VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT

Wednesday 3 August 2016

Sankagiri Fort Heritage Visit, Sankagiri, Salem District, Tamil Nadu.

2^nd, August 2016.

This Sankagiri Fort a Heritage walk, rather I would like to call this as Sankagiri Trekking, since most of the journey was by trekking to an altitude of 2000 feet. This walk was organized by the young , energetic and his tory enthusiastic Mr Aaragalur Venkatesan, Mr Kalai selan, Mr Srinivasan, Mr a.t. Mohan of Salem district History search Group. The Local enthusiastic leaders of various organizations also joined with us for this Heritage walk as sponsors. Maram Palinaisamy’s work is beyond words to comment. Particularly Rotarian Mr Venkateswara Gupta’s participation is commendable. Normally thanks will be mentioned at the end of any article, but I would like to mention at the beginning of this article. Hence I extend my sincere thanks to the sponsors of this program through, food & water, Organizers and the 80 and odd co- participants from the age group of 6 to 80, who made this event a successful one.

When this scheduled event on 31^st July 2016, was notified in the face book, immediately registered myself as a participant and eagerly waiting for the day to come. One of the reason is to know more about my Kongu region. I am proud to say that I belonged to the 24^th Nadu, ‘Kuruppa Nadu’ with Vijayamangalam as capital in Kongu Region. The photos taken during the trial walk and the posters posted by Mr Sevas Pandian kindled my anxiety further. Decided to break any obstacles ( during our trekking also received important phone calls is a different story ).

The much awaited day dawn with meeting of historians, researchers, friends of facebook and my previous births brothers and sisters. I was fortunate to participate with eminent personalities Mr Veeraraghavan Mr Veeraswamy, Mar manonmani Pudhuezuthu mangai Ragavan, Barnaboss, Venkatesan tkp, Sultan bai, etc.…. in this Sankagiri Heritage walk. After a brief meeting at the boys school at the base of the hill, started our trekking through the main entrance. The steps are paved randomly with stones and some places steps were chiseled on the rock itself. The trek was steep on some places and forces to take rest after climbing 25 to 30 steps. In some places the steps narrowed due to bush growth. The Glucose and orange mittai gave us energy to climb to the top. The lunch was excellent to ate at the top of the hill watching clouds passing above us.

To reach the top of the hill, passed through Uli muka vassal ( உளி முக வாசல்), Thitti vassal (திட்டி வாசல்), Kadikara vassal ( கடிகார வாசல் ), Rana mandala vassal ( ரண மண்டல வாசல்), Pudukottai Vasal ( புதுக்கோட்டை வாசல்), Rokkal Thittivasal ( ரோக்கல் திட்டி வாசல்), Pooval Thittivasal ( பூவல் திட்டி வாசல்), Idivizhunthaan kundu vassal ( இடி விழுந்தான் குண்டு வாசல்), Vellaikaran vassal ( வெள்ளைக்காரன் வாசல்), Mysore gate ( மைசூர் கேட்), More thitti vassal ( மோர் திட்டி வாசல் ). Ad had seen some the important places like Maan Sunai ( மான் சுனை,), Aal irangum kuzhi ( ஆள் இறங்கும் குழி), Thol uruchan medu ( தோலுரிச்சான் மேடு), Tongavittan kugai ( தொங்க விட்டான் குகை), Uruttivittan paarai (உருட்டிவிட்டான் பாறை), Dheeran Chinnamalai hanging place, Natural and man made ponds and the rain water ways chiseled on the rock to lead in to ponds, The Thomas Daniel’s drawing place, etc., etc., ( sorry the names are in Tamil and difficult to translate and understand.

On the way we came across both Hindu and muslim temples. They are Kottai Muneeswaran, Veerabhadra, Kottai Mariamman, Varadharaja Perumal, Anjaneyar in a mandapam, A mandapam converted to muslim prayer place, Rain water falls on the Surya Chandra Lingams chiseled on the rock, Anjaneyar Temple Chenna Kesava Perumal Temple, Relief of Lord Shiva worshiped by a devotee and a Darka.

we had traveled through many difficult and dangerous paths. It is to be appreciated that Mr Srinivasan had taken much care for the safe passage of our team to cross dangerous paths on the sloppy rocks.

Around 15 Hrs, exhausted completely and taken rest at the top of the hill and slowly trekked down. About 17.00 Hrs reached the base of the hill. Again with a brief meeting with Mr Gupta and a group photo and shared the experiences we had during this trek. Had also seen a three tier memory stone at a local temple. Disbursed un-willingly promising to meet in the next Heritage walk … See you bye for now.

LOCATION OF THE FORT :CLICK HERE

Arriving to the start Point

Brief meeting at the Boys school

Arabic school boys looking with curiosity

Entrance of the fort with the ASI warning board

Entrance to the Sankagiri Fort

Man made pond for rain water storage

Entrance Back side View with Hill of the Sankagiri Fort

Sri Varadharaja Perumal temple

Sri Varadharaja Perumal temple Mandapam

Steps chiseled on the rock to climb

temple stones are used for steps after demolition during Tippu sultan period

Bas-reliefs of Surya and Chandra Lingam

View of Varadharaja Perumal temple

View of the hill

Panoramic View of the hill

Rain Water flowing on the steps

A small discussion at one entrance of the fort

Holes used to hold the guns

Death punishment place

a natural cave where we took some rest

Our group

Soldiers used for playing

selfie at the entrance of the fort

To be continued – PART – 2 ( History of the Fort walls and entrances ) & PART – 3, TEMPLES - with more photos and details....

Wednesday 27 July 2016

Sri Veera sekarar Temple, Sakkottai, Devakottai in Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

27^th July 2016

When I told about the missed opportunity of attending my friend Mr Venkatesh, son’s marriage at Devakottai, to one of my friend Mr Nachiappan, in turn invited me to Devakottai to attend the Kottai Amman’s annual 15 days festival, which is unique in nature and lakhs of people used attend from various parts of India. So I decided to attend the festival to get the blessings of Sri Kottai Amman. I stayed along with his family and visited Two shiva temple and a Saibaba temple.

SRI VEERASEKARAR TEMPLE, SAKKOTTAI, SIVAGANGA DISTRICT

The temple is maintained by 130 pulli Devakottai nagarathars through former Chief justice A R Lakshmanan and his family. They have their madam which was renovated recently.

Moolavar : Sri Veerasekarar

Consort : Sri Umayambigai.

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram and a temple pond in front with a mandapam. The temple was constructed in stages like a mada temple. Constructed completely with stone. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, Durgai.

In the inner prakaram 63var, Bhairavar Subramaniyar, Gajalakshmi, Perumal ( This Vishnu statue was unearthed during renovation at Nandhavanam ), Bairavar, Natarajar, Navagrahas, Veeramaram in stone with Nagars.

Ambal sannadhi is in the front mandapam with separate Dwajasthambam, Palipedam and Nandi.

There are about 4 statues of Nagarathars sculptured on the pillar ) Might have done thirupani to this temple ).

HISTORY

There is no inscription on the moolavar sanctum but available in the front mandapam, which is of latter period. From the recent period inscription it was learnt that the kumbhabhishekam was conducted during 1887 and from other inscriptions, the temple might have constructed during 15^th to 16^th century.

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is very near to Karaikudi, can be reached through Taxi and frequency of the bus is limited.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

Sri Saibaba Temple, Devakottai, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

27^th July 2016

SRI SAIBABA TEMPLE, DEVAKOTTAI.

This temple was built by former Chief justice AR Lakshmanan through his own fund and managed by his brothers. The temple is facing east with an entrance arch on south side. The Saibaba idol was sculptured from white marble and brought from north India. A Vinayagar temple is by the side of Saibaba temple. The architecture is of north Indian style. It was told that Sri Sai Baba’s miracle vibhuti appears on the plate.

HOW TO REACH :

Devakottai is about 20 KM from Karaikudi and frequent buses are available from Karaikudi

The temple is on Gandhi Road near Lions Club hall.

Autos are available from Bus stand.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

Sri Kottai Amman Temple / ஸ்ரீ கோட்டை அம்மன் கோவில், Devakottai, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

27^th July 2016

SRI KOTTAI AMMAN TEMPLE, DEVAKOTTAI.

This temple is also belongs to 40 sections 130 pullis of Devakottai Nagarathars with 5 trustees on board with 2 years period. But as per the comment Devakottai Kottai Amman maedai belongs to 40 clans of nagarathar totalling around 5000 families( pullird what we call) and not 230 pullird as appearing in one of the comments. Please stand corrected on this data Once in 16 year a group gets as trustee of the temple. The 15 days annual festival will be conducted from 18^th July to 1^st August 2016. During rest of the period people used to worship through grill. The temple is very simple with a front mandapam constructed with mangalore tiles roofing. In the sanctum there is no moortham, but only a platform. During function days a kumbh with coconut was placed on the platform and decorated like Amman.

Pooja was performed only to the kumbh decorated like Amman. But abhishekam was conducted 2 times in a day to balipeedam installed in the mandapam. The abhishekam was done with Thiraviyam, Milk, Curd, honey, cut fruits, Panchamirtham, Sandalwood paste, Turmeric paste, Tender Coconut water, Panneer, Lemon, etc,. About 300 to 400 liters of milk was used for Abhishekam. After abhishekam the balipeedam was decorated with flowers.

Devakottai nagarathars used to attend this festival every year, from where they are. The Amman is very powerful and people pray for all like, diseases, buying property, getting visa for foreign countries, employment, getting marriage, Child, etc. etc,.. After wishes are fulfilled, people used to offer to Amman, like Pongal, Sugar cane cradle ( Children will be carried through this cradle ), Ma vilakku etc..

Sugarcane cradle – an offering by a devotee after child was born

People will not fry food items during the 15 days and it was believed that this will increase the heat of Amman. After the function Decorated Amman will be immersed in the temple pond to reduce the heat. It was learnt that during the function days no mutton shops will open for sale. Till 15 years back goats and cocks are sacrificed to Amman. This practice is stopped now.

HOW TO REACH :

Devakottai is about 20 KM from Karaikudi

The temple is on the Oorani street. Autos are available from Devakottai Bus stand.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

Milk abhishekam

Pushpa ( flower ) decoration

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Devakottai, Tamil Nadu.

27^th July 2016

SRI MEENAKSHI SUDARESWARAR TEMPLE – DEVAKOTTAI

The temple belongs to 40 sections of Nattukkottai nagarathars.

Moolavar : Sri Sundareswarar

Consort : Sri Meenakshi

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The five tier Rajagopuram is in front with balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam / Idabam. In the koshtam the sculptures instead of yazhi are worth to watch. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma and Durgai. Sanctum is built like mada kovil with steps to climb.

Ambal is in a separate temple with Rajagopuram, Balipeedam, Rishabam and Dwajasthambam.

Both temple are facing east with Rajagopuram. In between Rajagopuras, Stucco images of Meenakshi Sundareswarar thirukalyanam on the top of the wall.

Meenakshi Sundareswarar thirukalyanam

In the inner prakaram sannadhi for 63var, Somaskandar, Maragatha Vinayagar, Sri Viswanathan & Visalakshi, Balathandayuthapani, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Natarajar Saba, Bhairavar, Chandran and Saneeswarar.

In the prakaram sannadhi for Palliyarai, Navagrahas. In koshtam, Icha, Gana and Kiriya sakthi moorthams. There is a mandapam between Ambal and Shiva’s sannadhi to conduct important functions.