Sri Pandeeswarar Temple / Sri Pandiswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ பாண்டீஸ்வரர் கோயில், பெருந்தொழுவு, Peruntholuvu, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Pandeeswarar Temple at Peruntholuvu was a part of “Kongu Nadu Heritage Visit to Temples, Hero stones, Ayyanar and Jyeshta Devi Sculptures around Kangayam” in Tiruppur District. Thozhuvu means a place to bound the cattle. And Peru means big. There are number of evidences found in and around this Village to prove the same. Stone age remains of cairn circles are found near this place. During ancient time, people are engaged in cattle rearing in large numbers. Tigers used to attack the cattles and the people killed the tigers to save their cattle. In the process, some people are also died. In memory of the deceased hero stones are erected. Hero stones of killing tiger, Jyeshta Devi are found in this place. This shows that this place Perunthozhuvu / Peruntholuvu existed from stone age. 

Moolavar  : Sri Pandeeswarar

Consort    : Sri Parvathavardhini

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

The temple facing east with a Deepasthambham. Stucco image of Lord Shiva with Parvati is on the top of the entrance. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the entrance under the mukha mandapa. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma and Durgai.

In prakaram, Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar and Ambal, Chandikeswarar and Kala Bhairavar. Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing east. Nalvar is in the artha mandapam. 

A Pulikuthi Hero stone is near the temple and Jyeshta Devi is on the right side of the temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple consists of sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhisthana. A two tier vesara vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum. The sanctum sanctorum was constructed with stone upto prastaram and the vimana was built with stucco. Ambal temple is the same type of construction, but the Vinayagar and Valli Devasena sannidhis were constructed latter with cement & concrete.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

With the presence of Jyeshta Devi, experts are of the opinion that the original temple belongs to 12^th century. The present temple was reconstructed. Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar Temple were added at a latter date.

Going by the name of Lord Shiva as Pandeeswarar, some of the experts of the opinion that this temple might have constructed during Pandya period. This place Peruntholuvu was in Pongalur Nadu during Chozha’s and Pandya’s period.

  

Jyeshta devi

LEGENDS

It  is believed that worship of Lord Shiva and Parvati will get relieved from Marriage obstacles. People are treating Lord Shiva as Kula deivam and marriages are conducted in the temple. People also prays Ambal for Child boon.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Fridays, Pournami, Amavasya ( new moon day ), Pradosham, Karthigai Deepam, Tamil & English New year days, Pongal, Deepavali and Maha Shivaratri. On Karthigai deepam day, Deepam will be lit on the deepa sthambam.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala pooja is conducted, the opening and closing times are unpredictable. But the poojas are conducted between 07.00 hrs to 08.00 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number of the archakar +91 9944055438 & +919688295 730 or the Managing committee mobile number +91 97888 43666 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The Sri Pandeeswarar Temple is at the centre of Peruntholuvu Village.

The temple is 22 KM from Kangayam, 27 KM from Palladam, 15.3 KM from Tiruppur, 40 KM from Dharapuram, 64 KM from Coimbatore and 460 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Tiruppur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE.

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Hero Stone / Sati Stones / Veerakallu / Nadukarkal / நடுகற்கள் of Alankuppam, Draupadi Amman Temple, Semmanthikuppam Tirupattur District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th December 2019.

The Visit to these Hero stones are a part of temples and Hero stones Heritage Visit scheduled on 29^th of December 2019. Mr Srinivas of Vaniyambadi took me to all these places.

HERO STONE OF ALANKUPPAM.

This hero stone is erected in the mandapam of  Sri Ponniamman temple mandapam, of Alankuppam Village facing the Amman. The Hero stone is about 5 feet high and 3 feet wide.  The hero is carved in the form of bas relief to about 3 feet. The hero is holding sword in his right hand and a shield in the left hand. The hero was died due to hitting of an arrow on his chest.  Lamps are shown on his both side, Whisk (chowry ), a poorna kalasam are shown ( these are considered as mangala symbols ). This shows that the  hero is worshiped like a God. On the top it has the Tamil inscriptions. 

The inscriptions belongs to Dantivarman’s 14^th year Rule ( 810 CE). As per the inscription, the hero Veeraiyan son Sathima vakilavan of  was killed during  war with the opposite country. The hero Veeraiyan fought to save his village from destruction by the enemies. The Hero stone was erected by Pennai. The inscription reads as... The inscription reads as...

1. ஸ்ரீ கோவிசைய தந்தி விக்ரம பரு
2. மற்க்கு யாண்டு பதின் நா
3. ல்காவது அடையாறு நாடு ம
4. லையன்னரான ஒருகில் மணற்
5. ச்சுனை மேற் படை வர ஊர் அழியா
6. மைய் காத்து பட்டான் சத்தி
7. ம வகிலவன் வீரையர்க் கல்
8. பென்னை

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

HERO AND SATI STONE AT DRAUPATHI AMMAN TEMPLE, SEMMANDHIKUPPAM

This hero stone is  in a Village Deity Sri Draupathi Amman Temple on the banks of river Palar.  A Hero stone may belongs to 16^th to 17^th Century is carved on one side and  a Sati, Hero with his wife are carved on the back,. In the hero stone the hero is shown looking on the left. He holds a sword in his right hand and a shield in the left hand. He wears a cap looks cute. A Round ornament is shown on his ears. A Half dress is shown below his waist with a kattari tied.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 Sati image on the back

 Bothiraja

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

An Ancient Shiva Temple at Thennambattu Tirupattur District, Tamil Nadu.

19^th December 2019.

The Visit to this temple was a part of Temples and hero Stones visit scheduled on 19^th December 2020. After the visit to Armamalai cave paintings, on the way to Thennambattu, happened to see this temple. The temple is under renovation. The vimana above the sanctum-sanctorum was completed and the front Mandapa is under construction. Since the temple was found old, peeped in the temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The original temple consists of sanctum, artha mandapam. The mukha mandapa is under construction with brick and cement. The adhisthana is a simple padabandha adhisthana. Koshtas are  provided on the sanctum walls. The Ambal sannidhi is under construction.  The temple is under  worship with Shiva linga and New Nandhi. The old Nandis are kept out side.  The old mandapa pillars and roof slabs are scattered around the temple.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The adhisthana has the inscriptions of both latter period Chozhas and Vijayanagaras. From the inscriptions, the temple might have been constructed between 12^th to 13^th century.

Chozha and Vijayanagara inscriptions - Polished completely

LOCATION: Thennambattu ( 12.753, 78.664 ) CLICK HERE

  New and old Nandhis

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Hero Stone / Veerakallu / Nadukal / Thoongu Thalai / Thookku thalai / தூங்குதலை / தூக்குதலை நடுகற்கள், Worshiped as Appathamman Eshwaran, and Memorial Stone at Vinnamangalam, Tirupattur District, Tamil Nadu.

 29^th December 2019.

This 10^th Century, Parantaka Chozha Period Nadukal or a Hero stone of type “Thoongu Thalai or Thooku Thalai” is found erected for a hero who sacrificed himself to Kotravai,  at Vinnamangalam Eri banks. The Vinnamangalam Village was a part of Thondai mandalam during Chozhas and Pallavas period. 

This type of Hero stones are considered as a rare one, since only 4 numbers are identified in Tamil Nadu, till date. The word “Thoongu Thalai -  தூங்கு தலை” – is inscribed, on a hero stone found at Thirumalaichery Village of Vellore District. With the available evidences, this types of sacrificing may be followed till 10^th Century. The Thoongu Thalai, hero stones are mentioned in sangam literature Kalingathu Parani  also,  which reads as....

 “வீங்குதலை நெடுங்கழையின் விசைதொறும்

திசைதொறும் விழித்துநின்று தூங்கு தலை..”

--- கலிங்கத்துப்பரணி பாடல் எண் 117

Usually Thoongu Thalai sacrifice to Goddess Kotravai will be for various reasons.  The reasons may include, to get victory over the war, for the wellness of kings, or to get cured from deceases, etc,.

The procedure adopted is, the tuft of the hero’s head will be tied to  one end of the bamboo with flexibility called “Thalai Thoongu Nedumaram”.  The head of the hero will be chopped off  by a person and the head will be lifted  in the space.

In this Thoongu thalai Hero stone is about 3.2 feet wide and 4 feet high in a small temple with two women sculptures, whose faces are turned right are installed. The hero is in sitting posture, keeping one leg folded and other leg knee in lifted condition ( Rajaleelasana ?). The left hand id on his raised knee and right hand is holding a sword. The head is shown with a gap of about 5 inches  and tuft is tied to the bamboo. He is wearing an ornament in his neck and a half dress is shown below the waist.

Chozha King Parantaka-I ‘s 7^th year rule, inscription is inscribed on the top of this Thoongu Thalai Hero Stone. The inscription reads as... 

1.ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீ கோப்பரி கேசர பன்மற்கு

2. யாண்டு ஏழாவது இடக் காத்தரைய மிண்

3.ணமங்கலமான இடக் காத்தரையத் தம்

4.பி யளசந்தையன்

5.மேளை யசந்தை

6.யன் இடக்காத்த

7.ரை யட்டா

8.டி யான் தூ

9.ங்கு  த

10.லை குடுத்தான்

11.பெருங்க

12.ண்ண

13.ன் வைப்பி

14.ச்சக்

15.கல்

As per the inscription Idakatharaiyan’s brother Idakatharaiyattiyan of Melaya Sandhai had given this Thoonguthalai. Inmemory of him this Hero stone was erected by Perungannan. 

LOCAL LEGEND:

There is a local story about this hero stone. The legend goes like this... The hero was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.  He ran out of the village Vinnamangalam, when he was young  due to difference of opinion between his Sisters. He returned back to this Village after long period and started religious service. Two women’s  are helpful for the poojas. When he came to know that they were his sisters, he told them he ran out of the Village, since he don’t want to see their faces again. The sisters were ashamed of their acts and turned their faces. Immediately he cuts his head. From then onwards his descendants worshiped him as a God. This story was narrated by one of his descendant  Mr Gobi ( 9025120914 )

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 Thoombu kalvettu

HERO STONE AT MANDI, VINNAMANGALAM

This Hero stone is erected in a place called Mandi a part of Vinnamangalam.  The hero stone is about 4 feet high and 3 feet wide. The  Hero is standing in a tribhanga posture. He is holding a sword in his right hand and a shield in the left hand.  He was killed due to hitting of three arrows, of which one arrow pierced through his body. Below him are two cattle. This indicates that he was kill in the process of guarding his cattle.  On the top he was shown worshiping a Shiva Lings. This indicates that he obtained the Shivalok.

MEMORIAL STONE AT PERUMAL TEMPLE

This memorial stone is installed at the left side of the Rajagopuram. This may be Sati. After her husband’s death she might have entered in a funeral fire. On both side are the Devakannis escorts them to Devalok.  Since this memorial stone is highly eroded, full details could not be traced.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE 

Ref:  "Thadayaththai thedi" published by Yaaooyakey & Celebrate Kanchi”

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Armamalai Cave and paintings, Malayambattu, Tirupattur District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th December 2019.

This visit to this cave was a part of Temples and Hero stones Visit around Vaniyambadi in Tirupattur District, scheduled on 29^th December  2019. This happened to be the last heritage Visit of this year. It is believed that this cave was once occupied by the Jain monks and a school was functioning. Also this hill was called as ”Arumpavi malai”, which got corrupted to the present name of Armamalai.  The paintings and this cave was identified during 1960’s- 70s. The same was recorded in the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department web site also.

On reaching the Village Malayambattu, we didn’t know the path to the cave. A school boy came to our rescue and he took us to this cave. It was about 2 KM walk on the bunds of the fields, to reach the foot hills. Few steps are cut on the rock and few steps are constructed to reach the Cave situated about 50 meters from the ground level. The cave is about 80 meter in length and 10 meter wide. The cave was divided in to three parts. The first part is empty and the surface is flat and there is no beds found. We found a Lotus pedestal with 10^th to 11^th Century Tamil inscription. There is also three pieces of a Dwarapalaka’s bas-relief carved on a flat stone.

The second part of the cave, rooms are constructed with mud and unbaked bricks. The walls are raised up to the ceiling about 3 meter high. The rooms are small and difficult to live within.

The third part of the cave’s surface is not uniform. The ceilings  has the patches of paintings similar to Sittannavasal and Bagh Caves. Only few patches are recognizable like, flowers, leaves, lotus, a man, a bird etc..  The Colours like, red, green, blue, black and white are used.

The cave is now being used as a cattle shed and Bar by the drunkards.

After seeing the cave I have my own doubts.

1. How the cave was identified as Jains Cave ?.
2. Only with the two fragments of Sculptures, is it possible to judge a monument existed in that cave ? ( No other structures are found )
3. May be the paintings can be compared with Sittannavasal. But this may not be a proof to come to a conclusion that the cave belongs to Jainism.

Experts are requested to throw some light on this.

HOW TO REACH:

The Cave is in a Hill called as Arma malai about 2 KM from the Village called Malayambattu.

Malayambattu is about 10 KM from Vaniyambadi, 11 KM from Ambur and 8.3 KM from Vinnamangalam.

The nearest Railway station is Vaniyambadi.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---