Sri Sakthipureeswarar Temple / Sathyapureeswarar Temple, Ponmar, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

 26^th April 2016.

After darshan of Sri Dandeeswarar on Sunday 24^th April 2016, thought  of Visiting Ponmar, which is on the way to Medavakkam to Mambakkam bus route. Whenever I used to cross the Ponmar Sri Sakthi pureeswarar temple, I could see the doors of the temple are in closed condition. To day the Gurukal was opening the door while crossing the temple. Finally Sri Shiva gave me darshan on this Sunday. Even-though I had seen outside many times, this is the first time I could see the inside the sanctum sanctorum.

Moolavar    : Sri Sakthi pureeswarar, Sri Sathya pureeswarar

Consort      : Sri Sakthi Pureeswari.

Some of the important details are ....

The temple is facing east without Rajagopuram or dwajasthambam. In koshtam no moorthams and letter period moorthams are kept below the niches.In the artha mandapam Urchavars and Natarajar.

Ambal is  in a separate sannadhi  in front mandapam facing south. In the mandapam Vinayagar, Sri Subramaniar, Kala Bhairavar and Rishabam. Kasi Viswanathar sannadhi is back side of Ambal sannadhi. 

ARCHITECTURE

The Temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a maha mandapam. The entrance to the maha mandapam is from the south side. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple kapota bandha adhisthanam with Jagathy on a padama peedam, Vrutha kumudam, Kapotam. The Bhitti starts with Vedika. Th pilasters are with square base, thamaraikattu, kalasam, thadi, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palaka, veerakandam, poo mottu pothyal. The prastaram is with valapi, kapotam with Nasis and viyyalavari. Kumbha panjaras are on the Bhitti and Koshtas are sala style. 

The Vimanam is of two tiers, built with bricks on the bhoomi desam. Brahma and Maha Vishnu are with their consorts. The Vimana is of Nagara- Vesara style. Maha nasis are on the 4 cardinal directions of Sigaram. The mandapa pillars has the bas reliefs of saints, gandaberunda, donors etc,. 

 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that this temple was constructed during Vijayanagar King Sadasivarayar and his inscription is on the ( 1520 CE ). As per the inscription this place was called as Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Puliyur kottathu Kalvainattu / Kalvoy nattu Thiyaga Vinotha Nallur alias Ponmar and Lord Shiva was called as "Poyileechuramudaya Nayanar". The inscription also records the gift of Village "Poyyilichery".

Sadasivaraya : Saka Year: 1442 (:1520 CE ) inscription Records the gift of certain taxes collected from Poyilicheri for the worship and renovations to the deities of Virabhadra nayanar and Poyilisvaramudaiya nayanar at the village of Ponmaru alias Thyagavinodha nallur of Kalvay -nadu in Puliyur-kottam, a subdivision of Jayankonda chola mandalam, by Srirangarayan and the Nattars of chengalunirpattu for the merit of Sadasivarayar and Ramarayar.

விஜயநகர சதாசிவராயர் ( 1520  CE ) காலத்தைச் சார்ந்த கல்வெட்டு இவ்வூர் ஜெயங்கொண்ட சோழமண்டலத்து புலியூர் கோட்டத்து கால்வாய் நாட்டு தியாவினோதநல்லூரான பொன்மாறு என்ற ஊரில் உள்ள பொயிலீசுரமுடைய நாயனார்க்கும் வீரபத்திர நாயனார்க்கும் பூசை மற்றும் திருப்பணிகளுக்கு சதாசிவராயர் மற்றும் இராமராயர் பெயரில் சிங்கராயர் என்பவரும் செங்கழுநீர்பட்டு நாட்டவரும் பொயிலச்சேரியை தன்மமாக விட்ட செய்தியை பதிவு செய்கின்றது. 

A 16th to 17th Century incomplete inscription ( ARE 1934 - 35 nos 17-118 ), mentions Srimathrangarayan ratyan and Payirkudikal  palapattaikal.  This inscription records the cleaning of Amaneri ( clearing the vandal ) by Chinna Chetty's son Vedagiri.

ஸ்ரீமத்ரங்கராயர் ரட்டியன் மற்றும் பயிர்க்குடிகள் பலப்பட்டடைகள் ஆகியோர் கூறப்படுகின்றனர். சிந்னாசெட்டி மகன் வேதகிரி என்பவர் அமணே(ரி) குளம் என்ற குளத்தில் வண்டல் வெட்டித் தூர் எடுத்ததை இக்கல்வெட்டு குறிப்பிடு கிது. இக்குளம் கோயிலின் அருகிலேயே அமைந்துள்ளது. கல்வெட்டு முற்றுப் பெறவில்லை.

Ref

Kanchipura Mavatta kalvettukkal Volume - 2.

  

Inscriptions 

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple will be kept open for darshan  during morning and evening and there is no fixed time. Gurukal may be contacted for darshan.

CONTACT DETAILS :

Gurukal Ramanujam may be contacted on his mobile 9176067723.

HOW TO REACH :

All the buses from T Nagar, ( 51J, J51 and 51T )  via Medavakkam passes through the Village Ponmar.

The temple is about a KM off main road on Malai Street. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE    :CLICK HERE

After Ponmar been to Ottiambakkam and had the darshan of Sri Otteeswarar  ( my previous visit details click ) and returned home

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMAHA:---      

SRI VELLIANGIRI ANDAVAR TEMPLE / HILLS – THEN KAILAYAM - MY TREKKING EXPERIENCE

20^th April, 2016.

Do you want to check your health along with ayurvedic medicinal herbs, but without spending money?. If the answer is yes, here is Dr Lord Shiva from Villiangiri, on the western Ghats near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. To reach Lord Shiva’s natural cave temple, you can reach after crossing 7 hills  at an altitude of  2240 meters / 7349 feet above sea level and climbing height of 1200 meters / 3937 feet, only by trekking. After reaching the top of the 7^th hill Lord Shiva bless us  and certifies our healthiness.  

This is the 4^th hill trekking after Othimalai, ,  Chennimalai and  Parvatha malai during this season. The trek to this hill was scheduled on 16^th April 2016, Night, planned much earlier self with a friend from Ooty. 2 weeks before 3 more people from my old office expressed their willingness to join with us. On 16^th April,  I couldn’t join from Chennai, instead,  joined at Coimbatore Railway station, due to personal reasons. From Coimbatore Railway we took a Taxi ( Rs 1000 taxi fare ) and reached to Poondi the base temple of Velliangiri.

  

To avoid Chitra Pournami crowd we planned trek 5 days before.   But to our surprise, there was lot of crowd to trek the hill. After clearing all the formalities by the forest department ( removing all plastic bags, polythene bags, even the water bottle labels are removed ) we 5 friends started our trekking around mid night. Before reaching the  first hill we 5 people got separated in to two groups and couldn’t meet till we returned back to the base temple. The path has become very tough compared to the last year due to last year’s rain which washed away the path in many places. We are forced to wait in many places to give way to the devotees coming from the opposite direction.

Finally we reached to top of the Shiva cave temple around 05.45 hours and had the darshan of Sri Manomani Ambal Samedha Sri Velliangiri Andavar. It took almost 5.30 Hrs to trek the hill top from the base. We are very lucky to see the sunrise also  from the top of the hill. After spending about 30 minutes, we had started our return trek. On return also we could not meet our lost friends.

We are able to reach the 3^rd hill within 3 hours and escaped from the direct sun heat. It was too hot and made the trekking further difficult.  On the way we had the “kamba kool” ( millet )( there are more than 50 shops on the en-route)  and what we carried to eat could not do so due to tired and sleepy. It took almost same time to reach the base of the hill. During returning I got the neck pain ( always looking down the steps) also the right dislocated leg started paining. With the blessings of Lord Shiva we reached to the Poondi base temple around 11.30 Hrs, without much problem.

We had taken rest up to 18.00 hrs at our Guest house and proceeded to Coimbatore Railway station to catch our train to Chennai. Reached Chennai safely around 07.00 Hrs on 18^th April 2016. While travelling on the suburban train, it touched my heart that one of the passenger touched the bamboo stick and worshiped it and inquired a lot about our trekking. Thanks to Lord Shiva for the wonderful Darshan and safe trekking to the Velliangiri Hills.

HOW TO REACH :

The base Poondi is about 40 KM from Coimbatore City  on the way to Siruvani Dam.

Almost 2 KM from Isha Yoga centre.

Buses are available up to Isha and very few busses  are plying to Poondi on normal days and special buses will run during Chitra Pournami day.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

Details of my previous Velliangiri Trekking / Yathra please click the links: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019

For more Photos on Picasa web : CLICK HERE

For Vedio on YOUTUBE            : CLICK HERE

 Poondi Sri Velliangiri Adavar temple ( Base of Velliangiri ) 

 Vellai Pillayar – at the top of first hill 

 Vazhukku parai ( slippery rock )

 A Devotee carries the trisool 

 Beema’s Kali urundai  

 The spring at the base of 7^th Hill – devotees used to take a holy dip 

 The 7^th Hill view from 5^th hill top 

 The beautiful sun rise 

 The beautiful sun rise 

Facebook friend, Podhigai Paramasivam Mr Ashok Kumar – self – Mr Vijayan 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Kurungaleeswarar Temple and Sri Vaikundavasa Perumal Temple, Koyambedu, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. OYAMBEDU, CHENNAI.

 10^th April,  2016.

It was long back visited Koyambedu Shiva temple and also  forgotten the details of the temple. Thought of  recollecting the  memories after a visit to this temple. Of the three days holiday first day went off, for the Buckingham Canal Trip and  after a day rest, visited Koyambedu and had the darshan of Sri Kurungaleeswarar and Sri Vaikundavasa Perumal. Both temples are unique in nature and the details are..

SRI KURUNGALEESWARAR TEMPLE – KOYAMBEDU.

This temple is on the banks of river Cooum at Koyambedu. As per the history Sri Rama with his sons Lavan and Kusan meditated  on the banks of river and worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

Moolavar : Sri Kurungaleeswarar aka Sri Kusalavapureeswarar and other names are  Sri Kusalaveswarar, Sri Ganaprakasar and Ganapureeswarar.

Consort   : Sri Aram valartha Nayaki

Some of the Important features of this temple are…

The temple is facing North with a  16 pillar mandapam is in front of Rajagopuram  and four sides of each pillar has the reliefs of  Shiva Parvati, Hanuman, Sarabeswarar, Ravanan,, Shiva dances, etc.. There is no other Shiva temple facing north side. ( I was little confused after seeing the Location of  sannadhis ). 

As we enter through the 5 tier Rajagopuram Adhikara nandhi on the left and kala bairavar on the left. Balipeedam, Nandhi and Dwajasthambam are  immediately after the Rajagopuram. In koshtam Vinayagar and Brahma are on the east side, Dhakshinamoorthy is on the back of Moolavar ( in place of Lingothbavar), Mahavishnu and Vishnu Durgai  are on the west side of sanctum. Moolavar is short to give darshan for the children and it was believed that Sri Rama’s sons Lavan and Kusan worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Vinayagar, Somaskandar, Sri Valli Devasena sametha Sri Subramaniar, Sri Kasi Viswanathar & Visalakshi,  Yaha salai, 4 Pillar mandapam.

In the inner prakaram sannadhi for Chandran, Sabha mandapam, Suryan ( a Big size moortham ), 63var, Santhana Kuravargal ( Meikandar, Arul nandhi sivam, Marai Gnanasambandar, and Umapathy Sivam ), Vinayagar, Jurahareswarar, Chandikeswarar, Agastheeswarar, Sastha,  Subramaniyar, Kurukiya Lingam, Lakshmi, Naalvar, Gana Saraswati,  Naagars.

Ambal Sri Aram valartha Nayaki is also facing North in a separate temple. There is no moortham in koshtam and prakaram.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple pada bandha adhisthana with Jagathy, muppattai kumuda and pattika. The Vimana is with adhisthanam, bhitti, prastaram, sigaram, greevam, sigaram and stupi. The prastaram is with valabi, kapotam and Bhumidesam. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the inscriptions the temple was built during Kulothunga Chozha’s period with square Vimanam. Even though the temple belongs to Chozha’s period, the sanctum is of square and  Gajabirushta Vimanam is missing.

Kulothunga Chozha period inscriptions  

Kulothunga Chozha period inscriptions  

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple is kept open between 05.30 Hrs to 12.00 hrs to 17.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The office telephone number is  044- 24796237.

Temple web site http://www.kurungaleeswarartemple.tnhrce.in/

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is about 1 KM    from  CMBT bus terminus, Metro Railway Station and Omni Bus stand.

LOCATION :CLICK HERE

63var 

Dhakshinamurthy os on the back side of Moolacar facing south 

SRI VAIKUNDAVASA PERUMAL TEMPLE.

This temple is  on the left side of Sri Kurungaleeswarar temple ie in front of 16 pillar mandapam.

Moolavar : Sri Vaikundavasa Perumal

Thayar    : Sri Kanaka valli Thayar.

Some of the important details of this temple are….

Sri Anjaneyar sannidhi is in front of the temple and by the side of 16 Pillar mandapam of Shiva Temple. The mottai gopuram with out Vimanam on the top. Dwajasthambam, Garudalwar and Balipeedam are at front on the outer prakaram. In sanctum Moolavar Sri Vaikunta Vasa Perumal with  his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi.  Peruma’s left had postures is  not as usual and it seems Perumal is calling the devotees. and blessing on the right hand. This a unique in posture of Peruml.

Sannadhi for Sri Kanaka valli Thayar on the left and Andal sannadhi on the right in the outer prakaram.

In the maha mandapam, moorthams for Valmiki, Lavan & Kusan, Seetha in maravuri and Alwars.

On the mukha mandapam sudhai sirpam of Sri Ramar fighting with his sons Lavan and Kusan. It was believed that Ramar fights with his sons to get back his aswamedha Yaga Horse.

Also one of the special features of the temple is Sri Ramar with Seetha are with out Lakshmana and Hanuman.

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple is kept open between 05.30 Hrs to 12.00 hrs to 17.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :

The office telephone number is

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is about 1 KM    from  CMBT bus terminus, Metro Railway Station and Omni Bus stand.

LOCATION :CLICK HERE 

Lavan & Kusan fighting with Ramar 

See the left hand posture of Sri Vaikundavasaperumal
--- OM SIVAYA NAMAHA:---

Sri Subramaniar Temple, Saluvankuppam, Eclipse Mandapam, Sadras Fort, Alamparai Fort, Sri Vasantha Nayagi samedha Vadavamuka Agneeswarar Temple, Vedal, Sri Tirupuliswar Temple, Vayalur, Quarry near Valiyan Kuttai Ratam and Pidari Ratham, Mamallapuram, Iron age Burial site at Thiruporur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

09^th April 2016.

Even-though it was very hot out side, enjoyed the Buckingham canal trip  led by Mr Venkatesh, the Historian & the writer, Mr Vaidyanathan Ramamurthy and the curators Mr Shasvat and our young curator Nandan. The arrangement   of the program & Co-ordination  was excellent, which makes the trip more enjoyable with out feel of the scorching sun.  The tour was planned in such a manner that, we had our breakfast and Lunch at A2B of Mamallapuram/ Mahabalipuram. When most of us could not see the cairn circles ( megalithic )  of iron age burial site, we are fortunate to see more than 30 such sites. My sincere thanks to all the participants.

SRI SUBRAMANIAR TEMPLE - SALUVANKUPPAM

This archaeological site is very near to Tiger caves and is 6 KM north of Mamallapuram/ Mahabalipuram. This site was estimated to 4^th/5^th to 12^th/13^th century and dedicated to God Sri Subramanya. The exposed structure consists of balipeedam, vel, Artha mandapam, sanctum. The Sanctum was built like a well. The of the temple was built with laterite stones, over which stone slabs are provided like plinth beams over which the walls are constructed with brick stones of various sizes. Some of the bricks are more than 10 inches. The mandapa pillars are removed from the site kept out and has the inscriptions. The tsunami exposed rock has the inscription of Rajaraja Chozha  and Pallava Period. The plinth surface was covered up to 10 feet by the sand.

LOCATION                                         :CLICK HERE

For more Photos in Picasa Web Album: :CLICK HERE 

ECLIPSE MANDAPAM

It is after Mamallapuram/ Mahabalipuram on ECR on the road side. The mandapa might have been used as a Traveler's resting Mandapa ( வழிப்போக்கர் மண்டபம் ). Had seen two Dutch person's relief on the pillar. The pillars has reliefs of both Saiva and Vaishnava Deities ( Lord Shiva on Rishaba Vahana, Vishnu on Garuda etc,. ), Munis / Rishis with head gear as jadabandam, Dutch persons, A Nayak in Anjali hastam ( may be the person responsible for construction ), erotic sculptures etc., The Ceiling has the relief of The Kannappar purana, Solar and Lunar eclipse, lotus medallion,  Purusha mirugam, monkey with it’s baby and Crocodile.

The mandapam pillar pothyals / corbels  are of mixed types right from rectangular to pushpa pothyal with vazhaipoo ( short). The mandapam might have been constructed during 17th Century Nayak’s period.

LOCATION : 
For more Photos in Google Photos Web Album: :CLICK HERE

Portuguese / Danis bas-relief 

SADRAS FORT

Sadras was known as Rajanarayan Pattinam  name after the Sambuvarayar Chieftain. During 1818 it was with Dutch and 1848 Britishers took over the control of the fort.  Latter it turned as Sadiravasagan  Pattinam again this was changed to Sathurangapattinam by Britishers. Kalpakkam Atomic Energy quarters was built adjacent to the fort.

The Sadras fort was established by Dutch during 17^th century, on this Coromandel Coast for trading the Muslin Cloths, Horses, edible oil, Pearl, Cotton, spices, salt, etc,. The forth with about 1 meter thickness wall was constructed with brick. The fort house, a cemetery, Church, gallows, office rooms, quarters for staff, Kitchen with a well inside, storage for the grains, stable for the horses, etc,. The cemetery has 16 graves and one is for a mother and her baby died during delivery. This is in the form of load bearing structure ( sumai thangi -  சுமை தாங்கி). On one of the grave the Sadras is mentioned as “SADRESPATNAMVOOR”. The fort was  constructed with Bastions on the west side and watch round towers on the east side. The bastions are used to corner the enemy from the three corner of the fort and attack.

LOCATION                                         :CLICK HERE

For more Photos in Picasa Web Album: :CLICK HERE

ALAMPARAI FORT.

Alamparai lies on the east coast called the Coromandel coast served as Fort as well as sea origin ancient Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Sangam Literary work, Sirpupanatruppadai mentions that this region  called as Idaikazhi Nadu ( one of the regions of ancient Tamil Nadu ) and also describes the region and the activities of the people. The existing ruined fort and dockyard at Alamparai was built by the Muslim rulers during 18^th century CE, from 1736 to 1740 CE. The fort  was under the control of the Nawab of Carnatic Dost. Alikhan. Nawab Ali Khan donated this fort and Dock yard to thakkana’s Subedar Musafarjung a French Captain in the year 1750 CE for the benefit / favor  he got from the French Captain Duple. Later in the year 1760 the fort was destroyed by the Britishers, when the French diminishes their power.

The square shaped fort with Towers at angles ( 4 corners), were built of bricks and lime mortar. It occupies an area of nearly 15 acres and the length of the Dockyard is about 100 meters. Alamparai was also known as Alambarva, and Alampuravi. Zari, Clothes, salt and Ghee were exported  from the Alamparai port. Alamparai Kasu & Varahan ( Coins ) were minted at the Alamparai Mint. Pottipattan who was in-charge of the mint construction and a Shiva temple, a Big pond and a Choultry on the highway for the benefit of the pilgrims who traveled on the east coast from Kasi to Rameswaram. This highway lies at a distance of two miles on the western side of Alamparai Fort. This Fort is maintained ( No maintenance ?) and protected by the state Department of archaeology.

LOCATION                                         :CLICK HERE
For more Photos in Picasa Web Album: :CLICK HERE

VEDAL - SRI VADAVAMUKA AGNEESWARAR TEMPLE.

This is the last Pallava and early Chozha period brick temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple facing east. There are two Ambal in a separate sanctum facing south. There are many changes between our last visit to this visit. Fence has been erected. A new Vinayagar sannidhi was constructed and Ambal sannidhi renovation is in progress. Still the Gajabirushta vimanam of the main sanctum is vertically cracked from top to bottom. It was learnt that local people are doing thirupani with their own fund.   For the details of our last visit through R.E.C.H Foundation :   Click Here

LOCATION                                         :CLICK HERE
For more Photos in Picasa Web Album: :CLICK HERE

SRI TIRUPULISWAR VAIKUNTESWAR TEMPLE - VAYALUR  

A CHOZHA PERIOD GAJABIRUSHTA VIMANA STONE TEMPLE.

The temple complex has the sannadhi for Tirupuliswar, Vinayagar, Sri Vaikundavasa Perumal, Angayarkanni Thayar. In Shiva’s sanctum koshtam Vinayagar, Guru Bhagavan ( Dakshinamurthy ), Vishnu ( in Lingothbavar place ) Brahma and Durgai. All the sannidhis including Rajagopuram are up to ceiling level with out vimanam. Inscriptions are there at the adhisthanam of Sri Tirupuliswar sanctum.

This temple is under the control of ASI (Archaeological Survey of India).

This part of this post was written as a separate post with updated details like Architecture, History and Inscriptions. Please Click this link for the updated post.  

LOCATION                                         : CLICK HERE

For more Photos in Picasa Web Album: :CLICK HERE

MAMALLAPURAM/ MAHABALIPURAM – QUARRY, NEAR VALIYAN KUTTAI RATHAM AND PIDARI RATHAM.

This is on the entrance to Mamallapuram / Mahabalipuram  from Pondy to Mamallapuram/ Mahabalipuram. A beautiful Pillayar pasa angusam, relief greets us  at the entrance. Both Valiyan Kuttai Ratham and Pidari ratham are unfinished. We could see not only the chisel marks, but also the chisel scrapping in length wise. Behind both of the Ratham we could see, the abandoned quarry, where the granite hill is split in to blocks or slabs. First the required area is marked and square holes to a depth of 4 to 5 inches depth are formed. Bamboo was tightly hammered in the holes. Then water is poured on the bamboo, which expands and split the granite in to blogs or slabs.  

LOCATION                                         :CLICK HERE

For more Photos in Picasa Web Album: :CLICK HERE

THIRUPORUR IRON AGE BURIAL GROUND SITES

These are the megalithic burial sites belongs to the end of Stone age to Iron age. These are dated between 1000 to 300 BCE. The term Megalithic gets the name from the fact that the people of this culture built structure using large boulders, stones. These structures are available in plenty on the west side of Thiruporur town and south side of Shiva temple on the hill. Since the boulders are available plenty on the hill the same was utilized to build these structures. Some of the structures are intact and many of the structures were incomplete due to removal of the boulders for construction by the present people. We could also see some samples of iron slag, Yes, and not the laterites stones.

  

The site belongs to the archaeological survey of India and warning board was also erected. But the total place is not protected by fence arrangement. Lot of glass bottles are scattered around the whole area. We could explore a small area in which we could see more than 30 circles. There are more such circles are available on the hill up to lake bed. We understood that in spite of warning signs houses were built and encroached by the building developers.  

For more details http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=26215

LOCATION                                        : CLICK HERE

For more Photos in Picasa Web Album: :CLICK HERE

The piece of iron slag 
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMAHA:---