Sri Chandraprabha Tirthankara Temple and Sri Nageswara Swamy Shiva Temple, Vijayamangalam, Erode District, Tamil Nadu

 12^th November 2016.

After our visit to Kumarikal Palayam, our original plan was to visit 4 temples in Vijayamangalam. But due to short of time we skipped both Sri Karivaradharaja Perumal Temple and Sri Vijayapuri Amman Temple. Along with us ( M/s Srinivasan, Raja and Gowthami ) Mr Nandhakumar, a history enthusiast  from Erode also joined for this Vijayamangalam temples. For further and detailed descriptions please visit my post of this same blog  CLICK HERE

SRI CHANDRA PRABHA TIRTHANKARA TEMPLE, VIJAYAMANGALAM

Compared to my previous visit the Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ) had erected fence around the temple. Except this there is no much change and the stolen main deity was not recovered so far.

 Adhinathar 

The main sanctum without deity Sri Chandra Bhagwan Digambar

 Sri Dharma Devi 

 Looks like Garuda 

SRI NAGESWARA SWAMY SHIVA TEMPLE

Compared to my previous visit, Kumbhabhishekam was performed to main temple and Amman temple after renovation. The damaged wall between Main sanctum and Amman temple was reconstructed. But still Saptamatrika bas-reliefs are not installed. The ground level was raised around Amman temple and concreted. Some of the inscriptions at the base of Amman temple are submerged in the concrete and will visible no more. The Rajagopuram construction is still in progress.

During our visit devotees thronged in large numbers at Shiva temple for Sani pradosham.

 The Nagars relief on the back of sanctum

 The Saptamatrikas

 The Saptamatrikas

 This relief was taken from Sri Karivaradharaja Perumal Temple

After our day long visit to the temples and historical places, we exhausted completely and we had taken rest for our next day trekking to Tiruchengode hills to explore the inscriptions and Jains presence on the hill.

……………. To be Continued ( Tiruchengode )

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Menhir and Sri Angalamman temple at Kumarikalpalayam, Tiruppur District Tamil Nadu.

 12^th November 2016.

MENHIR AT KUMARIKAL PALAYAM

After Kodumanal, our next visit was to Kumarikal Palayam, about 9 KM from Kunnathur towards Pallagoundenpalayam after Karumanchirai. This  was my second visit along with M/s Srinivasan, Raja and Gowthami. ( Details of my first visit  CLICK HERE  ).

The menhir is 30 feet tall and originally it was 35 feet and 5 feet was broken, few years before. And below the ground at-least it must be minimum 10 to 15 feet to support this 35 feet menhir.  It is a wonder how the Iron age people cut the rock in the form of slab and erected with out using the modern equipment.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

SRI ANGALAMMAN TEMPLE

This temple is on the way to the highest menhir at Kumarikal Palayam. A small temple constructed for the village deity Sri Angalamman. The temple is facing North, which is rare. In the sanctum only two stones are installed and the people worships as Sri Angalamman also called as Kotravai.

Lot of Trisulas  are kept in the sanctum offered by the devotees. As per locals the Amman is very powerful. Annual festival used to celebrate during Chithirai month ( June- July ). During the annual festival goats and cocks are sacrificed to this Amman. As per the local lady, Amman used to come on a Girl, who was not married and   drink the raw blood of the sacrificed goats  offered to Sri Angalamman. Also there will be a solution for everything from Sri Angalamman, like, Marriage obstacles, child birth etc. After fulfilling their wishes, the devotees used to offer male, female and crawling child statues made of mud. ( சுடு மண் பொம்மைகள் ). 

 Offerings to Amman - Terracotta dolls  சுடுமண் பொம்மைகள்

 During summer water in the wells  dried up, the water used to come in this natural ponds for conducting abhishekam to Amman is a miracle. 

....  to be continued ( Vijayamangalam)

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Cairn Circles / Menhirs, at Kodumanal, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

A continuation to Sarkar Periyapalayam post…..

12^th November 2016.

After our Sri Sukreeswarar  dharshan, Mr. Then Kongu Sadasivan gets dropped  and we four M/s Srinivasan, Raja and Gowthami  continued our search at Kodumanal. Since this was my second visit to Kodumanal, I was interested in collecting , precious stones and broken pot pieces with any inscriptions. ( for the details of my first visit CLICK HERE ).

During my search I came across two big stones  of black in colour with rust on sides.  I took a small piece to test for any iron content. After reaching home tested the same with magnet and found that it attracts. It was learnt that Iron ore  from Chennimalai Hill  & Salem Hills and finished products of Iron  from Kodumanal was exported via this trade route from ports on the west part of India to western countries.

 கல் வட்டங்கள்- ஈம குழிகள் – cairn circles 

 கல் வட்டங்கள்- ஈம குழிகள் – cairn circles 

Soolakal to denote the boundry of the land donated to the temple - Avinashi Shiva temple 

 Iron age burial site – கல் பதுகை

 An inscription stone – speaks about the land donated to Avinashi Shiva temple  

 An inscription stone – speaks about the land donated to Avinashi Shiva temple  

This black stone contains iron may be used as iron ore - see the magnet sticks

This black stone contains iron may be used as iron ore

 This black stone contains iron may be used as iron ore

Iron slag 

 Black and red mud pot broken pieces. The centre one is a big pot used for burial (முது மக்கள் தாழி )  

Stones that I collected ( may be precious ).

To be continued ( Kumarikal Palayam - Menhir)… …

Sri Sukresswarar Temple / Sugreeswarar Temple, Sarkar Periyapalayam, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

12th November 2016.

We three, Self, Mr Raja and Mr Srinivasan started from Erode for this Sarkar Periyapalayam Sri Sukreeswarar Temple and Mr Thenkongu Sadasivan and Gowthamai joined at the temple. We hired a taxi for this visit from Erode since, we planned to Visit three places ie, Sarkar Periyapalayam, Kodumanal, Kumarikal Palayam and Vijayamangalam. During our Visit the Sivachariyar was preparing for the sani pradosham. Sundarar has mentioned this temple’s Moolavar in his hymn and hence this is one of the Thevara vaippu Sthalam of Kongu Nadu. This temple is also called as Kurakkuthali Aludaya nayanar Temple.

Moolavar : Sri Sukreeswarar, Sri Sugreeswarar

Consort   : Sri Aavudai Nayaki.

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

It was believed that, Sugriva worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple, hence Lord Shiva is called as Sukreeswarar. The bas-relief / Pudai sirpam is on the south side base of the main sanctum. 

The temple is facing east with an entrance on the south side. Rishabam, balipeedam are in the east side. Dwajasthambam and Vilakkuthoon are missing, which are found in most of the Kongu Nadu Temples. In Koshtam Dakshinamurthy is the latter Addition.

There are two Rishabams kept in a mandapam and one of the Rishabam's horn in broken condition. It was told the same was replaced by a New Rishabam and kept in front of the old one. As per Lord Shiva’s wish the old Rishabam came to front and New Rishabam moved back. After seeing this miracle the devotees installed both in the mandapam.

In the outer prakaram Sannadhi for Vinayagar, Ambal, Subramaniyar, Chandikeswarar, Vayu Lingam, Kubera Lingam, Bhairavar, Eesanya Lingam, Bathrakaliamman and  Suryan.

In the inner mandapam, No shrines and no Dwarapalakas. At the entrance of the ardha mandapam, Ganesha on the left and Anjaneyar on the right.  There is a Navakanda statue in the artha mandapam and the history is not known.

Ambal is in a separate temple facing  east ( instead of South ) with Nandhi under a mandapam in front. In the mandapam, old statues of Saptamatrikas, Subramaniyar, Vishnu, Vishnu Durga ( Poojas are not conducted to these statues.)

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It was told that the temple exists in 4 yugas and as per history it is of 2500 Years old. The moolavar Lingam is of 5th century. The oldest inscription found  belongs to 1220 CE. There are about 11 inscriptions in the temple, of which one belongs to Kongu Chozha, 9 belongs to Kongu Pandyas and one belongs to Mysore Ummathur King Veerananjaraayar. The temple comes under the control of Archaeological Survey Of India ( ASI ).

The Inscriptions mainly speaks about the construction of Pond, donation of gold, land etc,. for Conducting the functions and Poojas. Above all, the Kongu Chozha Sundara Pandiyan’s inscription is the biggest one with 24 lines  and each line consists of 130 to 140 letters. This speaks about the trading agreement  for payment of taxes ( depends on the materials Like minerals, Cotton clothes, wood ( Sandal ), Elephant, Horse, etc,. In this trading agreement 64 traders signed and whose names are also written.

 Trading agreement inscriptions

 Trading agreement inscriptions

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 07.00 Hrs to 11.00 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Gurukkal Nagaraja Iyyar may be contacted on his mobile 9442373455.

HOW TO REACH:

The place Sarkar Periyapalayam is on the way to Erode to Tiruppur through Uthukuli, which is famous for butter. About 6 KM before Tiruppur.

Nearest Railway station is Tiruppur

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

 The horn broken Rishabam is in-front 

 A Navakanda Statue

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

A Sati Stone – at Sarkar Periyapalayam, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu - In search of History in Erode and Tiruppur Districts.

 12^th November 2016

This Heritage visit was  materialized only few weeks before, while planning to attend a friend’s house warming ceremony at Erode.  Then Kongu Sadasivam was kind enough to accompany with us ( M/s Srinivasan, Raja & Gowthami ) for this visit to Sri Sugreeswarar Temple at Sarkar Periyapalayam ( Sircar Periyapalayam from google map ), near Tiruppur. He also showed us a sati stone  in the same Village.

The owner of the  land Mr Mani ( mobile number 9443729919) told us that they are worshiping this as Veerabhadra and offer poojas daily. Half of the Sati  stone is visible above the ground. We explained to Mr. Mani the importance of that Sati Stone and  asked him to dig it out and keep the full Sati Stone  on a pedestal.  ( some inscriptions may be on the base.. )

CONTACT PERSON:

Mr Mani ( mobile number 9443729919)

HOW TO REACH :

Sarkar Periyapalayam is on the bus route  from  Erode – Perundurai – Uthukuli – Sarkar Periyapalayam – to  Tiruppur.

LOCATION :CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---