Azhagu Perumal Temple / Sundara Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Vaniyambadi, Tirupattur District, Tamil Nadu.

29^th December 2019.

This visit to this Azhagu Perumal Temple 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 2019. This place is very much associated with Saraswati ( Vani ) and the Athitheeswarar Temple. As per the legend Lord Shiva asked Saraswati to sing, hence this place is called Vaniyambadi. This Vishnu Temple is on the east side banks of river Palar. This temple was called as Sundara Varadarja Perumal during Chozha Period and got corrupted to Azhagu Perumal Temple.

 A Vimana with Rajagopuram

Moolavar  : Sri Azhagu Perumal

Thayar     : Sri Sundaravalli

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

The temple is facing west with a recently built 3 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam, Garudan are immediately after the Rajagopuram. Moolavar Azhagu Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhudevi in standing posture. Chakra is in a ready to use position. There is no images in the koshtas.

In the prakara Vinayagar, Lakshmi Narayanar, Thayar Sundaravalli, Chakrathalwar with Yoga narasimhar,Bala Anjaneyar and Urchava mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala,  artha mandapam and a open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pathabhanda adhisthana  and Ekathala vimana is on it.

 Vijayanagara architecture

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

As per the inscription found on the adhisthana, this place was called as Madhurantaka Chozha Chaturvedi mangalam and the temple was built by the 10^th Century Chozha King Madhurantakan. It is to be noted that Rajaraja-I’s father was called as Sundara Chozha and Sundara means Azhagu in Tamil. 

  

The temple was reconstructed during 15^th to 16^th Century Vijayanagara period and inscriptions are found on the sanctum walls.

 Inscriptions

 Chozha period inscription at the base..

Vijayanagara priod inscription

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The temple may be on the mobile number +9193447 43439 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is about 2 KM from Vaniyambadi Bus stand and Railway Station, 18 KM from Ambur, 24 KM from District Capital Tirupattur and 267 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Vaniyambadi.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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---