Continuation
to the previous post……..
07th October
2015
I
was little tired due to too much walking around Sri Brihadeeswarar temple
Complex, yesterday. Got up little late and proceeded to Punnainallur Mariamman
temple. The temple was constructed by the Marathi Kings and Marathi
inscriptions are there in the mandapa pillars.
PUNNAINALLUR MUTHUMARIAMMAN TEMPLE – THANJAVUR.
The south side ( Main road side ) entrance arch
Amman
: Punnainallur Mariamman.
Some
of the important details are…
The
temple is facing east with two level Rajagopuram, Mukha mandapam, maha mandapam,
mandapam and artha mandapam.
In
the outer prakaram temple tank, Kosalai, Vilakku etrum place and mandapam to
stay the devotees who comes with smallpox. In the in side mandapam ( 2nd level Rajagopuram ), stucco image of Rajah Sri Thulaji and Sri
Sadasiva Brahmendra facing Amman.
Dwajasthambam,
balipeedam are in the mandapam after the 2nd level
Rajagopuram under the mandapam. In he pillars Ashta Lakshmis stucco images.
In
the inner prakaram only mandapam with Sri Padakachery Ramalinga Swamy’s sudhai
sirpam. Paechi amman sannadhi ( Lada sanyasi, Madurai Veerar &
Kathavarayan). Rajah Shivaji's stucco image and on the right temple tank.
The
sanctum Amman idol and Vishnu Durgai on the left facing south.
THE HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE
As
per Chozha Sambu book, the Chozhas established 8 Sakthi temples around
Thanjavur in eight directions. This Punnainallur Mariamman is on the east
side. In 1680 AD, the Maratha King Venkoji went to Samayapuram yathra to
worship Mariamman. In his dream Amman appeared and told that
she in the midst of Punnai forest ‘Ant Hill’, 5 KM from
Thanjavur. The king came back and found out the ant hill and created a small
temple and called the place as Punnainallur and Amman a Mariamman.
During
1763 – 1787 CE, Thulaja Raja’s daughter’s eyesight was gone due to smallpox
decease and Amman advised the King to come along with his daughter to
worship her. When they worshiped Mariamman, the King’s daughter got back her
eye sight and the Kind built a shrine around the Ant Hill and also he
constructed the prakarm. He also shaped Ant Hill to form Amman with the hep of
the Siddhar Sri Brahmendra and chakra was also installed.
During
1739 - 1763 CE King Pratap donated a village called Arulmozhi Pettai and
constructed Kothandaramar temple also. The moorthams of Ramar, Seetha,
Laksmana and Sugreeva are made of Salagrama stone ( these are
presented to King Pradap Sing by the Nepal King ). Then 1798 to 1832 King
Saraboji constructed the Maha mandapam, Narthana mandapam, Front
Rajagopuram, Big prakaram and done kumbhabhishekam to Amman. King
Shivaji constructed the outer prakaram. In the year 1892 King Shivaji’s
wife Kamtchiamba Bayi Saheb constructed the Outer prakarm, Annadhana Hall and
North Rajagopuram.
Since
Amman is made of Ant Hill daily abhishekam is not done instead, oil with punuku
is applied. Abhishekam is conducted to Urchava moorham and Vishnu
Durgai. Once in 5 years Thaila kappu with sambrani, Punuku, arakaja and
Javadhu are applied. During that time Curd and tender coconut are
offered to Amman to reduce the heat.
There
are 2 tubs constructed around Amman, devotees pray and fill both with water to
get cured from smallpox ( Vaisuri ). During summer seasons it was observed that
sweating on Amman’s face and head till date. Hence Amman is also
called as Muthu Mari Amman. Every year during Tamil months Adi, Avani and
Puratasi, annual festival if conducted. Theppam festival is also conducted in
the temple tank.
With
the leadership of Sri Siddhar Padakachery Ramalinga Swamigal, the elder Prince
Rajasri Rajaram conducted Kumbhabhishekam during the year 1950. The
present Parambara Trustee Sri Babaji Rajah Bhonsle also done
kumbhabhishekam on 06-07-1987. Gold kavasam weighing 22 kg was offered to
Amman through the donations received from the devotees. During the year
1855, Rajah Shivaji constructed the Rajagopuram from mottai gopuram in to a 7
tier Rajagopuram with Stucco images. This thirupani was carried out through
the help of Singa vala nattu ( Kulichapattu, Kathirinatham, Thalavapalayam and
Marungai peoples) devotees. The Rajagopuram and other sannadhis were
consecrated on 27-07-2004.
This
is one of the 88 temples maintained by Rajah Sri C Babaji Rajah Bhonsle
and Tamil Nadu Govt.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS :
The
temple is kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs with out break.
CONTACT DETAILS :
The
temple web site is
Phone
number is +91 4362267740
HOW TO REACH :
The
temple is about 5 Km distance from old bus stand.
Lot
of town buses both private and Govt, are available from old Bus
stand with stop as Mariamman temple.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
The
temple tank - Preparation for the Puratasi month’s theppa urchavam
The
7 tier rajagopuram first level and second level Rajagopuram partially visible.
This second level Rajagopuram was built with stucco images.
The Tamil inscriptions of Marathi Period
Beautiful view of the corridor- Pillars are similar to Marata's period
Padakchery Ramalinga Swamigal – He is the instrumental for many
temples kumbabishekam and construction of Rajagopuram. ( Kumbakonam Nageswara Swamy Temple east side Rajagopuram was constructed by him)
Beautiful view of the corridor- Pillars are like Maratha's period
Sanctum Sanctorum Vimanam
Sanctum Sanctorum Vimanam
The
east side entrance arch
The temple’s chariot
The
devotees offerings, cock and hens.
After darshan of Mariamman temple came back to Thanjavur Sri
Brihadeeswarar temple to take photo of the kalasam shadow falling on the
ground. It was 10.00 hrs, I left for Palace and Saraswathi Mahal. On the way,
purchased a book about Thanjavur Periya Kovil Santharam from Thanjavur Tamil University
with Pictures and temple details of Santharam.
Darbar
hall
Durbar
hall – entrance to museum arch Stucco images
Museum hall Pillars
Jyeshta Devi – on the left manthan with buffalo head
and on the right her Mandhi and somebody says it is her mother in-law Agni Devi
Dakshinamurthy - an unusual posture
Navakandam
Navakandam
Museum
Bell Tower or Watch tower
Saraswathi mahal looks like Gopuram – It was told that during war weapons will be stored to fool the enemies.( The enemies will think that this gopuram might be a temple's gopuram )
Thayar
?, Vishnu on the right
Somaskandar- Lord Shiva and Parvathi
Shiva
Playing damru as Gangalar
Shiva
ganas 
King
Saraboji's Darbar
King
Saraboji's Darbar - ceiling painting
Chozha Period Nataraja
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
