Sri Abathsahayar Temple / Anandeeswarar Temple / Abathsahayeswarar / Apathsahayeswara Temple, Thenneri, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

08^th March 2020.

The visit to this temple is a part of Temples and Heritage Sites Visit on the banks of river Palar. Thanks to Mr Kesavan a Heritage enthusiast, who also joined with me in this Visit. This temple is about 500 meters off from the main Road. This temple is under the control of Archaeological survey of India ( ASI ). It is believed that the Thenneri – Eri was excavated by the Sangam Period King Thirayan, hence this place was called as Thirayaneri latter the name was corrupted to the present name of Thenneri.

Moolavar : Sri Abathsahayeswarar

Consort   : Sri Anandavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with Balipeedam and a beautiful Nandhi. The sanctum sanctorum is about 3 feet from the floor level. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai. In prakaram Vinayagar, sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar and Navagrahas ( installed during recent  Years ).

ARCHITECTURE

The square sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhisthana with tripatta kumuda. The Sanctum walls are with Brahma kantha pillars. The prastaram is of kapotha style with Nasikood. Bhuta ganas are in Valabi and Viyyalavari / yazhivari is in bhumidesam. The Vimana is of Gajabirushta on the square sanctum sanctorum. 

 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS:

As per the inscriptions  Lord Shiva was called as Thiruvananthecharamudaya Mahadevar and the place was called as Kulothunga chaturvedi mangalam.

During Uthama Chozha Period this place was called as Utama Chozha Chaturvedi Mangalam and during Kulothunga-I ( 1090 CE ) period, this place was called as Thirayanur alias  Kulothunga Chozha Chaturvedi Mangalam. It is believed that this temple was originally built during Uthama Chozha’s mother Chembian Maha devi and latter reconstructed with stone by Kulothunga Chozha. The inscriptions of Kulothunga Chozha-I, Sambuvarayas, Sundara Pandyan and Vijayanagara inscriptions are found in this temple. The temple was latter extended and re-constructed during Vijayanagara Nayak Period. This inscriptions records the Gift of land, money towards poojas and burning of perpetual Lamps / Santhi lamps.

Kulothunga Chola III’s 23^rd reign year inscription starts with his meikeerthi as மதுரையும் பாண்டியன் முடிதலையும் கொண்ட.... records that a person named Malaikudaiyan Padampakkanayakan (மலைக்குடையான் படம்ப[க்]கநாயகன்) of Peruvenpaakam (பெருவெண்பாக்கம்) gave two cows and a calf to the Mahadeva of Thiru Ananticharam for burning a Sandhi lamp. Two Saiva Brahmins who have the right to perform puja in this temple have agreed that they would get these two cows and a calf and light the lamp. From the inscription it is known that they are brothers.

மூன்றாம் குலோத்துங்கனின் 23 வது ஆட்சியாண்டில் ஒரு சந்தி விளக்கு எரிக்க ஒரு பசுவும் கன்றும் கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Kulothunga Chozha's 36th reign year inscription starts with his meikeerthi (புகழ்மாது விளங்க சயமாது விரும்ப நிலமகள் நிலவ மலர்மகள் புணர…), records the endowment of burning a sandhi lamp by Vellatti ( வெள்ளாட்டி A servant woman ), for the same she had given 12 Goats / sheeps. Maha Sabha assured to give 12 nazhi ghee towards burning of Lamp till sun and moon exists.

முதலாம் குலோத்துங்கனின் 36வது ஆட்சியாண்டில் இவ்வூரில் வாழ்ந்த வெள்ளாட்டி உலகுடையாள் செல்வி சந்தி விளக்கு ஒன்று வைக்க 12 ஆடுகள் கொடுத்துள்ளார்.

The Rajadhi Raja -II ( ? ) with title ( as ஈழமும் மதுரையுங் கொண்டருளின ஸ்ரீராஜாதிராஜ தெவர்க்கு யாண்டு…) records the gift of land by a merchant called Mangalangilan Ponnan Kakkunayakan (பூந்தமலியில் வாணிகன் மங்க[ல]ங்கிழான் பொன்[னன்] காக்[கு]நாயகனனென …) of Puliyur Kottathu Poonthanmali / Poonamallee  a part of Chennai ) towards Thirupalliarai Nachiyar’s  5^th day Naivedyam.

இரண்டாம் ராஜாதி ராஜனின் 14 ம் ஆட்சியாண்டில் பூந்தமலி வாணிகன் மங்கலக்கிழான் பொன்னன் என்பவன் பள்ளியறை நாச்சியாருக்கு அமுது படைக்க நிலம் வாங்கி தந்துஉள்ளான்.

Veera Rajendran’s period inscription records the gift of land to this temple, which is incomplete and eroded/ damaged in many places. 

வீர ராஜேந்திரன் நிலம் கொடுத்த கல்வெட்டு ஒன்று படிக்க முடியா வண்ணம் எழுத்துக்கள் தேய்ந்தவண்ணம் உள்ளது.

Another Kulothunga Chozha-I’s 41st reign year inscription with his full meikeerthi / Title records the gift of Land to this temple. The inscription elaborately describes the income from the land to be used for Naivedyam ( salt rice, Vegetable rice, Curd Rice  etc )and the materials like Paddy / rice to be offered,  paddy to be offered for Abhishekam, burning perpetual lamp, etc,.

முதலாம் குலோத்துங்கனின் 41 வது ஆட்சியாண்டில் மெய்க்கீர்த்தியோடு தொடங்கும் கல்வெட்டில் கறியமுது,தயிரமுது, மிளகமுது, உப்பமுது, அடைக்காயமுது பாக்கு பத்துக்கும், வெற்றிலை நாற்பதும், மஞ்சள் காப்புக்கு நெல்லுரியும் ,திருமஞ்சணம் வைப்பவருக்கு, திருப்பதியம் விண்ணப்பம் செய்பவருக்கு நெல்லும் அளிக்க, விறகு வாங்கவும் கங்கை கொண்ட சோழ வள நாட்டு நெற்குன்ற நாட்டு குடா முறுடையான் வெளாந் சங்கர நாராயணன் என்பவருக்கு நிலம் விற்று உள்ளனர்.

Jatavaraman Sundara Pandyan-I’s 12^th reign year inscription starts with the title ‘Emmandalamum Kondaruliya …’ ( எ[ம்]மண்டலமும் கொண்டருளி[ய] …) records the endowment which was confirmed by the Mahasabha.

சுந்தர பாண்டியனின் 11வது ஆண்டுக்கு எதிரமாண்டு ஆடி மாதம் 27ம் தேதி கறியமுது மற்றும் நெய்வேத்தியம் படைக்க நிலம் கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan –I’s 14^th reign year  (1265 CE), inscription starts with meikeerthi  as ‘Svasthisri Kochadaipanmaraana Tribhuvanachakravarthigal Sri Sundara Pandya Devarku…’ ( ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ கொச்சடைபன்மரான திரிபுவனச்சக்கரவத்திகள் [ஸ்ரீ] சுந்தரபாண்டியதெவற்கு…), records   that for an utsavam of the Natavarom Perumal ( நாடவரொம் பெருமாள் ) image — could be a trident stone — in the temple on the sacred day of the Tamil month of Aadi, for the same a land was gifted to the temple. 

கோச்சடைபன்மர் சுந்தர பாண்டியனின் 14 வது ஆட்சியாண்டில் பலி பூஜைக்காக நிலம் தேவதானமாக திருச்சூலதாபரம் பண்ணி கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

An inscription without the name of any ruler ( may be Sumbuvarayara’s period ) is found on the northern wall of the sanctum sanctorum. It records that two hundred kuzhi of land were given to the sculptor Anuthari ( சி[ற்]பாசாரி அனுதாரி ) who made the Pallaku Sokkar ( பல்லக்கு சொக்கர் ) bronze idol and its pedestals free of charge.

The temple was recently renovated by Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ).

   

 Inscriptions

 Inscriptions

 Inscriptions

 Inscriptions

Inscriptions

LEGEND:

Believed that Lord Shiva will help during crisis, hence called as Abathsahayeswarar.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

Oru kala pooja is conducted. A Caretaker is posted by ASI.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Land line phone Number 044 2725 9332, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

This place Thenneri 19.5 KM from Kanchipuram, 32  KM from Chengalpattu and 61 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE    : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Vengudi Shivan Temple / Agastheeswarar Temple, Vengudi, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

08^th March 2020.

The visit to this temple is a part of Temples and Heritage Sites Visit on the banks of river Palar. Thanks to Mr Kesavan a Heritage enthusiast, who also joined with me in this Visit. This temple is about 200 meters off from the Walajabad to Kanchipuram main Road. During the search of the Sri Chelliamman temple, happened to visit this temple also. This place Vengudi is on the north side of river Palar.

Moolavar : Sri Agastheeswarar

Consort   : Sri Kamakshi

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a temple tank on the north side. There is an entrance arch on the north side. The balipeedam and Nandhi are in front of the Temple. The entrance to the sanctum is from south with a mukha mandapam. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai. In prakaram Chandikeswarar, Vinayagar, Bhairavar, Navagrahas, Chandran, Suryan, Nagar, Siddhars Agasthiyar, Dhyanalinga and Pambatti Siddhar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar ( in the form of bas-relief on a flat stone ). Ambal Sri Kamakshi is in a separate Sannadhi, facing east.

ARCHITECTURE:

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The adhisthana is on padabandha adhisthana with tripatta kumuda.  The prastharam is of kapotha style with Nasikood. In bhumidesam, Yazhi and the bas reliefs of Shiva with Parvati, Brahma, Subramaniyar, Lakshmi Varahar and some fish etc,.  The stucco vesara Vimana is of two tiers  without any images.

 Bhumi desa relief

  Bhumi desa relief

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

There is no inscriptions found. As per the architecture the temple may be constructed during 17^th to 18^th Century, Vijayanagara Nayaka Period.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

This Sri Agastheeswarar Temple is 200 meters off from the Walajabad to Kanchipuram Road.

The temple is 3 KM from Walajabad, 15 KM from Kanchipuram, 27 KM from Chengalpattu and 70 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Walajabad and nearest Railway Junction is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

Chandikeswarar

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Chelliamman Temple / Selliamman Temple with Mystical images on stone slabs, Vengudi, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu

08^th March 2020.

The visit to this temple is a part of Temples and Heritage Sites on the banks of river Palar. Thanks to Mr Kesavan a Heritage enthusiast, who joined with me in this Visit. This temple is on the road side, initially we thought this must be an usual Village temple with a guarding deity. When we looked inside it was little different from other Village deity temple.

Presiding / Procession Deity      : Sri Chelliamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing North with a soolam / trident and balipeedam are in front. Stucco image of Nisumba Soodhani is on the top of the mukha mandapam. The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, artha mandapam and a mukha mandapam with a grill gate.  There is no Vimana over the sanctum sanctorum. In the sanctum sanctorum  there is no stone idol of Chelliamman instead there is only a procession deity.

Along the sanctum sanctorum back wall, there are  three sand stone slabs installed with mystical images of male and female in sitting posture, with one leg hanging. Since the idols are made of Sand stone, with continuous abhishekam and poojas  for long period, most parts of the images are eroded and couldn’t identify the images, what is what. Initially we thought it may be saptamatrikas and experts are of the opinion that these may be memorial  or Nadukarkal erected for a male and female.

As per the experts these Mystical images may belongs to 8^th to 9^th Century Pallava period and the temple may be 300 to 400 years old.

   

 mystical images

 mystical images

HOW TO REACH:

This Chelliamman Temple is on the Walajabad to Kanchipuram Road.

The temple is 3 KM from Walajabad, 15 KM from Kanchipuram, 27 KM from Chengalpattu and 70 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Junction is Chengalpattu and Railway station is Walajabad.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

Chelliamman procession deity

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Ambalavaneswarar Temple / Shri Ambalavanehvarar Temple, Angambakkam, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

8^th March 2020.

It was planned to Visit Pallava / Chozha Temples on and off the banks of river Palar on 8^th March 2020. Thanks to Mr Kesavan a Heritage enthusiast, who also joined with me in this Visit. Our first visit was to this Angambakkam Shiva Temple, on the banks of river Palar. This temple is also called as Uthira Chidambaram.

Moolavar : Sri Ambalavaneshvarar

Consort   : Sri Sivakamsundari

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

The temple is facing east with a Rajagopuram base ( mottai Gopuram ) with two prakaras. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Nandhi are immediately after the rajagopuram base. Dwarapalakas are in the mukha mandapam at the entrance of inner prakaram. Nataraja with Sivagami &  Urchavars / procession deities are in the artha mandapam. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai.   In Prakaram Nalvar, Suryan, Somaskandar, Lakshmi, Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi, Murugan, Vishnu, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar and Navagrahas. Ambal Sri Sivakama Sundari is in a separate sannidhi facing South.  A Vinayagar sannidhi abutting the prakaram wall is on the west side entrance of the temple.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple complex consists of Sanctum, antarala, arthamandapam and mukha mandapam.  The sanctum sanctorum is on a padabandha adhisthana with tripatta kumuda. A two tier  vesara vimana is over the sanctum sanctorum.  The closed parakaram floor level is little raised so that a moat is formed around the sanctum sanctorum. Brahma kantha pilasters are shown on the sanctum walls.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION
This temple exists before 10^th Century ie Rajaraja Chozha ( 985 – 1014 CE ) period. The Rajaraja –I, period inscription on a pillar records the gift of goats to light perpetual lamp. During Kulothungan period, the temple was renovated and an inscription records the donation of 96 kuzhi land to bring 2 pots of water to carry out daily abhishekam. Inscriptions are available up to Sadaya Varman Sundara Pandyan’s period

The temple with Rajagopuram base may be 400 to 500 years old, built during Vijayanagara Nayaka period. The temple prakaram was found rebuilt at a latter stage.

It was told that the temple has 60 acres of land and a 3 floor House  at Chennai Purasawalkam. But no income is received from the property. There two 20^th Century inscriptions found in the temple  which records the gift of lands ( one by a person ....thaiappa,  from Mudaliar Community belongs to Attuputhur Village  and an another by a Vedagiri Mudaliar’s son Nallanna Mudaliar. It was learnt the the person, who donated the land belongs to this place and he moved to Attuputhur Village, about three generations before ) with survey numbers for conducting regular poojas.

LEGEND:

An Anthanar / Brahmin on the way to Kashi to dissolve his father’s remains / asthi worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. When he opened the asthi pot found that it turned to fragrant Angam flower ( Jasmine ) and performed his tharpanam at this place itself. Hence this place obtained its name as  Angambakkam and also considered similar to Kashi, to perform tharpanam to the ancestors.  

POOJAS:

Apart from regular poojas, 6 times abhishekam will be performed to Natarajar, arudra darshan etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 09.00 Hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mr. Venkatesa Gurukkal-99448 82344, Mr. Ranganathan-94459 78490, Mr. Sundarasekaran-96006 78032, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The place Angambakkam is 5 KM from Walajabad, 21 KM from Kanchipuram, 29.2 KM from Chengalpattu and 70 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Junction / Station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sati Stone / Nadukal / (உடன்கட்டை ஏறுதல் ) of Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

19^th January 2020.

During our Heritage visit, self and Mr Kesavan, a Heritage Enthusiast,  to temples and heritage sites along the river Palar in Chengalpattu district we came across the following Sati stones.

SATI STONE – THEEPANJAMMAN.

TITLE      : Sati Stone

LOCATION: Punnammai in Chengalpattu District

PERIOD   : 16^th to 17^th Century

DETAILS :

This Sati stone is worshiped as Theepanjamman – the one who jumped in to fire.  The lady might have jumped in to the funeral fire of her husband. ( உடன்கட்டை ஏறுதல் ). The local Reddiar community people worship this Sati Stone as their Kula Deivam.  This temple is on the banks of Punnamai Eri.

 

The Sati kal / stone is measuring 1.5 feet width and 1.5 feet height. A Lady with a man is carved on a flat stone. The lady’s right hand is in hanging position and left hand is in raised position. What she is holding in the hands are not known. On her left a man is shown with his hands in anjali hastham.  The tuft above their heads are shown.

   

SATI STONE – AMMAN TEMPLE

TITLE      : Sati stone

LOCATION: Irusumanallur in Chengalpattu District

PERIOD   : 16^th to 17^th Century

DETAILS :

The Sati stone is inside a small temple worshiped as Amman. Regular poojas are also conducted. The Sati stone is measuring about 2 feet by 2 feet. The front face is applied with Turmeric powder and kumkum.

In this sati stone the lady is shown with right hand in hanging position and left hand is in raised position. On her right her husband is shown. His right hand is resting on a sword and left hand is holding a bow ( ? ). The lady might have took sati after her husband’s death, who might have died in a war.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Adhi Kesava Perumal temple / Adhikesava Perumal temple / Adi Kesava Perumal Temple, Koovathur / Kuvuttur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

19^th January 2020.

After a gap of 2 months, once again started the temples Visit along with Mr Kesavan, a heritage enthusiast from Arasar Koil to Koovathur on the banks of Palar river, near Chengalpattu. Koovathur was our last stop to visit both Vishnu  and Shiva Temples.

Moolavar : Adhi Kesava Perumal

Thayar    : Maragathavalli

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

The temple is facing east with a deepa sthambam. Balipeedam and Garudalwar is in front of the mukha mandapam. Moolavar Sri Adhikesava Perumal is in standing posture like Venkatesa Perumal without Sridevi and Bhudevi. His Upper hands are holding conch and Chakra and lower hands are in abhaya and ooru hastham.  In koshtam Paramapada Nathar, Sri Varagar, Narasimhar, Krishnan and Adhi Kesava Perumal.

In prakaram sannadhi for Vinayagar, Vishnu Durgai, Maragatha Valli Thayar, Chakkarathalwar, Alwars and Andal. Thayar is in a separate sannadhi in sitting posture. Holding lotus in the upper hands and lower hands are in abhaya and Vara hastham.

Also there are 8 holy wells in the prakara of which one is in Anjaneyar temple on the opposite side of the temple. It is believed that these wells represents 8 holy rivers of our country.

ARCHITECTURE, HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

The word Koovam in Tamil means well. Since the 8 Holy rivers took form of Wells, this place is called a Koovathur. The old temple was completely renovated and re-constructed with cement and concrete. Even-though it was claimed that this temple is more than 1000 years old, the temple bears new look without any antiquity.   An inscription in the Angalamman temple of the same place mentions about this temple. Based on that it is believed that this temple was constructed during  Vijayanagara Period by Sadashivayyadeva Maharaya, son of Saluva Manga Udayar Devamaharaya of Vijayanagara Dynasty.

 

 A Ready made moulds of sculptures 

 Moolavar sannadhi

LEGEND

It is believed that the eight wells are 8 rivers namely Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Sarayu, Godavari, Narmada, Tungabhadra and Kaveri. The 8 rivers, felt that they had become dirty & unclean with sins, washed by the human beings and wants to cleanse themselves. When they approached Brahma, in turn he advised to go to Bhooloka, where the sage Veda Ghosha will give a solution. They came down to Bhooloka and prayed  Veda Ghosha  and sought his help to cleanse themselves.  Veda Ghosha advised all the 8 rivers to worship Lord Adhi Kesava Perumal, who is the supreme to grant their prayers. 

The 8 rivers took the form of 8 women and prayed Adhi Kesava Perumal in the form of service like abhishekam, cleaning of temple, creating Nandavanam, growing garden etc. Pleased by their devotion, sincere prayer & service, Lord Adhi Kesava Perumal granted their prayers to became clean. Before returning to their respective places, they thanked Veda Ghosha and promised that they will stay in this temple in the form of 8 wells and who ever take bath in all the 8 wells and pray Adhi Kesava Perumal will get rid of all their sins.

In continuation to this, an another legend goes like this… Rama has got the Brahma hathya dosha after killing Ravana. To get rid of it, he wants to do pooja to Shiva Linga. As per Rama’s instruction Hanuman rushed to Kashi to bring the Shiva Linga. He didn’t turned up before the end of auspicious time. So Sita made a Shiva Linga out of sand and Rama performed the pooja. When Hanuman returned, the pooja was over and got disappointed. He expressed dissatisfaction on his face. It is equivalent to sin against the Sita’s Action, since Hanuman consider Sita as his own mother. To get rid of the sin he came to Koovathur, took bath in the 8 wells and worshiped Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal of this temple.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Gopu Bhattar may be contacted on his mobile +919790846554, for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

About 500 meters from the Koovathur bus stop.

Koovathur is on the ECR Road, 13 KM from Kalpakkam, 38 KM from Chengalpattu and 80 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 Alwars

 Garudan Sannadhi

Anjaneyar temple

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---