Uraangkuluntha Nayanar Temple / ஊராங்குளுந்த நாயனார் கோயில் / Shivan Temple, Thellur, Ussoor, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

fter Appukkal balancing rock visit, had been to this place Thellur Shiva temple on the way to Vellore. This temple is in the midst of the fields and there is no path straight from the Village. We have to walk through the bunds of the filed. It will be very difficult during rainy season to walk through the fields. Hope the temple lands was encroached including the path to the temple. Thanks to Mr Sugumar Arul for taking me to this temple and the Friends of "Incredible Vellore"  Facebook Friends.     

Moolavar  : Sri Uraangkuluntha Nayanar

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

The temple is facing east, in dilapidated condition  Moolavar is in the sanctum on square avudayar.  There is no koshta images. A thorana above the koshtam with Bairavar image is worshipped in front  of the temple. An ant hill and  Saptamatrikas panel are in the maha mandapam. Two broken / damaged Amman sculptures are also in worship.

Sri Uraangkuluntha Nayanar

Saptamatrikas panel

 body less and head less idol is also worshipped

Makara thorana with damaged Bairavar relief is being worshipped

 bodyless and head less idol is also worshipped

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. A metacolour sheet mandapa is installed during recent years.

The temple Sanctum sanctorum and ardha mandapam are constructed  on a rocky surface with out  any excavated foundation. The Maha mandapam was built abutting the ardha mandapam on the earth Hence this maha mandapam relocated from the top and a gap was formed. Hence a major damage was happened to the maha mandapam, which was built during Vijayanagara period.

The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada banda adhisthanam with jagathi, threepatta kumudam and pattigai. The bhitti starts with vedika. The koshtas are sala style. Vishnukantha pilasters with square base & Naga bandham, thamarai kattu, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai and Poomottu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus and  vyyalavari. The vyyalas are full form like Pandyas architecture. The makara thundam has the sculptures of warriors.

The tala above prastaram was constructed with bricks. There is no plastering and images on the Vimanam. The sigaram is of vesara style.

 The adhisthanam is on the rocky surface

 Vimanam inner view  PC : Incredible Vellore

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Some of the inscriptions are recorded in Thamil nattu kalvettukkal Thoguthi -XVIII, வேலூர் மாவட்டக் கல்வெட்டுக்கள் தொகுதி – 1.

The temple may belongs to 9^th to 10^th Century. Kulothunga Chozha-I and Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the kumudam and fragment stones. As per the inscriptions this place was called as Thellaiyur in Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu, Paduvur kottathu, bangala nadu. Shiva was called as Uraangkuluntha nayanar.

One of the inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp at this temple and the donations made.

A 12^th Century fragment inscription records as வழி எல்லாம் இந்த நாயினார் குடிவழி அகக் கட..

A 9^th to 10^th Century Hero stone inscription records the names like Piruthigangaraiyar Nettalpaddi.

நடுகல் கல்வெட்டு பிருதிகங்கரையர் நெத்தல்பட்டி ஆகிய பெயர்கள் குறிக்கப்பெறுகின்றன. கல்வெட்டு வாசகம்...

1. ..............
2. றுக்கு இராய....
3. ட்டி நெத்தோர்பட்டி
4. ... (வூயி )விகங்
5. ...... த்திஸ் காத்தா...
6. னடி மேலன் இ.....
7. கங்கையிடை
8. ச்யிதார் செய....
9. பாவம்....

Another 15^th Century Vijayanagara period fragment inscription record as யமஹாராயர் ... இரா....

Another 15^th to 16^th Century inscription mentions as  .....சதா சேவை, - service done to this temple by an individual.

....சதா சேவை, 

Right inscription belongs to Kulothunga Chozha - I's  period. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from orukala poojas, no special poojas are conducted.

HOW TO REACH

This temple is on the east side of Thellur Eri and close to Vellore Airport.

The temple is  about 2 KM from Narasingapuram, 3.5 KM from Ussoor, 12 KM from Vellore and 147 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Vellore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

PC : Incredible Vellore

PC : Incredible Vellore

PC : Incredible Vellore

PC : Incredible Vellore

PC : Incredible Vellore

PC : Incredible Vellore

The temple is without approach road/ path

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---    

சமநிலை பாறைகள் / Balancing rocks, அப்புக்கல் / Appukal, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this balancing rocks was a part of Gajaprishta Vimana Temple of Thondai Nadu Visit on 04^th June 2023. Had been to this place Appukal after visiting Sri Kailasanathar Shiva temple at Ananthapuram. This naturally formed balancing rock is at Appukal Village in Vellore region. The Village Appukal has both Archaeological and Geological values. Thanks to Mr Sugumar Arul for taking me to this Historical place and The incredible Vellore Facebook friends. 

Archaeological significance... This place Appukal was known for human settlement since Neolithic period. In 1977-79, Archaeological Department Team, under the leadership of Prof K V Ramanan, discovered the remains of red and black clay pots and ash mounts belonging to Neolithic age. Megalithic period burial sites like Dolmens are also discovered, but most of them are destroyed due to indiscriminate quarrying.

In 1989, during blasting for stone quarrying, Copper swords found hidden between the boulders. The swords are estimated to be of 2100 years old. The same was identified by Mr Asraf Ali, a Historian from Vellore along with Vellore Museum Curator Mr Gandhi.

The brass swords PC : Incridble Vellore

During recent years, the Villagers protested the quarrying and the same was stopped. A Small Shiva temple was constructed on the top of the hill and power connection from TNEB was also obtained. Efforts are on to lay a path around the hill to carry out the Girivalam on Pournami / full moon Days.

Shiva Temple built during recent years

Geological Significance.... The Hill has two balancing rocks and boulders stacked one on the another.

In the first balancing rock spot, the sharp edge protrudes out distinctively  with its centre sits of the on the bottom rock. These rocks are called the balancing rocks or precariously hanging rock boulders which are naturally occurring geological formations wherein a large rock rests on other rocks, bedrock with some formations though appear like hanging from a narrow base rock are in fact firmly attached to the base rock by a pedestal or stem. This rock formation appears like a bird and a baby alligator from specific angles. This balancing rock is compared to that one in Zimbabwe.

A Close up view of the top rock contact with the bottom rock  

Stalked rocks are on the right

Another view of the balancing rock

Another view of the balancing rock

stalked rocks one on the another 

HOW TO REACH

The Place balancing rock is about 750 meters from the Village.

This place Appukal is about 6 KM from Tarveli, 13 KM from Narasingapuram, 29 KM from Vellore and 164 KM from Chennai.

Nearest railway station is Vellore.

LOCATION OF THE BALANCING ROCK : CLICK HERE

Shiva Temple built during recent years

Hill view from the Village 

Mr Sugumar Arul with the author of this article

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Somanatheswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ சோமநாதேஸ்வரர் கோயில், மேல்பாடி, Melpadi, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu

While I was searching the Aalayam Kanden web site, understand that Mrs PadmaPriya Baskaran is organizing a one day trip to Thakkolam ( click here ), Melpadi, Pullalur and Thiruvalam on 9^th August 2015 for Ponniyin Selvan Group ( Click here  Click Here ). Even-though I had been earlier to Thakkolam and Thiruvalam temples as a part of pilgrimage yathara to cover 276 Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalangal (for details CLICK HERE ) thought of doing once again with a group of heritage enthusiasts.

 Second level 3 tier Rajagopuram view from Mottai Gopuram entrance

From Thiruvalam we reached Melpadi. We are lucky and the temple was kept open. This temple and Arinjaya Cholan’s Pallipadai are under the control of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI). Some of the important details are as follows.

 

Moolavar    : Sri Somanatheeswarar

Consort      : Sri Thabaskirutha Devi. 

 

Some of the Important features of this temple are 

The temple is facing east with entrance on south side. There is no Rajagopuram, but up to mottai Gopuram level. There is a second level Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam and Rishabam are in the outer prakaram. 

 

In the outer prakaram Sannadhi for Ambal ( No koshta moortham in the sanctum niches ), Navagrahas and statues  of Pickshadanar, Shiva Parvati, Sapthamatrikas, Vinayagar  excavated at the temple ( Kept in an enclosure ), Bhairavar, Yagasalai and madapalli. In the inner prakaram there is no sannadhi except Nandhi.

 

In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu ( in place of Lingothbavar ), Brahma  and Vishnu Durgai.

 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. Moolavar vimanam is of ekathala vesara stone Vimanam and the kalasam is also made of stone. The Sikaram and the kalsam are dark black/ green colour stones.

For making this idol it was believed that Kundavai was the model.

HISTORY

Lot of inscriptions  around sanctum wall.  

 The left side mandapam

 Moolavar Vimanam - Complete stone structure  

 Outer prakaram 

 Dwajasthambam, Rishabam and balipeedam 

Ambal Sannadhi in the outer prakaram

 In Koshtam – Dakshinamurthy 

 In Koshtam – Vinayagar 

 In Koshtam – Durgai

 Relief at the entrance of Mottaigopuram

 Saptamatrikas ( Not full set )  & Vinayagar 

 Saptamatrikas ( Not full set )  & Vinayagar 

 Relief of Subramaniyar 

A Pallava Style Pillar

 A stone bowl and Shiva Lingam with broken avudayar

A hero stone facing on the right side, hold shied and angusa like weapon.  

A hero stone facing on the right side, hold shied and angusa like weapon.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE     : CLICK HERE

I extend my sincere thanks to Mrs Padmapriya Baskaran, Mr Venkatesh, Mr Vaidyanathan Ramamurthy and other organizers of the Photo walkers  for organizing a wonderful one day trip.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---