Thursday 13 August 2020

Sudarkozhundeesar Temple / Sri Pralayakaleswaraar Temple – அருள்மிகு பிரளயகாலேஸ்வரர் கோயில் – Pennadam, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 34th  Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 2nd Sthalam of Nadu Naadu. This Place Pennadam, Sekkizhar refers this place as Pennakadam and Vallalar refers as Kadanthai ( it was believed that 1000 Kadanthai soldiers lived in this place hence obtained the name of Kadanthai ) and the temple was referred as “Thoonganai madam” ( A type of Vimana – the shape resembles like back of the elephant ).
  
Sekkizhar mentions in Periya Puranam that Thirugnanasambandar, after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirumudhukundram ( Virudhachalam ), came to this place.
    
ஆங்கு நாதரைப் பணிந்து பெண்
        ணாகடம் அணைந்து அருமறை ஓசை
    ஓங்குதூங்கானை மாடத்து உள்
        அமர்கின்ற ஒருதனிப் பரஞ்சோதிப்
    பாங்கு அணைந்துமுன் வலம் கொண்டு
        பணிவுற்றுப் பரவுசொல் தமிழ்மாலை
    தீங்கு நீங்குவீர் தொழுமின்கள் எனும்
        இசைப் பதிகமும் தெரிவித்தார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
    
    ஒடுங்கும் பிணிபிறவி கேடன்று இவை
        உடைத்தாய வாழ்க்கை ஒழியத்தவம்
    அடங்கும் மிடங்கதி நின்றீர் எல்லாம்
        அடிகள் அடிநிழற்கீழ் ஆளாம் வண்ணம்
    
    கிடங்கும் மதிலும் கலாவிஎங்கும்
        கெழுமனை கள்தோறு மறையினொலி
    தொடங்கும் கடந்தைத் தடங்கோயில்சேர்
        தூங்கானை மாடம் தொழுமின்களே
... திருஞான சம்பந்தர்
    பொன்னார் திருவடிக்கு ஒன்றுண்டு விண்ணப்பம் போற்றி செய்யும்
    என்னாவி காப்பதற்கு இச்சையுண் டேல்இருங் கூற்றகல
    மின்னாரு மூவிலைச் சூலமென் மேற்பொறி மேவு கொண்டல்
    துன்னார் கடந்தையுள் தூங்கானை மாடச்சுடர்க் கொழுந்தே
.... திருநாவுக்கரசு சுவாமிகள் (அப்பர்)
                                    பூங்குழலார்
வீங்கானை மாடஞ்சேர் விண்ணென்றகல் கடந்தைத்
தூங்கானைமாடச் சுடர்க்கொழுந்தே.
வள்ளலார் - திருஅருட்பா)
Moolavar  : Sri Sudarkozhundeesar, Sri Piralayakaleswarar,
                  Sri Kadanthai Nathar
Consort    : Sri Aamothanambal, Sri Kadanthai Nayagi , 
                  Sri Azhakiya Kathali.


Some of the important features of this temple are...
The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. A Rishabam in a mandapam immediately after the entrance arch Stucco images of Lord Shiva and Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Vinayagar, Murugan with Valli Devasena, Ambal on anna vahana, Thirugnanasambandar, Appar and Patanjali Munivar. A 5 tier Rajagopuram is at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Balipedam, Dwajasthambam and a Rishabam are in front of the mukha mandapam. The Rishabam is facing east ie the same direction of Moolavar ( to stop the flood in the Vellar River to Chozha King ). Moolavar is swayambu, tall on a square avudayar. Dwarapalakas at the entrance of the sanctum is facing each other. Instead of Koshtas, only jalas are provided to view in side. These jalas are also extended forward. Stucco images like Bhairavar, Pichadanar, etc., of Lord Shiva in the girivam.  

In Prakaram Naalvar, Sekkizhar, Vinai theertha Vinayagar, Dhandapani, Sri Valli Devasena Murugan, Visveswarar, Someswarar, Murugan, Maha lakshmi,  Navagrahas, Sapta Matrikas, Natarajar, Sivakami, Soundreswarar is on the built up hill top sannadhi ( Moolavar is of 16 flat surfaces dhara Linga ), Pralaya kaleswari, Chandikeswarar, Chandikeswari, Kalikamba Nayanar and Meikanda Deva Nayanar.

Ambal Amothanambal is in a separate temple with sanctum, arthamandapam and a 12 Pillar mukha mandapam. Amman is facing south, holing pasa & angusam in the upper hands and lower hands are in abhaya and varadha hastham. The vesara Vimana is on the padabandha adhisthana. There is no images in the koshtam.  The arthamandapa is supported by vrutha / cylindrical pillars.   

ARCHITECTURE
The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and arthamandapam and a 20 pillar mukha mandapa. The vimana is in the form of Gajaprishtam with 7 kalasas  construction, ie the back side of the elephant and hence  this temple also called as Thoonganai Mada Koil. The Vimana is on the Padabandha adhisthana.   Giriva Koshtas are extended forward.  

The Rishabam before the Rajagopuram is viewing out side the temple  to stop flood in the Vellar River.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS
There is a madam in the name of Marai Gnanasambandar. Sethu King  had also done thirupani to this temple and donated a Chariot also. Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns on Lord Shiva of this temple and from Pallava period inscription, the temple might have existed before 6th to 7th Century and reconstructed with stone by Chozhas. ( believed that the temple was reconstructed by Ko Chengat Chozha, who built many such mada temple ). As per the inscription Lord Shiva was called as Thoonganaimadamudaya Nayanar. The inscriptions mainly speaks about donations  in the form of Gold, Cow, Land to this temple service maintenance and poojas. Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted in   1973, 1981 and 1989.

As per the inscriptions this place was under Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Venkotra kottathu Perunagar Nattu Perunagar.

An incomplete  inscriptions  ( AR 46 of 1898 ), records the construction of a Mandapa and the Kings name is mentioned as Azhakiya Pallavan Konanthi...

A Veera Pandyan’s 4th year reign inscription ( AR 47 of 1898 ) records, the endowment of 6 sandhi lamps by Kakkunayagan Visaiyan Chembiyatharaiyan for which he pledged and the temple got 40 panam as interest  from the Narpathonyiravan.

Rajaraja Chozha’s 25th year reign inscription ( 48 of 1898 ), records the endowment of 4 sandhi lamp by, Eyir Kottathu Maharal nattu Maharal, Pattiyar Poyan Perunagar Theva Perumal, for which gold of ¼ kalanju, was received by the temple’s Vishwabrahmins.

The Chozha period inscriptions records the temples Ko Chenganeswara Mudayar Temple, Madurantaka Eswaramudayar Temple, Palli Konda Perumal, existed during Chozha period. 

The Chozha period other inscriptions belongs to Kulothunga Chozha, Rajendra Chozha’s,  records the donation of lands, Gold, Panam or Money, Cow, Paddy, etc., towards lighting Lamps, poojas, Naivedyam, annadhanam, etc. One of the inscription, records that the land was measured by a measurement scale called “Moovaayiravan Kol” ( 15 feet) and quantity are measured in marakkal and weights certified by Rajaraja. 

During VikaraChozha’s period inscription records the endowment of Lord shiva’s procession of new moon day and lighting of ghee perpetual lamp, by the King.

Viyayanagara Deva Maharayar  period saga 1356 ( 1434 CE ) inscription  records the endowment of naivedyam and maintenance by Palli Kondaruliya Kachirayan’s son Ekambaranathan donated Villages to this temple.

LEGENDS
This place was called as Thayaraasapathi (Iravatham worshiped ), Pushbavanam ( with full of flowering gardens ), Mahendrapuri ( Indran worshiped ), Parvatipuram ( Ambal worshiped ), Sokanasanam ( Lord Shiva, who took rest after drank the alakala visham ) and Shivavasam ( where Lord Shiva Resides ). Devotees whose birth star as Kettai, worship Lord Shiva to get boons and also those who has the body pain to get relieved after worshiping Lord Shiva of this temple. .

Pennadam is the birth place of and Marai Gnanasambandar. Appar got the symbol of  soolam and Idabam from Lord Shiva of this temple. Devakannis, Kamadenu, White elephant, Indra,  worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple, hence Shiva of this temple is called as Pen( Deva kannis) + Aa ( Cow ) + kadam (elephant ). 

As per the Legend, Sri Soundreswarar is on the hill like sannadhi for a Devaradiyar Soundravalli, who hails from Soundra Chozhapuram, worship from the street.  There is also another legend that Lord Shiva gave darshan from an elevated level to a Chozha King,  on the other side of the river, who couldn’t cross due to flood in the river.

As per Sekkizhar Periya Puranam, Kalikamba Nayanar, an ardent Devotee of Lord Shiva and one of the 63 Nayanmar, used to do pada pooja, by washing the feet and offer food  to all Shiva devotees. One day his servant came and Kalikamar, asked his wife to bring water to do pada pooja to his servant who came as a Shiva Devotee. When his wife came reluctantly with water, angered Kalikamba Nayanar cuts off her hand. Lord Shiva appeared and blessed her to grew her hand. Hence Shiva is called as Kaivazhangeesar.

    பொய்யைக் கடிந்துநம் புன்ணியர்க்கு
        ஆட்பட்டுத் தன் அடியான்
    சைவத் திருவுருவாய் வரத்
        தான் அவன்தாள் கழுவ
    வையத் தவர்முன்பு வெள்கிநீர்
        வாரா விட மனைவி
    கையைத் தடிந்தவன் பெண்ணா
        கடத்துக் கலிக்கம்பனே
.... திருத்தொண்டர் திருவந்தாதி
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on, 12 days brahmotsavam in Chithirai, Aadi month festival for Ambal, Navaratri, Sashti, Thaipoosam, Maha Shivaratri, Panguni Uthiram. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The Temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 12 Hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
The landline or mobile number : +91 4143 222 788 and +91 98425 64768, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH
The temple is about 120 Meters from Pennadam bus stop.
Frequent buses are available from Virudhachalam to Pennadam
The temple is 17 Km from Virudhachalam, 40 KM from Ulundurpet,  77 KM from Villupuram and 250 KM from Chennai
Nearest Railway station is Virudhachalam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE












--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

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