The
Visit to this Sri Janamejaya Eswarar Temple at Panambakkam was a part of
Temples Visit in Tiruvallur District, before attending the Uzhavarapani at
Janamejaya Eswarar temple at Panambakkam and Palalayam function at Senji
Panambakkam Sri Kailasanathar Temple.
Moolavar : Sri Janamejaya
Eswarar
Consort : Sri
Jegathambal / Sri Kamakshi Amman
Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with Balipeedam and Rishabam. Rishabam
is in a mandapam with main temple’s adhistanam architectural style. Moolavar is
of 16 fluted surface Dhara lingam. Ambal Jegathambigai and Chandikeswarar and
Durga as loose sculptures / damaged are kept in the maha mandapam. Since sanctum sanctorum was damaged, moolavar was
shifted to Ardha mandapam. In Koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar
and Brahma. All Koshta images are made of Green stone.
There are two more sannadhis on the back side of the sanctum
sanctorum, built for Vinayagar and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, are without
images now.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha
mandapam and Maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhistanam
with vrutha kumuda. The adhistanam is little elevated with upanam, built like a
mada temple.
Yazhihastha sobhanam with 6 steps is to climb up to maha mandapam
on both sides. Mangala symbols are on the top of the entrance. Maha mandapam Pillars
has the Malai thongal and dancing ladies. The pothyals are of Vettu / poo mottu
pothyal with design. The Pothiyals of the mandapam are of different styles like
Vettu, Tharanga and Poo mottu pothyals. The centre portion has various designs.
Deva Koshtas are of padra kostas with Jagathy, threepatta
Kumuda, kapotham and viyyalavari. The mahara thoranas has the bas reliefs of Lord
Shiva and parvati as Rishabandhikar, Kannappa Nayanar, Natarajar, Umasakithar,
Kaman & Rathi and Prithvi, Ganga Avatharana karanam, Uma Maheswarar, dancing
girls with two females acrobat etc,.
The bhitti starts with vedhika and Brahmakantha pilasters are
with Malai thongal, thamaraikattu, kalasam, thadi, kudam, mandi, palagai,
veerakandam and Vettu pothyals. Panjaras are in between salaipathi and
karnapathi. Kuda panchara with a snake is on the ardha mandapam outer wall. The
Maha mandapam out walls also has the koshtas.
The prastaram is with valapi, kapotham and viyyalavari.
Bhuta ganas with different postures are in the valapi. The kapotam is
with Nasikoodus and kodipalai karukku. Nethra Nasis are in the Karnapathi.
Bhuta gana faces with various expressions are in the Nasikoodus.
The stucco Vimanam above bhoomi desam is of two tiers. The
stucco images are not visible.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE TEMPLE
The temple is in bad shape and trees are grown on the Vimanam
and mandapams. It is not sure that the tree roots are holding the Vimanam or
Vimanam is holding the trees. Fearing of sanctum may crumble at any time,
Moolavar was shifted to ardha mandapam. The Maha mandapam beams above the
Pillars are in broken condition, due to the pillars sinked below.
Ambal was housed once in a separate sannidhi, now remains only
with a wall. Efforts are on to reconstruct the temple to spring back to its original
glory, by the local politicians and Villagers.
Uma MaheswaraLord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabanthikar
Kannappar puranamacrobat
Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar
Dancer and Musicians bas-reliefs on Malai thongalNataraja
Mandapam Ceiling - Pillar pothyal and the beam crack
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Based on the inscriptions this temple was assigned to 10th
Century Chozha period. The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to
Vikrama Chozha, Kulothunga Chozha-III and Rajaraja Chozha-III. As per the
inscriptions this place was in Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu Manavil Kottathu
Manavil nattu senji and Lord Shiva was called as Jayamatheeswaramudaya
Mahadevar. ( Thanks to Anbu Vanthiya Devan, Pon Karthikeyan and Saikumar
).
Vikrama Chozha's 10th reign year inscription records
the endowment of burning two sandhi lamps by NagangkoRRan Aruveliyan's daughter
and Naduvinmalai Perumoor Nattu Venbakkam KoRRamangala Kilan Vadavayirselvan's
wife, for the same 2 Kasu was gifted. The same was received by Sivabrahmin
Kavusigan Madhurantakadeva Battan, Kavusiga Kuzhaintha battan, Kausika Arulveli
battan and Athrayan Eru (Sevaka) bhattan and agreed to carryout this endowment
till sun and moon exists. The original inscription reads as....
வீரஸிம்ஹாஸனத்து முக்கோக்கிழாநடிகளோடும்
வீற்றிருந்தருளிய கோப்பரகேசரி பந்மரான திரிபுவனச்சக்கரவத்திகள் ஸ்ரீ விக்ரம சோழ தேவற்கு
யாண்டு பத்தாவது ஜயங்கொண்ட சோழமண்டலத்து உடையார் திருவேகம்பமுடையார் தேவதாநம் மணவிற்
கோட்டத்து மணவில் நாட்டு செஞ்சி ஜயமதீஸ்வரமுடைய மஹாதேவர்க்கு நாகங்கொற்றன் அருவேலி(ய)ன்
மகள் நடுவின்மலைப் பெருமூர் நாட்டு வெண்பாக்கத்து கொற்றமங்கலங் கிழான் வடவாயிற் செல்வன்
அகமுடையாள் கம்படி நங்கை வைத்த ஸந்தி விளக்கு இரண்டு இரண்டும் வைத்த பரிசாவது இக்கோயிலிற்
காணி உடைய சிவபிராஹ்மணந் கவுசிகன் மதுராந்தகதேவ பட்டனும் கவுசிக குழைந்த பட்டனும் கவுசிக
அருள்வேலி பட்டனும் ஆதிரயன் எறு(சேவக) பட்டனும் பக்கல் குடுத்த காசு இரண்டு இக்காசு
இரண்டுங் கைக்கொண்டு இவர்களும் இவர்கள் வம்ஸத்தாரும் சந்திராதித்தவரை இந்த விளக்கு
(இக்)காசிற் பொலிசை கொண்டு விளக்கு எரிக்கக் கடவர்களானமைக்கு"
Kulothunga
Chozha-III’s 28th reign year inscription records endowment of
burning sandhi lamp at Manavil kottathu Udayar Thiruvekambamudayar Thevadhanam
Senji Janamatheeswaramudaya Nayanar, by Thiruvan selvan, one of the Nagan Kootran Vasudevan alias Kaduvettikal,
for the same 2 pazhangasu / money was received by the Siva Brahmins Nattal
Perumal Avimuktha Nayaka Thirutta Peruman and agreed to lit till the sun and
moon exists from the interest. This was recorded by the Thiruvekambamudayar
Temple Kanakku / accountant Uthiramerurudayan sana Thevan Thiruvekambamudayan.
Rajaraja-III’s
8th reign year inscription records the endowment of payment for the
people preparing the thirupallithamam / Garland to Thiruvekambamudayar manavil
Kottam as per Veeranarasingathevar alias
Yadhavarayan’s thirumukapadi. All the taxes such as weaving machine taxes /
Saliyathari, Uchchathari Parayar thari kasus etc paid to the pandaram has to be
utilized for the above purpose.
Rajarajan
–III’s 11th reign year inscription records the endowment of pooja
and Naivedyam a land at Yadhavarayar Paadur as thevadhanam. This was given in
the form of order / thirumukapadi on a palm leaf by Veeranarasingathevar alias
Yadhavarayan to the Paadur Village people. The land measures 5 veli with
periphery limits are mentioned. The income from the above land has to be
utilized for the above purpose. The Sivabrahmana’s name was mentioned as
Kuthanda Nayakka Nambi.
Rajaraja
Chozha-III’s 16th reign year inscription records the endowment of
burning a Sandhi lamp by Kunthalalwan, one of the NagangoRRan JagathaNda Nayagan Velan Pillais,
for the same 2.5 pazhangasu was received by Siva Brahmanan Kausigan Kunichan Perumal Bhattan and the
temple Avimuktha nayagan
Thirunattapperumal.
Rajaraja Chozha-III’s 18th reign year inscription records the endowment of
burning a sandhi lamp by Komugan alias Pallavaraiyan, of one of the NagangoRRan Adhinathan Velan pillais.
Jadavarman
Sundara Pandyan’s 14th reign year ( 1250 – 1268 CE ) inscription records the endowment of burning Sandhi
lamp and maadai ( ..?) at this Janametheeswaramudaya Nayanar temple by
Panambakkam Nachialwan for the same Siva Brahmanars Era Kausikan Avimuththa
Nayakan and Kavuthaman Bhattan Pillai. received money accepted to carryout.
LEGENDS
As
per the legend Janamejayan was the son of Pareetchithu who ruled the Gurskehtra
for 24 years. Due to curse of a Brahmin he was killed by the bite of Nagarajan
Dakshan of Dakshaseelam. Angered Janamejayan, took an vow / oath to kill
Nagarajan Dakshan within a week. So he conducted a sarbamedha yagna. The
purpose is that all the Nagas will fell in to the kundam and die. All the Nagas were died except Karkodakan and
Nagarajan Dakshan. Nagarajan dakshan wound on the wheels of surya and escaped.
Karkodakan went and hid behind Lord Shiva, who gave asylum. Karkodakan promised
that he will not bite anybody in this place and even if he bit people will not
die due to poison. To get rid of this sin Janamejayan installed this Shiva
Lingam and worshiped.
Since
Janamejayar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple to get relieved from the sin
caused due to the killing of Nagars, this temple is a Rahu, Ketu, Sarpa doshas,
Naga dosham and Pitru dosha parihara sthalam.
As
per hearsay Lord Shiva was called as Harihara Eswarar and Janamejayar worshiped
both Lord Shiva and Parvati with equal importance.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from oru kala pooja special poojas and Brahmotsavam are conducted on rishaba
vahanam through the devotees sponsorship.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
Since
oru kala pooja is conducted, the opening
and closing times are unpredictable. Only sanctum sanctorum will be kept
locked, out side temple and architecture can be seen at any time.
CONTACT DETAILS
Trustee
Parasuraman +91 9092903312 and Pravin Bhattachariyar +91 8122191689 may be
contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
This
temple is about 2.6 KM from Senji Panambakkam, Railway Station ( Share and Autos
are available ), 4.4 KM from Manavur Railway Station, 6.2 KM from
Perambakkam ( Autos are available and City buses are available from Poonamallee
), 25 KM from Arakkonam, 17 KM from Tiruvallur Railway Station, 40 KM from
Poonamallee and 61 KM from Chennai Central.
Nearest
Railway station is Senji Panambakkam.
