyap’s wife Athithi worshiped lord Shiva of this temple and hence Lord Shiva is called as Athitheeswarar.

 Moolavar is with Ambal-Swayambhu-- stucco image on the arch of Saraswati sannadhi

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from the regular poojas, Maha Shivarathri.

 Saptamatrikas

 Saptamatrikas

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between

CONTACT DETAILS:

The mobile number Phone: +91 4174 226 652 Mobile: +91 99941 07395 / +91 93600 55022 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is about 3 KM from Vaniyambadi Railway Station.

The Vaniyambadi is on the Bengaluru to Chennai Highway, 17 KM from Jolarpet, 24 KM from District Capital Tirupattur and 200 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Jolarpet.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar sannadhi

  Dwarapalakas

 Saptamatrikas

 Shiva Dance with Kali in makara thorana

A Jolly / Jala work on stone 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Chennakesava Perumal Temple / Sri Chenraya Perumal Temple, Elagiri Village / Yelagiri Village, Tirupattur District, Tamil Nadu.

05^th January 2020.

The visit to this temple was a part of 73^rd Ahimsa walk organized by the Tamil Samanars / Jains at Elagiri Village on 5^th January 2020. At the entrance of the Village Elagiri happened to see flex banner about this Vishnu temple. Incidentally, we had stopped near this temple  to Visit the Tirthankara temple.

Moolavar : Sri Chennakesava Perumal

Thayar    : Sri Padmavathi.

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

The temple is facing east ( Yelagiri Hill )with a Deepa sthambam with balipeedam. The sanctum sanctorum consists of  Sanctum, antarala and a mukha mandapam. Moolavar is with Sridevi and Bhudevi. Urchavars are in-front. The Mukha mandapa was built during recent years connecting the existing Chozha period structure.

ARCHITECTURE , HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhisthana with tripatta kumuda. The sanctum walls has the koshtas with out images. There is no Vimana on the sanctum sanctorum. The Kulothunga Chozha-II ( 1135 to 1155CE ) inscriptions are found on the adhistanma. Hence this Vishnu temple may belongs to 11^th to 12^th Century. The inscription records the gift of land to this temple.

 

Kulothunga period inscription

HOW TO REACH:

This Temple is adjacent to Government elementary school of the Elagiri Village Road.

This temple is about 2 KM from Jolarpet Junction.

Nearest Railway station is Jolarpet.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE  12.555434, 78.592355, 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Hero Stone - Pulikuthi kal / புலிகுத்திக்கல் / Veerakallu / Nadukal and a Vhitramezhi Kalvettu at Yelagiri / Elagiri Village, in Tirupattur District, Tamil Nadu.

 05^th January 2020

After the Yelagiri Tirthankar Temple Visit, Mr Malayan who does the Pooja told that there is also another Tirthankara near the Tissue ( Banana ) culture plant. We went in search of the Tirthankara. Instead of Tirthankara we hand found a Pulikuthi Hero Stone and a Chitramezhi kalvettu. Both are erected side by side

PULIKUTHI KAL

In this the tiger is shown biting the hero’s thigh and Hero is killing the tiger with sword piercing through its back. The tiger keeps both front legs on Hero’s thigh. His left hand is shown behind and what he is holding is not known. He was shown a half dress below his waist. The dress frill is hanging between his legs. His tuft is hanging behind. Some inscriptions are found on the top and are not legible to read. The Pulikuthi Hero Stone may belongs to 16^th to 17^th Century.

CHITRAMEZHI KALVETTU.

In this Chitramezhi Kalvettu, Bhumi Devi is holding lotus in both hands at the top portion. Samaras/ whiskers are shown on both Sides. Poorna Kumbha, Lamps, Chitramezhi and two aruval are shown at the bottom. In addition to this s bird and a dog is on the right side.  At the centre a human image in worshiping posture is shown, which is unique of this Chitramezhi Kalvettu stone. Since this is available in the field, the farmers used to do pooja before starting of new cultivation or sowing. 

LOCATION: 12.551947, 78.590233

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple / Shri Srinivasa Temple, Ambur, Tiruppattur District, Tamil Nadu.

05^th January 2020.

The visit to this temple was a part of 73^rd Ahimsa walk organized by the Tamil Samanars / Jains at Ambur on 5^th January 2020. Since this Vishnu temple was on the next street, had the chance of visiting this temple during the breakfast time. 

  

Moolavar  : Sri Srinivasa Perumal

Thayar     : Sri Padmavathi.

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

The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Garudan are in a mandapam after after the Rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum consists three sannadhis with of Sanctum and antarala. Sri Srinivasa Perumal is at the centre, Thayar Padmavathy is on moolavar’s right and Andal is on the left. There is no idols in the koshtas.

An Vijayanagara Nayak period open mukha mandapa is in front of the Sanctum sanctorum. At the top of the mukha mandapam, Stucco images of Srinivasa Perumal like Tirupati Balaji on the right Sri Padmavathi Thayar in sitting posture and on the left Andal. In addition to this Vishnu with Sridevi and Bhudevi images are on Adhiseshan on both sides.

A Pillar bottom is used as a pothyal

In the prakaram sannadhi for Anjaneyar, Nammalwar, Ramanujar, Desikan, Hayagriva, Sridevi and Bhudevi sametha Varadharaja Perumal, Garudan, Chakkarathalwar and Yoga narasimhar.

The temple was re-built during the recent years. From the pillars of the mukha mandapam, this 400 to 500 years old temple may belongs to 16th to 17th Century Vijayanagara period. No inscriptions was found in this temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

This Vishnu Temple is about 1.5 KM from Ambur Bus Stand. Ambur is on the Vellore to Krishnagiri, Salem, Dharmapuri bus route.  

Ambur is 40 KM from Tirupattur, 60 KM from Vellore and 180 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Ambur.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---