Sri Agastheeswarar Temple / Lord Siva Temple, Kilkolathur, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar Temple at Kilkolathur, in Thiruvannamalai District was a part of Shiva and Vishnu Temples, Sculptures like Kotravai, Jyeshta Devi at Purisai, Kilkolathur, Salukkai and Anumanthandalam on 2^nd January 2022. This temple is little away from the village in the midst of the Sugarcane and Paddy fields. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr Babu Mano, Mr Manoj  L Chakravarthy, Mrs Ruth, சுகுமார் அருள் and the members of “தொண்டை மண்டல வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்” for taking me to all these Temples and Heritage sites.

Moolavar  : Sri Agastheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Akilandeswari

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

The temple is facing east with balipeedam and a Rishabam. Thee is no entrance arch or Rajagopuram and Compound wall. The entrance to the sanctum is from the south side with a mukha mandapam. Stucco image of Lord Shiva with Parvati are on the top of the Mukha mandapam. Moolavar is little large. In Kodhtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

Old Rishabam and balipeedam are kept out side the temple. Bhairavar, an Amman ( A Bhutaki and Ayyanar is installed as Koshta murtis ), Navagrahas, Nagars aloose sculpture of Dakshinamurthy ( Chozha Period )and Chandikeswarar are out side the temple. Ambal is  in a separate sannidhi in the Ardha mandapam. Amman is in standing posture with abhaya and varadha hastam.

ARCHITECTURE

The original temple was belongs to Chozha period and the same was reconstructed during recent years with out following any temple structure norms.

The sanctum sanctorum is on a three anga adhisthana. A two tier stucco vesara Vimana is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Ardhanareeswarar, Nandi Bhagwan, Lingothbavar, Vinayagar, Murugan are in the Greeva koshtam. Agasthiyar stucco image with Raishabams on both sides in on the Ardha mandapam parapet wall to remind the name of Lord Shiva as agastheeswarar.

The Ardhamandapam is on a simple padabandha adhisthana. A Hole is provided on the east wall for Rishabam to view Moolavar. The Mukha Mandapam and Ardha mandapam are built using the old stones removed from the original temple. The walls are supported by brahmakantha pilaster with vettu pothyal without any ornamental work. The South side mukha mandapa pillars are original.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to Rajaraja Chozha-II ( Rajendra Chozha’s son ) and the same was reconstructed during recent years. During reconstruction, the inscription stones are used in different places, hence there is no continuity. The Chozha period and Vijayanagara period inscriptions records the gift of Lands etc, for poojas, naivedyam and burning lamps.   

Ashtabandhana maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 18^th February  2019 after renovations.

LEGENDS

In another legend, It is believed that this is one the 108 Shiva Lingas installed and worshiped in Thondai mandalam by Agasthiyar on the way to Pothigai Hills to balance the earth during Shiva and Parvati’s celestial wedding.

The devotees worships Lord Shiva for removing Marriage obstacles, Child boon etc,.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala pooja special poojas are conducted on pradosham and Maha Shivaratri days. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since orukala Pooja is conducted the temple will be kept opened during Morning hours and the time is in predictable.

CONTACT DETAILS

 

HOW TO REACH

The Village Kilkolathur and the Temple is about 2 KM off Cheyyar- Vandavas – Polur Road, 9.8 KM from Cheyyar, 18.5 KM from Vandavasi, 40 KM from Kanchipuram, 58 KM from Chengalpattu and 114 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest railway station is Kanchipuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Agasthiyar in place of Bhutagana

Moolavar sanctum sanctorum

Chozha period Dakshinamurthy

Ayyanar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Ellai Amman Temple, ஸ்ரீ எல்லை அம்மன் கோயில், புரிசை / Purisai, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Ellai Amman temple  at Purisai, in Thiruvannamalai District was a part of Shiva and Vishnu Temples, Sculptures like Kotravai, Jyeshta Devi at Purisai, Kilkolathur, Salukkai and Anumanthandalam on 2^nd January 2022. This temple is on the west side of the Village periphery limit. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr Babu Mano, Mr Manoj  L Chakravarthy, Mrs Ruth, சுகுமார் அருள் and the members of “தொண்டை மண்டல வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்” for taking me to all these Temples and Heritage sites.

Deity        : Sri Ellai Amman

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

The temple is facing north with an entrance arch and a Gopuram like mandapam. Moolavar Amman is in sitting posture. No other sub Shrines / Parivara Sannidhis found. Two Hero Stones as Veerabhadra ( details will be posted separately ), Two Kanthus and a soolam are at the entrance of the temple Complex. Dwarapalakis, Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of ardha mandapam.

ARCHITECTURE

The Temple complex consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a three anga adhisthana and an ekathala vesara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images are in the greeva koshtam along with thala simha vahanas.

The Ardha mandapam and Mukha mandapam are supported with square & Octagonal pillars with Vettu pthyal. The Pillars are plain without any bas-reliefs

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple authorities claims that this temple belongs to 16^th Century ie more than 400 years old. As per the Temple authorities, about 400 years back a handicapped person sang a the following song with bhakthi and he was cured from disability due to the grace of Ellaiamman. He served rest of his life at this temple. The original song goes like this....

செய்யார் பாயும் செழும் புரிசை ஏரிதனில்

        ஏரி நிறைந்து இரு கரையும் தான் பொழிந்து

பாரமதுகோடி பரவி வயல்களுக்கும்

        கண்ணானத் தாயாரேகருத்தினால் சொல்லுகின்றேன்

சென்னல் அழகும் செழுங்காதில் மாமரமும்

        வண்ணக்கிளி முகமும் வாழை கமுகுகளும்

கொங்கு பிலோ நார்த்தைகளும் குவிந்த நிலோ நீச்சுகளும்

        ஏராளர் வாழும் வீதியில் எல்லையம்மன்

தேரில்வர புதுமைதனை

        மண்டலங்கள் தானடுங்க ஆகாச பாணங்கள்

அதில் புருசு நிறை புருசு மோசாச பாணங்கள்

        மிக்க ஒரு கோடியுண்டு....

Ashtabandhana maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 05^th June 2002, in presence of Sri-la-Sri Sachithanandha Swamigal. The temple is now under the control of Tamil Nadu HR& CE Department.

LEGENDS

The Villagers worships, especially on Fridays Sri Ellai Amman considering as their Kulatheivam for Child boon. They offer sweet Pongal to Ellai Amman and sacrifice cock / goat etc at Veerabhadra shrine. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular Poojas, special poojas are conducted on annual festival days. The annual festival will be held on all 5 Fridays of Aadi Month. Each Friday celebration are conducted by a particular caste people living in that village. The First Friday function by the Thondaimandala Saiva Velalars, the second Friday function by Vanniyar Kula kshatriya Naidus, Vettaikara narakkars, Akamudayar and Vaniba Chettiars, the third Friday function by Yadhavas, Fourth Friday function by Adhi Dravidar and Fifth Friday by the Veera Saiva Thambiran Community. During annual festival  Utsavar will be decorated and taken to the Village in procession.  The procession will start after giving bali to Veerabhadras.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 Hrs to 09.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Gurukkal Aravind ( who does Pooja at Shiva Temple does poojas at this temple also ) may be contacted on his mobile +91 8369840949 for further details.

Landline number 04182 244441 may also be contacted for details.

HOW TO REACH

This place Purisai is about 700 meters off from State highway Kanchipuram to Vandavasi Via Cheyyar. 12 KM from Cheyyar, 11 KM from Vandavasi, 39 KM from Kanchipuram and 113 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest railway station is Kanchipuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Agastheeswarar Temple / Sri Agasteeswara Swamy Temple, ஸ்ரீ அகஸ்தீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், புரிசை, Purisai, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu

The visit to this Sri Agastheeswarar Shiva temple at Purisai in Thiruvannamalai District was a part of Shiva and Vishnu Temples, Sculptures like Kotravai, Jyeshta Devi at Purisai, Kilkolathur, Salukkai and Anumanthandalam on 2^nd January 2022. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr Babu Mano, Mr Manoj  L Chakravarthy, Mrs Ruth, சுகுமார் அருள் and the members of “தொண்டை மண்டல வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்” for taking me to all these Temples and Heritage sites.

This is one of the Thevara Vaippu sthalam sung  by Sundarar. In thevaram he mentions this place as Purisai nattu Purisai along with Thennur, Thiruchuzhiyal, Thiruthevanur, Ponnoor Nattu Ponnoor, under 6^th hymn of Thirunattuthogai. Also this may be one of the Agastheeswaram Sung by Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal.

  

தென்னூர் கைம்மைத் திருச்சுழி யல்திருக் கானப்பேர்

பன்னூர் புக்குறை யும்பர மர்க்கிடம் பாய்நலம்

என்னூர் எங்கள் பிரான்உறை யுந்திருத் தேவனூர்

பொன்னூர் நாட்டுப் பொன்னூர் புரிசைநாட்டுப் புரிசையே.

........ சுந்தரர் 7-12-6.

நாடகமா டிடநந்தி கேச்சுரமா காளேச்

        சுரநாகேச் சுரநாக ளேச்சுராநன் கான

கோடீச் சுரங் கொண்டீச் சுரந்திண் டீச் சுரங்

        குக்குடேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரங்கூ றுங்கால்

ஆடகேச் சுரமகத்தீச் சுரமய னீச்சுர

        மத்தீக்சுரஞ் சித்தீக்கர மந்தண் கானல்

ஈடுதிரை யிராமேச்சுர மென்றென் றேத்தி

        யிறைவனுறை சுரம்பலவு மியம்பு வோமே

…. திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் ( 6-71-8 )

Moolavar  : Sri Agastheeswarar

Consort    : Sri Akilandeswari

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

The temple is facing west with a 3 tier Rajagopuram and the temple tanks is on the South side. Balipeedam, Kodimaram and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Entrance to the sanctum sanctorum is from South through Ardha mandapam. Moolavar is of swayambhu. In ardha mandapam, bas relief of Agasthiyar worshiping Lord Shiva and an image of Agasthiyar. In addition to  this bas reliefs of Mahishasuramardini, Bhairavar, Lord Shiva with Parvati, Kannappa Nayananar Purana, Devotees & Elephant worshiping Lord Shiva, Chandran, Suriyan, Ayyanar, Veerabhadra, etc are on the wall of the ardha mandapam along with Utsavars.

In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai. In praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Natarajar, Bhairavar, Suriyan, Navagrahas, Nalvar  and Chandikeswarar.  Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing Moolavar.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The ardha mandapam out side walls has the bas reliefs of 63 Nayanmars Purana, with Natarajar, Dwarapalakas, Parvati as Kamakshi dabas and marriage with Lord Shiva, Kamadhakana murthy, Manickavasagar Puranam, Ashtadik Palakas, Vinayagar, Murugan, etc. The entrance to ardha mandapam has the bas relief of Gajalakshmi, Vinayagar, Murugan, Rishabam, Agasthiyar, Ayyanar, Sanganidhi, Padma nidhi etc,.

The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple padabandha adhisthana with Jagathy and three patta Kumuda. The Vimanam up to prastaram was constructed with stone. The prastaram consists of valapi, Kapotham and Vyalavari. The vesara Vimana above the prastaram is constructed with an additional square upa greevam. Stucco images of Lord Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the upa greevam and greevam. Vimanam thangis are in the greevam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Sundarar   has sung this place as Purisai nattu Purisai, the original temple might have been  constructed during Pallava period and latter contributions received from Chozhas and Vijayanagaras. The temple was reconstructed during Vijayanagara Nayakas period and inscriptions are of 17^th to 18^th century are found on the adhisthana.

The Chozha period Chandikeswarar idol kept in the prakara reminds Chozha’s contributions. The Nayanmar’s purana sculptures might have been existed during pallava / Chozha period, re-installed back on the wall during reconstruction.

During Chozha period This place was called as Jayankonda Chozhamandalathu Purisai nattu Purisai ( Sundarar Thevaram also records the same ). During that time this place capital for the Purisai Nadu.

The present Kalyanamandapam was constructed and dedicated to this temple on 31^st July 2011. The Stone Natarajar installed in the praharam was gifted by Kalaipuli Thanu, one of the Director of Koliwood film industry on 24^th February 2017.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, the sage Agasthiyar, Sundarar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple.

In another legend, It is believed that this is one the 108 Shiva Lingas installed and worshiped in Thondai mandalam by Agasthiyar on the way to Pothigai Hills to balance the earth during Shiva and Parvati’s celestial wedding.

The devotees worships Lord Shiva for removing Marriage obstacles, Child boon etc,.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri and Adi month Fridays.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 19.00 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS

The Gurukkal Aravind may be contacted on his mobile +91 8369840949 for further details.

HOW TO REACH

This place Purisai is about 700 meters off from State highway Kanchipuram to Vandavasi Via Cheyyar. 12 KM from Cheyyar, 11 KM from Vandavasi, 39 KM from Kanchipuram and 113 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest railway station is Kanchipuram..

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Natarajar Gifted by Kalaipuli Thanu a Koliwood Film Director

Chozha period Chandikeswarar

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---