Tiger Cave , Mahabalipuram / Mamallapuram, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu,

… A continuation post to Murugan Temple, Saluvan Kuppam, Mahabalipuram - A Heritage Visit - Part -1. 

8^th June 2017.

This 8th century Pallava period cave was chiseled out of a monolithic rock at Saluvankuppam,  entrance of Mahabalipuram otherwise known as Mamallapuram. We had been to this cave after visiting the ASI excavated ruined Murugan Temple. This cave is unfinished and the experts has different opinion of this Tiger cave. Yazhi ( Tiger ) heads are chiseled around the face with a rectangular mandapam, which are not similar to each other and looking towards centre of the mandapam. On both sides of the centre there are two men  sitting on lion and watching the stage. There is no statue nor inscriptions found in this monument. As per the experts this might have been used for King and his citizens gathered for Indra Vizha, A stage for the King to see functions, Kotravai Temple, Urchava mandapam Music concerts stage, Dancing stage, Open air auditorium, etc.

Based on the other caves available at Mahabalipuram, it may be presumed that  this monument might be a combination of Lord Shiva and Kotravai. Also there is a Mahishasura Mardini ( Mahishamardini ) panel in front of it on a boulder. The reason for this conclusion may be due to the pallava Kings Mahendran I, Narasimhan I, Parameswaran and Rajasimhan who are responsible ( Archeologists differ this opinion )  for this monuments are ardent devotees of Lord Shiva and Vishnu.

புலி குகை – சாளுவன் குப்பம்

தொல்பொருள் ஆராய்ச்சியனரால் வெளிக் கொணர்ந்த இடிபாடடைந்த முருகன் கோவிலைக்கண்ட பின்பு புலிகுகைக்கு சென்றோம். இது ஒரே பாறையில் ( முற்றுப்பெறாத நிலையில்)  சிங்க – யாளி – முகம் சுற்றி இருக்குமாறு நடுவே செவ்வக வடிவத்துடன் கூடிய மண்டபத்துடன் செதுக்கப்ப்பெற்றது. இதன் முன்பு மகிசாசுர மர்தினியின் புடை சிற்பமும் ஒரு பாறையில் செதுக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. இந்த புலி குகை பல் வேறு காரணங்களுக்காக உபயோகப்பட்டு இருக்கலாம் என்ற கருத்தை அறிஞர்கள் முன் வைக்கின்றனர். அரசனும் மக்களும் இந்திர விழாவைக் கொண்டாடவும், மண்டபத்தில் மன்னன் அமர்ந்து விழாவினைக்கண்டு இருக்கலாம், சிவனுக்கும் கொற்றவைக்கும் ஏற்ப்படுத்தப்பட்ட கோவிலாக இருக்கலாம், திறந்த வெளி கலயரங்கமாக அல்லது நடன மண்டபாக கூட இருக்கலாம் என்ற பல் வேறு கருத்துக்களை முன் வைக்கின்றனர்.

மகாபலிபுரம் கடற்கரையில் காணப்படும் கோவில்களைக் காணும் போது அவைகளைக் கட்டுவித்ததாக கருதப்படும் பல்லவ அரசர்கள் முதலாம் மஹேந்தரன், முதலாம் நரசிம்ஹன், பரமேஸ்வரன், இராஜசிம்மன் ஆகியவர்கள் சிவன் மற்றும் விஷ்ணு பக்தர்களாக இருந்தமையால் இந்த புலி குகையும் சிவன் மற்றும் கொற்றவைக்காக அமைக்கப்பெற்று இருக்கலாம் என்ற முடிவுக்கு வர வாய்ப்புள்ளது. 

(Ref :Tiger cave & Krishna mandapam by Balusamy)

LOCATION: CLICK HERE 

ATHIRANACHANDA MANDAPAM.

This is a cave Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This is in the same Tiger cave Complex. The Shiva Linga and Nandi are installed at a latter period. The pillars and pilasters are simple without much carvings. In the Artha mandapam relief of two Somaskanda of latter Pallava Period is available in artha mandapa, where as the original mandapa is of 8^th century Pallava Period.  On both sides there are two inscriptions one side  ( south wall ) with Pallava grantha and the other side ( North side ) with devanagari ( oldest inscription found in south India ). Both gives the same meaning. From the inscriptions one Athyanthakaman  chiselled this cave temple for Lord Shiva. There is a Chozha period inscription on the floor also

Mahishamardini relief panel on a boulder in front of the mandapam

..........To be Continued.. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram, A Heritage Visit - Part- 3. 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Murugan Temple, Saluvankuppam, Mahabalipuram / Mamallapuram, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

08^th June 2017

Mrs Sakthi Prakash wished to see the heritage sites of Mahabalipuram, before leaving to Erode. Though she has not recovered fully from operation, she wants to make it. This is not the first visit for me, but every time I visit Mahabalipuram I tried to learn history from the Pallava sculptures and the rock cut caves. The heritage sites at Mahabalipuram are UNESCO notified sites and are being maintained by ASI ( Archaeological Survey Of India ).

It was cloudy  and temperature was also not too hot. This time we took a Taxi from Chennai. I joined at Guindy and Raja joined at Tambaram. We reached Saluvankuppam Murugan / Subramaniar Temple around 07.30 Hrs via Vandalur, Kelambakkam and new Mahabalipuram road ( Thiruvidanthai ). This site was discovered after the Tsunami happened during December, 2004, when the back of the boulder with Rajaraja Chozha period inscription was exposed to out side.

This temple might be belongs to Sangam Period built with bricks over which the Pallavas built the super structure with stone and Brick. The temple was constructed facing north with a Palipedam and a stone spear in front. The back side of the temple was abutting the huge boulder. The temple consists of a Sanctum, Artha mandapam and mukha mandapam and a prakaram. It was believed that there must be port called Neerpeyyaru in this area during sangam period, which was mentioned in the Perumbanaatrupadai. As per the inscriptions that there was a Murugan Temple existed on this shore during Chozha period and the same might have been destroyed during 13^th century Tsunami. 

        

முருகன் கோவில், சாளுவன் குப்பம், மாமல்லபுரம்.

சங்ககால கோவில் கட்டுமானமாகத் தமிழகத்தில் இதுவரை கிடைத்துள்ள இரண்டு கோவில்களில் ஒன்றான சாளுவன்குப்பம் முருகன் கோவிலில் இன்று...

சங்கக்காலத்தில் பயன்பாட்டில் இருந்த செங்கல் கட்டுமானத்தின் மேல் பல்லவர் காலக் கருங்கல் மற்றும் செங்கல் கட்டுமானம் எழுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது.

சங்கக்காலத்தில் புகழ் பெற்றிருந்த நீர்ப்பெய்யாறு எனும் துறைமுகம் பற்றி பெரும்பாணாற்றுப்படையில் குறிப்புகள் உள்ளன.அத்துறைமுகம் இப்பகுதியில் இருந்திருக்கலாம் என்று கருதப்படுகிறது. மேலும் இந்த இடம் திருவீழ்ச்சில் எனும் பெயரால் சோழர் காலத்தில் வழங்கப்பட்டிருப்பதும் இங்கு பிரசித்திப் பெற்ற முருகன் கோவில் ஒன்று வழிபாட்டில் இருந்துள்ளதும் பல பகுதிகளில் கிடைத்துள்ள கல்வெட்டு விபரங்களின்படி அறியப்படுகிறது.

பல்லவர்,சோழர் என புகழ் பெற்ற மன்னர் கல்வெட்டுகள் பல இப்பகுதியில் கிடைத்துள்ளன. முக்கியமாக அனைவரும் வியக்கும் வண்ணம் நம் இராஜராஜ சோழரது கல்வெட்டும் ஒரு தூணில் கிடைத்துள்ளது. இராஜராஜர் ஆட்சிக்காலத்திலேயே இப்பகுதி முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்தப் பகுதியாக இருந்திருக்க வேண்டும். மேலும் மூன்றாம் இராஜேந்திரன் கல்வெட்டும் கிடைத்துள்ள இந்த இடத்தைப் பற்றி அதன் பின் எந்த கல்வெட்டு ஆதாரங்களோ குறிப்புகளோ இல்லாததால் 13ஆம் நூற்றாண்டில் ஏற்பட்ட சுனாமி போன்ற இயற்கை பேரழிவினால் இந்த இடம் அழிந்து மணல் மூடியிருந்திருக்கக்கூடும். பின்னர் 2004 ஆம் ஆண்டு வந்த சுனாமி பேரலையால் இவ்விடம் வெளியே தெரிந்து, தொல்லியல் துறை அதிகாரிகள் சிலரின் சீரிய முயற்சியால் வெளி உலகுக்கு அடையாளம் காணப்பட்டுள்ளது.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

... to be Continued Tiger Cave & Athiranasanda mandapam, Mahabalipuram- A heritage Visit – Part 2

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Komaleeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ கோமளீஸ்வரர் கோவில், Komaleeswaranpet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

09^th July 2017.

This 400 years old Shiva temple is little  off from Adithanar main Road in the busy market area of old automobile parts, at Komaleeswaranpet, Pudupet on the banks of Vriddha Ksheera River, now called as Holy river Koovam.

Moolavar    : Sri Komaleeswarar

Consort      : Sri Komalavalli

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

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Dwajasthambam, Palipedam and Nadhi are immediately after the Rajagopuram. In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Navagrahas, Bairavar and Agasthiya Vinayagar. The temple complex consists of  Sanctum, Artha mandapam and maha mandapam, In the inner prakaram sannadhi for  Sankatahara Chaturthi Vinayagar, Naalvar, Navagrahas, Natarajar with Sivagami and Sri Kamalambika / Komalavalli.

In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai. Moolavar is swayambhu. As per the legend a cow was shedding milk on an anthill on the banks of Vriddha Ksheera River also now  called as Koovam River.  On seeing this the boys herding cows chased the cow. In the process of running the cow’s utter hits the anthill  and broke a portion of it. Hence Shiva Lingam inside the Anthill was called as Komadiswara ( Ko – cow, Madi – utter ), which turned in to Komaleeswarar.

The pillars has the relief of cow shedding milk on Shiva Linga, The king worshiping Komaleeswara, etc,. The ceiling has the reliefs of crocodiles and Solar and Lunar eclipse by showing the  snakes swallowing the sun and moon. The sthala vruksham is the mahavilvam a rare bilva / vilva tree. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple was constructed by The King Chandragiri  about 400 years before and latter Rajagopuram was added. One of the specialty of this temple is paavai Vilakku ( Lady holding the lamp made of brass ). 

A saint lady Chakkarathammal / Anandhammal or Sakkarai Ammal, an young widow lived in a madam outside this temple and gained remarkable powers by worshiping Lord Shiva and practicing yoga. With the powers she, used to fly around the temple during nights. On hearing this many people has became her devotees  and one  Dr Nanjunda Rao extended support with materials to her. She attained jeeva Samadhi at the age of 47 and  her Samadhi was built near Kalakshetra in Thiruvanmiyur. Also it was told that Pachaiyappa Mudaliar, takes bath in the river Koovam before worshiping Lord Komaleeswarar. 

As per the inscriptions renovation of madapalli was carried out  by Mrs Kuppammal, wife of Babu Sah, a Saurashtrian textile merchant in the year 1818 AD. ( Some of the details Ref: The book on 'The Gods of Holy River koovam' by Priya Baskaran )

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Chandrasekara Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile 9884198142 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:  

Just walk-able distance from Pudupet ( old automobiles shops) bus stop and behind Police help booth.

Town buses are available from Various parts of the city and the bus stop is Pudupet.

Chintadripet  suburban Railway station is about 2 KM.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Ranganatha Perumal Temple / ஸ்ரீ ரங்கநாதபெருமாள் கோவில், Komaleeswaranpet, Chennai.

9^th July 2017.

After Darshan of Sri Chinna Sadai Amman, had been to this temple which is about 200 meters distance and situated on the banks of Holy River Koovam. It was told that the temple is about 500 years old.

Moolavar : Sri Ranganatha Perumal

Thayar    : Sri Ranganayaki.

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

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram on the north. The sanctum sanctorum  consists of sanctum and a muka mandapam. The mukha mandapam seems to be of Vijayanagara period.

In the prakaram sannadhi for Venkatachalapathy, Thumbikai Alwar, Anjaneyar, Chakkarathalwar, Yoga Narasimhar, Andal, Alwars and Thayar Sri Ranganayaki ( also facing east ).

In sanctum Sri Ranganathar is reclining on  Adhiseshan with 4 hands holding conch and Chakra in the upper hands and lower hands with abhaya and vara hastham. Mahalakshmi is in his chest and Sridevi and Bhoodevi are near his feet. The Sorga vassal is near Ranganathar’s feet. The care taker Lady told that at Srirangam Ranganathar is facing upwards and here he is facing the devotees, head in tilted position

LEGENDS

This temple is considered as Sukra sthalam and devotees worship Ranganathar on Fridays ( Sukra horai 06.00 hrs to 07.00 hrs) and also to get rid of eye related ailments.   Brahmotsavam is celebrated during the Tamil month Panguni.

( Some of the details Ref: The book on 'The Gods of Holy River koovam' by Priya Baskaran )

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 06.30 Hrs to 10.30 Hrs and 18.00 Hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The mobile number 9840640666 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

Just walkable distance from Pudupet ( old automobiles shops) bus stop.

Town buses are available from Various parts of the city and the bus stop is Pudupet.

Chintadripet  suburban Railway station is about 1.5 KM.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Chinna Sadai Amman Temple / ஸ்ரீ சின்னசடை அம்மன் கோயில், Komaleeswaranpet, on the banks of river Cooum, Pudupet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

9^th July 2017.

After darshan of Adhi Kesava Perumal and Adhipureeswarar at Chintadripet,  my next destination was to Sri Ranganathar Temple at Komaleeswaranpet, (Pudupet). This Chinna Sadai Amman temple is before Sri Ranganathar temple on the banks of river Koovam. Had the darshan of Sri Chinna Sadai Amman also.

Main Deity : Sri Chinna Sadai Amman with Renuka Parameswari. 

Some of important features of this temple are...

This temple is facing east between residential flats, with stucco images of Simhas on both side of the entrance. The Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers..

In the prakaram Siva Nagar, Vishnu  Nagar, Poo Nagam, Saptha Kannis Panel in which Kanni Amman is seated on a lion at the centre are on the north west corner and Urchavars are in the mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was constructed with sanctum and a  Mandapam. The moolavar is small in sitting posture and head of Amman is at the base. In koshtam Vaishnavi, Brahmavathy and Vishnu Durgai.

LEGENDS

This Chinna Sadai Amman is one of the 5 Sadai Amman temples built around Egmore.  This is one of the Raghu & Kethu Parihara Sthalam since above Amman’s head a two headed hood of Nagar is there. A Sri Chakkara Yanthiram is installed under the feet of Amman. 

People worship Chinna Sadai Amman to get rid of Rahu Ketu dosham, and ailments related to eye & skin, issues like child birth etc. The procedure adopted  for getting the wishes fulfilled is, devotees used to roll coconut around the sanctum 21, 54, 108 times. Aadi month’s last Sunday annual festival is being celebrated.

( Some of the details Ref: The book on 'The Gods of Holy River koovam' by Priya Baskaran )

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 21.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Land line and mobile number are +91 44 2841 4880 and +91 9962824844.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is about 2 KM from Chintadripet suburban railway station

The temple is on Langs Garden Road.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---