Tiruppattur District Temples

PLACE	DESCRIPTION
Ambur	Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
Ambur	Gangai Amman Temple
Elagiri Village	Chitramezhi Kalvettu
Elagiri Village	Sri Chennakesava Perumal Temple
Thennambattu	An Ancient Shiva Temple
Vaniyambadi	Athitheeswarar Temple
Vaniyambadi	Azhagu Perumal Temple
Vinnamangalam	Appathamman Eshwaran Temple
Vinnamangalam	Hero Stone Temple

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 is a part of the temples and Hero Stones Heritage visit scheduled on 29^th 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 the Sri Ponniamman temple of Alankuppam village, facing Amman. The Hero stone is about 5 feet high and 3 feet wide.  The hero is carved in the form of a bas-relief to about 3 feet. The hero is holding a sword in his right hand and a shield in his left hand. The hero died due to the hitting of an arrow being hit in his chest. Lamps are shown on both sides, a whisk (chowry), and a poorna kalasam are shown (these are considered Mangala symbols). This shows that the hero is worshiped like a God. On top, it has Tamil inscriptions. 

The inscriptions belong to Dantivarman’s 14^th year of Rule (810 CE). As per the inscription, the hero Veeraiyan, son of  Sathima Vakilavan, was killed during a war with the opposing 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... 

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

கல்வெட்டு பொருள்: 

அடையாறு நாட்டின் அருகில் மணற்சுனை என்ற ஊரின் மீது படையெடுத்து வந்த எதிரிநாட்டுப் படையினர் உடன் எதிர்த்து போரிட்டு தான் வாழ்ந்த ஊரை அழியாமல் காத்தவர் சத்திம வகிலவனின் மகன் வீரையர். பென்னை என்பவர் இந்த நடுகல் எடுப்பித்து உள்ளார். 

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: 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 the river Palar.  A Hero stone that may belong to the 16^th to 17^th century is carved on one side, and a Sati, a Hero with his wife, is carved on the back. In the hero stone, the hero is shown looking to the left. He holds a sword in his right hand and a shield in his left hand. He wears a cap and looks cute. A round ornament is shown on his ears. A Half dress is shown below his waist with a kattari tied.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: CLICK HERE

 Sati image on the back

  Pothuraja

---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 the temples and Hero Stones visit scheduled on 19^th December 2020. After the visit to the Armamalai cave paintings, on the way to Thennambattu, I 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 old, people peeped in the temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The original temple consists of a sanctum and an ardha 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 the Shiva Lingam and the new Rishabam. The old Rishabams are kept outside. The old mandapa pillars and roof slabs are scattered around the temple.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

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

Chozha and Vijayanagara inscriptions - polished completely

LOCATION: Thennambattu (12.753, 78.664) CLICK HERE

  New and old Rishabams

---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.

In the 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 Korravai at the banks of Vinnamangalam Eri. The Vinnamangalam Village was a part of Thondai Mandalam during the Chozhas and Pallavas period. 

This type of Hero stone is considered rare, since only 4 have been identified in Tamil Nadu to date. The word “Thoongu Thalai -தூங்கு தலை” is inscribed on a hero stone found at Thirumalaichery Village of Vellore District. With the available evidence, this type of sacrifice may have been followed till the 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's sacrifice to Goddess Kotravai is for various reasons. The reasons may include achieving victory in the war, for the wellness of kings, or getting cured of diseases, etc.

The procedure adopted is that 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 air.

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

 

During Chozha King Parantaka I's 7^th year rule, an inscription was 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. In memory 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 of Vinnamangalam when he was young due to a difference of opinion between his sisters. He returned to this village after a long period and started religious service. Two women were helpful for the poojas. When he came to know that they were his sisters, he told them he had run out of the village, since he didn’t want to see their faces again. The sisters were ashamed of their acts and turned their faces. Immediately, he cut off his head. From then onwards, his descendants worshiped him as a God. This story was narrated by one of his descendants, Mr. Gobi (9025120914)

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: 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 his left hand. He was killed due to the hitting of three arrows, one of which one arrow pierced through his body. Below him are two cattle. This indicates that he was killed in the process of guarding his cattle. On top, he is shown worshiping a Shiva Lingam. This indicates that he obtained the Shivalok.

MEMORIAL STONE AT PERUMAL TEMPLE

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

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: 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 the 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 "Arumpavi Malai”, which got corrupted to the present name of Armamalai. The paintings and this cave were identified during the 1960s-70s. The same was recorded on the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department website also.

On reaching the village of Malayambattu, we didn’t know the path to the cave. A schoolboy came to our rescue, and he took us to this cave. It was about a 2 km walk on the bunds of the fields to reach the foothills. A few steps are cut into the rock, and a few steps are constructed to reach the cave situated about 50 meters below ground level. The cave is about 80 meters in length and 10 meters wide. The cave was divided into three parts. The first part is empty; the surface is flat, and no beds were found. We found a Lotus pedestal with a 10^th to 11th-century Tamil inscription. There are also three pieces of a Dwarapalaka’s bas-relief carved on a flat stone.

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

The third part of the cave’s surface is not uniform. The ceilings have patches of paintings similar to Sittannavasal and Bagh caves. Only a few patches are recognizable, like flowers, leaves, a 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 a Bar by the drunkards.

After seeing the cave, I have my own doubts.

1. How was the cave identified as the Jain Cave ?.
2. Only with the two fragments of the Sculptures is it possible to judge a monument that existed in that cave? (No other structures are found)
3. Maybe the paintings can be compared with Sittannavasal. But this may not be 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 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 OF THE CAVE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---