Sri Mokkaneswarar Temple Kuttagam ( Kulegoundan Pudur ), Near Sevur, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

3^rd February 2019.

The main purpose of this visit on 3^rd February was to see the Tamil Vattezhuthu inscriptions in Kongu region and the architecture of the temple. To our disappointment the temple was completely modernized. The inscription stone  and the old 4 pillar mandapam are spared. This place is now called as Kullegoundan Pudur about 2 KM from Kuttagam.

This is one of the paadal petra Vaippu sthalam. Lord Shiva of this temple was prised by Manickavasaka Swamigal. 

மொக்கணி யருளிய முழுத்தழன் மேனி

சொக்க தாகக் காட்டிய தொன்மையும்

……. திருவாசகம்.. கீர்த்தித் திருவகவல்

The presiding deity    : Sri Mokkaneswarar

The salient features of this temple are…

The temple is under renovation and there is no trace of  1000 year old temple. The temple is facing east. Dakshinamurthy is in the koshtam. Navagrahas, Bairavar, Siva suriyan, Vinayagar  and Chandikeswarar are in the outer prakaram. Ambal is facing south.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and an open mukha mandapam. Rishabam and palipedam are in the mukha mandapam. Stucco images of Rishbaroodar, Natarajar, Nalvar are under construction, above the mukha mandapam. 

The open 4 pillar mandapa may be of Kongu Chozha period, is on the northwest corner with 2 Lion pillars, Rishabas and dismantled Shiva Lingas.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

A Vattezhuthu Tamil inscription tablet is erected near the Chandikeswarar sannadhi. The inscription reads as..

1. (ர பதி) மூர்க்க ஸ்ரீபராக்ரம சோழ(தே)
2. வர்க்குத் திருவெழுத்திட்டுச் செ
3. ங்கோலோச்சி வெள்ளிவெண்குடை மி
4. ளிரவேன்தி ஆறில் ஒன்று கொ
5. ண்டல்லவை கடின்து நாடு வள
6. ம் படுத்து நை குடியோம்
7. பிக் கோவீற்றிருன்து குடி
8. புறங்காத்துப் பெற்றகுழ
9. விக்குற்ற நற்றாய்போல் செ
10. ல்லாநின்ற திருநாள் யாண்டு
11. அஞ்சாவதில் இத்திருக்கோ
12. யில்லெடுப்பிச்சேந் வட
13. பரிசாரத்தில் குடவோ
14. டாந இராசவிச்சாதிர நல்
15. லூரிருன்து வாழும் வெள்
16. ளாளந் முள்ளிகளில் கோ
17. வன் விச்சாதிரந் மநை
18. க்கிழத்தி எறுளங்கோ
19. தையேன் என் நி
20. ............  ந் தாந்

THE INSCRIPTION DETAILS:

The 11^th Century inscription, belongs to Kongu Chozha King,  Kalimurka Parakirama Chozha’s   5^th year rule. Unlike the usual way of mentioning the meikeerthi or the title  of the King the first nine lines mentions the Kings good characters, how he moved with the people etc.. The temple was constructed by a lady who belongs to Mullikan  sub sect of Vellalar Community. The lady Erulungothai was Kovan Vichchaathiran’s wife. Since the place was called as Vadaparisaara nattu Kudavodana Raja Vichchaathira Nallur, the Kovan Vichchaathiran mentioned may be a small regional King ruled this area under the Kongu Chozha Parakirama. The place Kuttagam was called as Kudakodu, Kudakkottur, etc,. 

The Temple also has the 16^th century Vijayanagara Achutharayar’s period inscription. The inscription  mentions about the donation of land to this temple. Which means the initial temple was expanded during Vijayanagara period.

 The 11^th Century inscription, belongs to Kongu Chozha King,  Kalimurka Parakirama Chozha’s   5^th year rule

16^th century Vijayanagara Achutharayar’s period inscription. 

LEGENDS

As per the legend a merchant on the way to his business took rest at this place and wants to do Shiva pooja. When his assistant forgotten to brought the Shiva Linga, the merchant kept the horse gram ( Kollu ) bag as Shiva Linga on the ground and worshiped. After completing the pooja the merchant’s assistant could not remove it, since the horse gram bag had turned in to a Shiva Linga. This legend is mentioned in the Kongumandala sathagam. Hence the moolavar of this temple is called as Mokkaneeswarar ( mokkani – Kollu or horse gram). 

ஏத்து சிவபத்தி யானொரு செட்டிமு னீசுரனைத் 

தோய்த்து முழுகித் தொழவெழ வாங்கொரு சூழ்ச்சி கற்றோன்

பூத்த வனக்குடக் கோட்டூரில் மொக்கணி யைப் புதைக்க

வாய்த்த சிவலிங்க மானது வுங்கொங்கு மண்டலமே. 

….. கொங்குமண்டல சதகம்

Also this legend in the form of a poem in Vempathur Thiruvilaiyadal is as follows....

பழிதில்கண் டுயின்றோ மில்லை பருப்புநெய்  கரும்புக் கட்டி

எழிறரு மட்டித் திட்டே மிதவிய புல்லு மிட்டேங்

கழுவிய பயறுங் கொள்ளுங் கடலையுந் துவரை யோடு

முழுவதுஞ் சிறக்க விட்டே மொக்கணி முட்டக் கட்டி

…… வேம்பத்தூர் திருவிளையாடல்

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The opening and closing times are unpredictable. Regular poojas are conducted in the morning. 

HOW TO REACH:

Kuttagam is 8.5 KM from Sevur, 37 KM from Gobichettipalayam and 37 KM from Tiruppur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE    :CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Hero Stones / Veeragallu / வீரகற்கள் /Memorial, Donor Stones / Thai Nadukal / Cairn Circles , Dolmens at Malayapalayam, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

3^rd February 2019.

It was planned to Visit the Kongu Chozha and Pandya period temples in Erode and Tiruppur District as a part of Kongu Temples Heritage Visit on 3rd February 2019. Mr Ramamurti and his daughter along with his Teacher friend Mr Ramalingam of Malayapalayam, took us to all the heritage sites in and around Malayapalayam with a great enthusiasm. We are very much thankful to them for sparing their valuable time in the midst of their Sunday Schedule. The top of all was the Kongu Hospitality extended to us, by providing breakfast, no words to express our feeling and speechless. 

DOLMEN

A Dolmen was on the west side of Sri Velayutha Swamy temple in the midst of field and we had seen the same during our  previous Visit.

CAIRN  CIRCLE

As per the plan, we first visited the Cairn Circle. This was a prehistoric burial site. Mr Ramamurti told that, he had seen many such circles during his younger days. But now, except one, the rest are disturbed in the process of developing the land for cultivation. The cairn circle was formed by using granite stones / boulders and are big in size. The diameter of the cairn circle was approximately 21 feet.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE (CLICK HERE)

INSCRIPTION STONE ( நிவந்தக் கல்வெட்டு )
Our next visit was to the inscription stone installed at Vinayagar Temple at the foot hills of Sri Muthu Velayutha Swami Temple, under a peepal tree.  ( Sri Muthu Velayutha Swamy Temple details are recorded in my blog ). On the top portion of the stone, the reliefs of Shivalinga, Nandhi, Sun and Moon are carved. From the style of inscription, this inscription stone belongs to 16^th Century. The inscription mentions about donation made to Udayagiri Sri Muthu Velayutha Swamy temple. The Sun and moon represents that this donation should continue till the Sun and Moon exists.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE 

DONAR STONES
Next we had seen a donor stone in which a lady and a man are in worshiping posture. The statue may belongs to 16^th to 17^th Century. The statue is half buried inside the weekly market. Initially it was told that this was a sati stone.  On seeing the details it was confirmed that it is a donor stone. Might have donated for construction of a temple or a structure to the nearby Perumal temple or the Hill top Sri Muthu Velayutha Swamy temple.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

INSCRIPTION STONE
Next we had been to a inscription stone half buried, near Chellandi Amman Temple.   This inscription stone belongs to 14th Century Hoysala King  Veera Vallalabha -III, period.  The inscription mentions this place as Erumapalayam of Vada Parisara Nadu ( one of the 24 Nadus of  Kongu region ) and a tank was excavated to store rain water for agriculture.  The locals previously worshiped this stone as Vatha kal and the paralysis attack will be get cured if one worships, this stone.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE ( 11.275840, 77.333111 )

HERO STONE.

A hero stone  and a Soola kal are installed in side the premises of Malayapalayam High School.  In the hero stone the Hero is shown in standing posture with head looking straight. The hero holds a bow in his left hand and a dagger in his right hand.  Dress with frills is shown below his waist. The hero might have died in the process of  recovering the cattle (தொறு பூசல் - ஆநிரை கவர்தல் அல்லது மீட்டல் ) or a fight between two groups. From the hair style, this hero stone may belongs to 16^th to 17^th century.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

VINAYAGAR TEMPLE

On the way back to Malayapalayam Village had seen  two temples. One was a Nayak period Vinayagar temple with Garuda Sthambam or a deepa sthambam. The Pillar has the donar’s relief.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

HERDS WOMAN MEMORIAL STONE ( THAI NADUKAL )
Next to the Vinayagar temple, there is a small shrine, and the main deity seemed to be of an interesting one. The bas-relief was carved on a flat stone.  A lady with a child on her hip is shown. Below cattle are shown. As per the experts this is a memorial stone erected for a lady, from the Idayar ( herdsmen ) community.  The Lady herds woman might have done some brave acts or might have been attacked by the wild animals and died while herding cattle.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE  

SRI THILLAI ESWARAR TEMPLE.

Our final visit in and around Malayapalayam was to this temple which is about 2 KM from Malayapalayam. The temple is facing east with a sanctum and a small artha mandapam. Rishabam and Palipedam are under the asbestos sheet mandapa. There is no vimana over the sanctum. The adhisthana is a simple  with jagathy and Kumudam. The sanctum walls has the Koshta niches without any images. No inscriptions are found. The temple was built in Kongu Chozha style architecture and may belongs to 13^th to 14^th century Kongu Chozha period. The Moolavar Thillai Eswarar is under worship.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Dhondenling Tibetan Settlement, Odeyarpalya, Kollegal, Karnataka.

27^th January 2019.

After Completing the Karnataka Temples Heritage visit, from Doddamallur Sri Aprameya Temple, our aim was to reach Erode before 22.00 Hrs. Considering the Sunday traffic from Bengaluru, we preferred to take Kollegal route instead of Krishnagiri.  It was around 17.00 hrs when we reached Odeyarpalya after Kollegal. Till 1956 Kollegal was in Coimbatore District and went to Karnataka, when the states were re-organized based on the linguistic. After hearing about this Dhondenling Tibetan settlement, tried twice during my previous visits, but couldn’t do so. This time it came to true and we visited two monasteries with Stupas of this Tibetan settlement. 

Due to the forced occupation of  Tibet by the China in 1959 CE, about 80000 Tibetans including their Guru His Holiness Dalai Lama fled as refugees and settled in 58 places in India, Nepal and Bhutan. In India these refugees were settled in 39 places depending on their proficiency, like Agricultural, Handicrafts and cluster Community. Dhondenling  Tibetan Settlement at Odeyarpalya, near Kollegal in Karnataka is one of the 5 settlements in south India. This re-settlement was established in 1974. CE with an initial population of 3160 refugees in 22 villages or refugee camps and  an average of  25 to 35 families, through Mysore Resettlement and Development Agency (MYRADA). This settlement spreads over 3000 acres consists of  Living quarters, monasteries, Hostels, Old age homes, settlement offices, hospital, school buildings,  roads etc. The settlement is on the sloppy hills and has forest converted to fertile lands, fields with a picturesque view and atmosphere.

This Dhondenling Tibetan settlement is about 3345 feet high above mean sea level with an average temperature of 20 degree celsius and 140 to 170 cm rain fall. The land was developed in to fertile land to cultivate crops like rice, raghi, Maize, corn etc,. Some people do weaving of sweaters too. There are 5 monasteries namely Dzogchen monastery, Taksham monastery, Tanak monastery, Dhragyal monastery and Bayoe monastery. We had visited two monasteries and of which Dzogchen monastery is the biggest.

Dzogchen monastery is a two story building in which the prayer hall is in the Ground Floor. The 30 nos of prayer wheels are installed on the back side of the monastery. The wheels  are embossed with mantra “OM MANI PADME HUM”, which means the Jewel of the Lotus flower enlighten the peace.  It was believed that this mantra will spread through the wind when the wheel spins. The Front wall  and inside the prayer hall has rich colorful paintings. A 4 rows of seating arrangement was provided. The alter has 3 Image of Buddha. On the left there is separate seat for H.H. the Dalai Lama with his Photo. 

  

 Mantra “OM MANI PADME HUM”, 

A memorial Pillar was erected for  10 years completion of Dzogchen monastery. The inscription reads as…. This pillar is dedicated to the aspiration of H.H. the Dalai Lama, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse, H.H. Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Chakdo Tsewang Paljo, H.E Sogyal Rinpoche, Mayum Tsering Wangmo, The Lakar Family, Khandro Tsering Chodron, Khandro Tsering-la and family, the Rigpa Sangha all the coordinators  sponsors, donors and supporters of past, present and future.

In accordance with the ……..eelion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the construction of this monastery was begun  in the early 1980s by Chakdzo Tsewang Paljor, completed by his son Dzogchen Rinpoche in 1991 and subsequently opened by the Dalai Lama in … January of 1992. This pillar  of dedication was unveiled by Sogyal Rinpoche on the 6^th March 2003 during a celebration to …. The completion of ten years of Dzogchen Monastery in India.

 His Holiness Dalai Lama Seat

References:

http://centraltibetanreliefcommittee.org/doh/settlements/india/south/dhondenling.html

HOW TO REACH:

The Odeyarpalya is on the way from Kollegal to Hasanur.

This Tibetan settlement is 46 M from Kollegal and 63 KM from Thalavadi and 34 KM from Hasanur.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

  Stupas

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Hero stones / Veeragallu / Sati Stones / நடுகற்கள், Sri Mallikarjuna Temple, Basaral, Malahalli, Kambadahalli, Hale Budanur, Chikka Peta, Karnataka.

A featured post on Indiblogger

26^th & 27^th January 2019.

During our Temples heritage Visit  in and around Mandya, of  Karnataka, we came across many Hero Stones ( Veeragallu ), installed in Villages and Temples. Some of them are unique, which we have not seen so far. The hero stones are installed in memory of the deceased person in a war or in the process of recovering the Cattle, to the Kings who fought in war and Queens /ladies who took sati.

A SATI STONE - SRI MALLIKARJUNA TEMPLE, BASARAL.

This is a 3 tier hero sati stone erected in memory of a lady who took Sati. The Lady must be a queen. In the first level, The queen is taken on a horse back. A lady holding an umbrella  is also sitting behind her. In front of the horse, there are musicians playing the music instruments. This shows that the queen is being taken for sati in a procession.

In the second level the queen is shown in sitting posture and two angels with whisk are shown, which means that she is taken to the heaven.

In the third tier the queen is shown in sitting posture praying in front of a Shiva Lingam and nandi. In addition to this a sun and moon are also shown. This shows that the queen was a saivite.

HERO STONE - SRI HANUMADESHWARA TEMPLE, BANNUR.

This single stage hero stone was lying in the ground, on the back side of the temple. Hero at the centre is holding a sword, there are two ladies and two men are also shown. Since, the Hero stone was highly eroded, couldn’t find the full details. A Sun and moon are also shown on top of the hero stone.

HERO STONES - SRI RAVALESHWARA TEMPLE, HERO STONES, MALAHALLI.

Usually Ravaleshwara will be along with the hero stones, as a god for them. In this temple Sri Ravaleswara is the main deity. Out of the 5 Hero stones found out side the Temple, one Hero Stone is unique. In that two men are fighting. The left side man with a sword in his right hand is shown, standing on another man who is in flat position. The right side man is holding a spear. It was told that this hero stone is for a King.

 The man on the left is the hero may be king who stands on a man

HERO AND SATI STONES – PANCHAKUTA BASADI ( A JAIN TEMPLE ), KAMBADAHALLI.

In addition to the Niseethikai memorial stone ( These are also memorial stones erected for the Jains who took sallekhana ie fast till death), there are some hero and sati stones available at the entrance of Panchakuta Basadi. Of the available one 3 tier sati stone is little clear. This sati stone was erected for a hero who died in a battle and his  wife took sati. In the second tier the hero is shown with angels and in the third row, the hero is doing a pooja to Shiva Lingam and nandi.

HERO STONES – SRI SOMESWARA TEMPLE AT HALE BUDANUR.

There are 3 hero stones kept at the entrance street to the temple along with Sri Ravaleswar. In that one is a three tier Sati hero stone erected for a  hero who died in the process of recovering the cattle. In the second tier only the hero with out his wife is shown.

SATI STONES – NEAR SAVAPPAPETTA – CHIKKA PETA – KANAKAGIRI ( ON THE WAY TO ANCIENT JAIN VESTIGE).

On the way to Ancient Jain vestige, we came across three sati stones erected on the side of the road. All the three sati stones are white washed. The first sati stone is a 4 tier Sati stone. In the first tier two ladies most probably queens, are taken in two separate palanquin. In the second tier a war scene is shown with an elephant two horse with soldiers . In the third tier the queens are with the hero in sitting posture. In the fourth row, the hero and his Queens are worshiping Lord Shiva with nandi.

The second one is a three tier sati stone. In the first tier the hero is  sitting on a the back of a horse  fighting with his opponents. The opponents are holding sword and shield. In the second tier the hero with his wife are shown in sitting posture. In the top tier the hero with his wife are worshiping Lord Shiva.

The third one is also a Sati stone called Ondikai Masti. The hero and wife are not shown. A hand which comes out of sthamba is shown. On the top of the sthamba a fire jwala is shown, which means that the hero’s wife took sati by jumping in to the funeral fire.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---