Sri
Neelavarna Perumal Temple at Nanmangalam
was a part of “Pallavapuram”, called during Pallava Period, now called as
Pallavaram. Pallavaram is known for its Prehistoric existence through finding
of stone tools, by Bruce Foote and the 7th Century Rock Cut Cave
excavated by Pallava King Mahendravarman-I, which is presently occupied a
Mosque / Dargah.
Moolavar : Sri Neelavarna Perumal
Thayar : Sri Mahalakshmi as Vedavalli Thayar
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…
The
temple is facing east with an entrance Gate.
Deepa sthambam, Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Garudan in anjali hastam are in the Dasavathara shobana Mandapam. Stucco
images of Maha Vishnu’s Dasavathara is on the top side wall of the Mandapam.
Moolavar Sri Neelavarna Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. Perumal is
holding Sangu and Chakra in the upper hands and lower hands are in Abhaya and
kati hastam. Utsava murti is with consorts, Andal, Nammalwar, Ramanujar and
Krishna are in front of Moolavar. Anjaneyar’s bas –reliefs are on the both
sides of the ardha mandapam entrance. In Koshtam Lakshmi Varahar, Lakshmi
Narasimhar and Lakshmi Hayagreevar.
In
Praharam Nammalwar ( Kaari Maaran ), Ramanujar, Sudharsanar (
Chakkarathalwar ) & Narasimhar, Anjaneyar
and Maha Lakshmi as Vedavalli Thayar.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a
Dasavathara Sobana Mandapam / Mukha mandapam. The ardha mandapam holds the original pillars.
A 3 tier stucco Dravida Vimana ( Anandanilaya Vimana ) is above the sanctum
sanctorum. The First level sala koshta images of Lakshmi Varahar, Lakshmi
Narasimhar and Lakshmi Hayagreevar are very much similar to the Deva Koshta
images. In addition to that, images of
Vishnu’s various postures and
Vimanam thangis are on the Vimana. Since adhisthana is below the ground level,
what type of architecture followed is not known.
The
Chrompet Road is passing on the north side
of the temple, abutting the sanctum sanctorum. Due to this there is no prahara
on the north side of the temple. A Separate Iron sliding door is provided to
access the north side Koshta murti Lakshmi Hayagreeva and do pooja by the Bhattars.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
The
original temple is believed to be constructed during 8th Century Pallava period may be
during the Pallava King Rajasimha Pallava ( 2nd Narasimha Pallava )
who ruled between 680 – 728 CE. An inscription stone ( the letters are not
legible to read ). During Pallava period, this place might have been gifted to
Brahmins or Vedic Brahmins were lived in large numbers and called as
Chathurvedimangalam and now called as “Nanmangalam”.
Pallava period Inscription with safety grill
The
Pallava period brick temple was reconstructed and present structure may be 300
to 400 years old. Maha samprokshanam was
conducted on 30th April 2006 and in 2010, after constructing the
Thayar, Sudharsana and Yoga Narasimhar Sannidhis.
The
present Dasavathara Shobana mandapam was built in memory of Arasanipalai Sri
Ragunathachariyar, Srimathi Sr Rangammal and Srimathi Sri Ethugiriammal at a
cost of Rs 10816.00.
The
temple is being maintained by the "NEELAVARNA PERUMAL BHAKTHA JANA
KAINKARYA SABHA", which was stated on 14th April, 2003. Air
conditioning and Electrical wiring were
done through Sri Rajagopalan Bhattacharya swami (
previously working in Thiru Vada Mathurai - Mathura Divya Desam ), Sri Bhaskar
Rao and other devotees.
LEGENDS
This
Neelavarna Perumal Temple is believed to an abhimana sthalam of the
“Thiruneermalai Neelavarna Perumal” Temple, one of the 108 Divya Desams.
Poojas
are conducted as per the Vaikhanasa Agama earlier was changed to Pancharatram as per Perumal's wish.
This
temple is a parihara sthalam and dosha nivarthi sthalam. It is believed that Sri Neelavarna Perumal
used to talk to the devotees directly.
Once
a devotee was in distress and tension came to this temple and prayed to Sri
Neelavarna Perumal, to get relieved. After praying, he had forgotten the way and
was walking through the fields. On the way happened to see a herdsman with
cattle. The devotee asked the way to the
herdsman. The herdsman pointed the right path and told further that his
problems will be solved after praying Sri Neelavarna Perumal. Due to tension
and distress, the devotee passed the hurriedly. After walking some distance,
the devotee turned back to say thanks. To his astonishment the herdsman disappeared
and only cattle were grazing. Next day the devotee had received a telegram,
saying that, the cause for this distress was wrongly reported. Thus Sri
Neelavarna Perumal proved his existence and talking to his devotees.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Purattasi Utsavam, Kalyana
Utsavam, Annakooda Utsavam, Vaikunta Ekadasi, festival of Nammalwar
Moksham and Vaikunta Dwara opening,
Thiruppavai Utsavam, Navaratri Utsavam with Unjal Seva, Deepavali, Karthigai, Gokulashtami, Uriyadi Sevai, Sri Rama Navami, Panguni Uthiram, Vaikasi Visakam, Satyanarayana Pooja on Full moon days and Makar Sankranti.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The
temple will be kept opened between 07.30 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The
Sabha members may be contacted for further details. Sri. E.Ravi, President -
(R) 2247775, Sri. V.Bhaskara Rao, Secretary (R) 55914925Cell - 9283165253 (
email id - bhaskarvenkatrao@gmail.com)
Temple
website
HOW TO REACH
Nanmangalam
is about 7.5 KM from Pallavaram Railway station, 8.7 KM from Tambaram Railway
station, 24 KM from Chennai Central.
Nearest
Railway station where express trains will stop is Tambaram.
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA ---
