Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple / Sri Thothathrinatha Perumal Temple, Thirubuvanai, near Pondicherry, Pondicherry, India.

03^rd September 2017.

After Thiruvandar Koil’s visit we headed towards Thirubuvanai, a Chozha period Sri Thenkalai Varadaraja Perumal Temple.

Moolavar : Sri Thothathirinatha Varadharaja Perumal

Thayar    : Sri Varamangai.

Some of the important features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam  and Garudalwar are immediately after the entrance arch.

Moolavar is in a sitting posture ( seems like ) with Sridevi and Bhudevi. Urchavars are kept in front of moolavar. In the prakaram sannadhis for Thayar, Andal, Chakkarathalwar, Anjaneyar and alwars.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of a sanctum, antarala and a open muka mandapam. The temple was constructed like a mada temple with steps to climb. The athistanam of the sanctum is little broad  so that we can circumambulate around the sanctum to see the reliefs on the sanctum wall. The sanctum wall has the small small reliefs connected to Mahabharata and Mahabharat epic.  The sanctum vimanam is of three tiers with stucco deity’s images.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTION

The temple was constructed by Parantaka Chozha –I ( 907 – 955 CE ). The temple was once called as Veeranarayana Vinnagaram and now called as Varadharaja Perumal Temple. The Veera Narayan was the title given to Parantaka Chozha. Also the place was called as Thirubuvanai Madevi Chaturvedhi mangalam. The tank/ eri in this village was called as “Kokizharadi pereri” in the name of one of his wife.

A kumudam with inscriptions are kept in front of the temple, might have been removed during renovation of the temple. The temple is under the control of Archeological Survey of India ( ASI ).

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple kept open between 08.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs and 06.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is on the way to Pondicherry to Villupuram and is about 15 KM from Pondicherry.

Private and Govt buses are passing through this village.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 ---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Thirunareeswarar Shiva Temple, at Kandamangalam near Pondicherry, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

03^rd September 2017.

After Chidambaram Sri Nataraja Temple heritage walk, we had our lunch at a hotel near South side Rajagopuram. It was planned to visit 4 temple associated with Chozha’s near Pondicherry on the way to Villupuram. Mr Ulimakizh Rajkamal led us to all the 4 temples and explained  the details. The first stop  was at Kandamangalam, Shiva Temple. During our visit preparation was in progress for the pradosham.

Moolavar    : Sri Thirunareeswarar

Consort      : Sri Thiripurasundari.

Some of the important features of this temple are…

This temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are immediately after the entrance arch. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

In the prakaram sannadhi for Valampuri Vinayagar, Maha Vishnu ( open to sky ), Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Gajalakshmi, Anjaneyar, Suryan, Bhairavar, Navagrahas and Chandran.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and Mukha mandapam / artha mandapam. The adhitanam is of simple pada bandha adhistanam with 3 patta kumudam on a padma peedam. The pilasters are of Brahma kantha pilasters with Kalasam, kudam, palagai and Vettu pothyals. The prastaram consists of Valapi, Kapotam and Viyyala vari. The roof is flat on the sanctum without any vimanam. Stucco dwarapalakas are in front of the sanctum. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This temple was built by Kandarathitha Chozhan, but there is no inscription on his name, instead we could trace Rajendra Chozha and Kulothunga Chozha’s  inscriptions.  The Temple is under the Control of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ). As per the inscriptions the place was called as Sri Kandarathitha mangalam and latter turned as Kandamangalam.

 Rajendra Chozha’s inscription

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will get opened between 07.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The place Kandamangalam is about 16 KM from Pondicherry and 40 KM from Villupuram on Pondicherry to Villupuram via Villianur road.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Soundranayaki Samedha Sri Anantheeswarar Temple, Udayarkudi, Kattumannarkoil, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

On reaching Chidambaram we had taken bath in a lodge. Since the Heritage Visit to Chidambaram Sri Nataraja Temple was planned around 09.00 hrs, we thought of visiting some of the temples near Kattumannarkoil, which are associated with Chozhas. The First temple we Visited was Melakadambur Shiva temple. Visited this temple twice earlier as a part of Paadal Petra Sthalangals visit. Then we visited the next Temple at Udayarkudi, which is one of the oldest temple.

Moolavar: Sri Anantheeswarar

Consort  : Sri Soundaranayaki.

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

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are in the outer prakaram and Nandhavanam is on the left. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. Moolavar is considerably small.

In Prakaram sannadhi for Navagrahas, Bhairavar, Chandran, Suryan, Anugraha Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, a Linga and Saneeswarar. Ambal Sri Soundranayaki sannidhi is in mukha mandapam facing south.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and artha mandapam. The Sanctum sanctorum is of simple pada bandha ashistanam with jagathi, muppattai kumudam and pattika on a padma peedam. The Bhitti starts with Vedhika. The pilasters are of Vishnukantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai and Pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus and viyyalavari. An ekathala vesara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Virutha spuditham is in between greeva koshtams.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It was told that The temple was much older than Thanjavur Peruvudaiyar temple. There are many Chozha period inscriptions. In Rajaraja Chozha's one inscription, it mentions the name of the murderers of Aditya Karikala Chozhan and the land bought from them & their relatives and gifted to this temple. There is no mention about the  punishment given to them. 

As per the inscriptions, Aravanaiyan Pallavarayan’s son  Bharadhan alias Viyzha Gajamalla Pallavarayan  bought lands measuring 2 ¾ + 1 ma land and 6 Ahamanai ( House lands..? ) from the Veeranarayana Chathurvedi mangalam saba for 112 Kalanju gold. ( The lands belongs to the Adhita Karikalan murderers and their relatives ). The income from this has to be utilized for creating a Thanner Pandal at Thiruvanantheeswarar Temple and feed 16 Brahmins, which includes 5 Sivayogis. The inscription reads as ...

"ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீ கோ ராஜகேசரிவர்மர்க்கு யாண்டு 2 ஆவது வடகரை பிரமதேயம் ஸ்ரீ வீரநாராயண சதுர்வேதி மங்கலத்து பெருங்குறி பெருமக்களுக்கு சக்கரவர்த்தி ஸ்ரீமுகம் பாண்டியனைத் தலைகொண்ட கரிகால சோழனைக் கொன்று துரோகிகளான சோமன்............................................... தம்பி ரவிதாசனான பஞ்சவன் பிரம்மாதிராஜனும் இவன்றம்பி பரமேஸ்வரன் ஆன இருமுடிச் சோழ பிரம்மாதிராஜனும் இவர்கள் உடப்பிறந்த மலையனூரானும் இவர்கள் தம்பிமாரும் இவர்கள் மக்களிடும் இவர் பிரமாணிமார் பெற்றாளும் இ........................ராமத்தம்  பேரப்பன் மாரிடும் இவர்கள் மக்களிடம் இவர்களுக்குப் பிள்ளை குடுத்த மாமன்மாரிடும் தாயோடுடப் பிறந்த மாமன் மாமன்மாரிடும் இவர்கள் உடபிறந்த பெண்களை வேட்டாரினவும் இவர்கள் மக்களை வேட்டாரினவும் ஆக இவ்வனைவர் (முடமை)யும் நம் ஆணைக்குரியவாறு கொட்டயூர் பிரம்ம ஸ்ரீராஜனும் புள்ளமங்கலத்து சந்திரசேகர பட்டனையும் பெறத்தந்தோம். தாங்களும் இவர்கள் கண்காணியோடும் இவர்கள் சொன்னவாறு நம் ஆணைக்குரியவாறு குடியோடு குடிபெறும் விலைக்கு விற்றுத்தலத்திடுக இவை குருகாடிக்கிழான் எழுத்து என்று இப்பரிசுவரஇ ஸ்ரீமுகத்தின் மேற்பட்ட மலையனூரான் ஆன பாப்பனச்சேரி ரேவதாச கிரமவித்தனும் இவன் மகனும் இவன்றாய் பெரிய நங்கைச்சாணியும் இம்மூவரிதும் ஆன நிலம் ஸ்ரீ வீரநாராயன சதுர்வேதி மங்கலத்து மிப்பிடாகை தேவமங்கலம் ஆன பட்டில நிலம் ஸ்ரீவீரநாராயண சதுர்வேதி மங்கலத்து சபையார் பக்கல் வெண்ணையூர் நாட்டு வெண்ணையூருடையான் நக்கன் அரவணையானான பல்லவ முத்தரைய மகன் பரதனான வியாழகஜமல்லப் பல்லவரையனேன் இந்நிலம் பழம்படி இரண்டே முக்காலே ஒருமாவும் அகமனை ஆறும் ஆக இந்நிலமும் இம்மனையும் நூற்றொருபத்திருகழஞ்சு பொன் குடுத்து விலைகொண் டிவ்வூர் திருவனந்தீஸ்வரத்து பட்டாரகர் கோயிலிலே இவ்வாட்டை மேஷநாயற்று நாயற்றுக்கிழமை பெற்ற புரட்டாசி ஞான்று சந்திராதித்தவர் ஆழ்வார் கோயில் முன்பு மூவாயிரத்தரு நூற்றுவனான நிலையம்பலத்து தண்ணீர் அட்டும் பிராமணன் ஒருவனுக்கு நிசதம் படி நாழி நெல்லும் ஆட்டைவட்டம் ஒரு காகம் நிசதம் பதினைவர் பிராமணர் உண்பதற்கு ஆக பதினாறு இவறுள் ஐவர் சிவயோகிகள் உண்ணவும் வைத்தேன்".

 The Adhitya Chola's murderers name and the land purchase from the saba inscription and the endowment of Thanneer Pandal and feeding to Brahmins and Siva yogis– not legible to read due to oil deposit

 

Also it is believed that marriage of Rajaraja’s grand mother Chembian Mahadevi’s marriage was held in this temple. The 

A Rishabam's head is installed on the wall of a South prakaram and was told that this was the remains of  the Rishabam damaged during invasion of foreigners.

 

LEGENDS

As per the legend one of the eight cobras, Anandhan worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. Somaskandar is holding a cobra in his hand. This is the paraika sthalam for the snake dosham. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 09.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs to 21 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Temple Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile number 9486457124 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

Udayarkudi is a part of Kattumannarkoil.

Autos are available from Kattumannarkoil.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE    :    CLICK HERE

Gaja samhara moorthy

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

03^rd September 2017.

Even though I had been to this Natarajar Temple at Chidambaram earlier, this visit along with Facebook friends of “Chozhar Varalaru Thedal Kuzhu”  is a different one. This visit was mainly focused on History and Heritage values of this temple. We about 30 heritage enthusiasts participated in this visit led by Mr Venkatesh, the Historian and writer. We started from the east Rajagopuram  and finished at main sanctum. We went around the corridors, Mandapams, Sannadhis, and statues,  in clock wise direction covering the various sannadhis. Finally had the Darshan of Sri Natarajar standing on chit sabha and maragatha Natarajar’s abhishekam. Really we are blessed. Some of the details of this temple are….

RAJAGOPURAS.

There are 4 Rajagopurams of 7 tiers, 135 feet tall. The entrance is of 40 feet high and 16 feet wide with single stone lintels. The Rajagopuram is constructed with stone up to lintel and the gopuram is of stucco. The passage walls has the reliefs of 108 Bharatanatyam postures. Stucco images of gods  are on the Gopuram.  The east Rajagopuram was constructed by Kulothunga –II or Kadavarkon Koperunchinkan. The south Rajagopuram facing Nataraja is called as Sokka Seeya Gopuram, the title of Koperunchinken. The west Rajagopuram was built by Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan and the entrance to the sanctum  complex opposite it is also called as Akalangan Vayil. The 16^th century North Rajagopuram was built by Krishnadevaraya. Krishnadevaraya and his sthapathis images are in the North side Rajagopuram passage.

 east Rajagopuram 

 South Rajagopuram-Sokka Seeya Gopuram 

 Tripuranthakar

 Vishnu

Brahma

 Krishnadevaraya on the north Rajagopuram  

Sthapathis in North Rajagopuram 

SABHA MANDAPAMS.

Vikrama Chozha's chieftain Naraloka Veeran had constructed the 100 pillared Mandapam and Ambal temple mandapam. It was also told that most of the present structures are constructed by Naraloka veeran. In the 100 pillared mandapam 12 pillars forms a mandapam called Chohan Thirumandapam. It was believed that some of the mandapams around sanctum are built by Hiranyavarman of Koudilya Kingdom.

The 1000 pillared ( 984 pillars ) mandapam was constructed by Koluthunga –II and III. In the Raja shabai aani thirumanjanam and Aruthra functions  are held here. Manickavasagar defeated Buddhists in a argument. Periya puranam was inaugurated in this mandapam.

Nirutha Sabha ( Ethirambalam ).  As per the legend, Dance competition was held between Thillai Kali  and Lord Shiva in which Thillai Kali could not perform Dance like Lord Shiva in this mandapam. The mandapam was built like a chariot pulled by galloping horses with 56 intricately carved pillars.

Deva Sabha is facing south with 100 bronzes.. Kulothunga-II, covered this roof with gold.

Kanaka Sabha and Chit Sabha otherwise called as Ponnambalam. As per the legend the Viswakarma built on the request of Indiran for Shiva’s Ananda thandavam. Up to plinth was constructed by Chozhas and roof was done by Aditya-I ( believed ). This was constructed with 64 wooden beams ( represents 64 arts ), 2600 lotus petals ( this represents the breathing count of a human ), 72,000 nails ( human body’s nerves, veins and heart beats ) and 9 kalasas.

SANNADHIS ( SHRINES ).

Mukkuruni Vinayagar is sculptured out of a monolithic/single stone belongs to 17^th century. Heramba Ganapati is on the second pillar from the entrance.

 Mukkuruni Vinayagar

Heramba Ganapathi

Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple built by pandyas after defeating chozhas, in remembrance of  Madurai.  

PandiNayakam temple was built by the pandyas with 56 intricately carved pillars.

Pandiannayagam temple

Next to north side Rajagopuram is the Nine Shiva Linga Temple. As per the inscriptions this temple is called as Thiruthonda thokaieechuram.

The Urdhva Thandava murthy is on the western side of the Nirutha Sabha mandapam. Shiva in dance postures with lifting his leg up pointing the sky.

 Thiruthonda thokaieechuram.

Thiruthonda thogaieechuram.

Moolattanavar sannadhi is in the second prakaram. It was believed that this shrine with Shiva linga exists  before installation of Nataraja. This moolanathar was worshiped by Patanjali, Vyagrapadar, Upamanyu and King of Kautilya kingdom, Vanga country. It was believed that the temple belongs to early Choha’s period. 

Govindaraja Perumal temple also known as Thiru Chitrakoodam. This perumal was installed by the Pallava King Nandivarman during 726 to 775 AD. Thirumangai alwar and Kulasekara alwar has sung hymns ( mangala sasanam ) on this perumal.

 Govindaraja Perumal temple

Pundarika Valli Thayar Sannidhi 

In the Natarajar sanctum, Sivakama Sundari, Chandramouleeswarar, a spatika Lingam, Rathna Sabhapathy, Swarna Akasa Bairavar, Chandrasekarar.

IMPORTANT EVENTS HELD SINCE INCEPTION.

During Rajarajan period thirumurai were brought to light from the closed room of the prakaran by Nambiyandar Nambi ( The prakaram Vinayagar showed the way ).

The room where the thirumurai was found

Both Chozhas and Pandyas crowned in this temple. Also Thulapara worship was started by the Pandya King Jatavarman sundara Pandyan also the golden covering was done by him.

Krishnadevaraya had donated 82 villages to this temple for conducting regular poojas and functions.

Natarajar was taken to Malai Nadu and Thiruvarur during Malik Kafur’s invasion 1311 and 1325 CE. Believed that Natarajar returned to his original position during 14^th century, Vijayanagara Period.

During 1753 CE, the temple was occupied by the French and a garrison was set up and the walls were fortified.

In 1759 CE the temple was attacked by British, occupied by the French. 1780 CE Hyderali occupied the temple and British occupied after defeating Hyderali in 1781 CE. During this period Natarajar was taken to Thiruvarur.

Pachaiyappa Mudaliar had contributed towards  renovation of Temple Chariot, base. After his demise, his wife and his sister had completed the task.

Manali Chinnaiah Mudali also contributed towards Nandavanam, covering Chit Sabha with silver, etc.

Nattukottai Nagarathar’s also doing their share towards maintenance of the temple, sannadhis, Rajagopuras, rectification of Sivaganga tank steps. Laying of pathways using  stone slabs, rectification of Kanaka Sabhas roof etc,.

DHIKSHITHARS AND THEIR ROLE.

As per the legend, 3000 Dhikshithars started from Kashi and on reaching Chidambaram, when they counted one person was short. Lord shiva told them that he was also one among them. The 3000 persons had shrunk to 200 to 300 now. Chohas had given the total control of the temple to the Dhikshithars and  it has become a private temple. The Nayanmars ThiruGanasambandar and Sundaramurthy praised the Dhikshithars in thevara hymns. They had the privilege of crowing the Choha kings and Latter to Pandiyas. Te temple activities are being managed by a 9 member committee. The Key of the temple including Lords jewelry are kept in custody of  Dhikshithars in every 20 days on rotation.  It was told that the pooja can be performed only by a married person and child marriages are quite common among these dhikshithars.  
   

SOME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS...

 The most difficult dance posture by the ladies - Corridor

“Khuvetram”-How this has come in this temple corridor?

More photographs  are in my  GOOGLE+ PHOTOS 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---