Shiva Temple, Irungal, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Shiva Temple at Irungal was a part of  Heritage Visit to the Temples, Thavvai, Kotravai, Durgai, Hero Stone sculpture’s around Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai District on 22^nd August 2021.

Moolavar : Lord Shiva, Since the name is not known

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The original temple is facing east on a small kundru or heap of debris. The temple is in dilapidated condition. The roof slabs pothyals, pillars, balipeedam are strewn around. The original temple was built with simple padabandha adhisthana with three patta kumuda. The sanctum sanctorum was built with bricks.

With effort of Udhayakumar, Two Shiva Lingas and balipeedas are salvaged from the debris and Kept under a metacolour sheet shed.  Since original Nandi’s head was broken, a new Nandi was made and installed.  Both Shiva Lingas are on a round avudayar  of which one is shorter and the other is Taller.

HISTORY

Since there is no inscriptions found, based on the structure of the temple, this temple may be of 400 to 500 years old.

The Caretaker Mr Udhaya Kumar of this temple had prepared a video of this temple based on the present structures and the remains.

LEGENDS

Chandran’s image as a bas-relief was carved on a flat stone slab was salvaged from the debris and installed inside the makeshift Temple.  As per the Thiruvannamalai Sthala purana it is believed that the Shiva Linga was installed and worshiped by Chandra.

சீதமதி இப்பரிசு சிறந்துயர் நல்வரம்பெற்று

வேதமணி நகர்க்குத்தென் மேற்றிசையில் எய்தியவன்

தீதறுமோர் சிவலிங்கப் பிரதிட்டை செய்து அமிர்தால்

ஏதம்றும் பூசனை செய்து இன்புற்றான் எனவுரைத்தான்

As per Soothapuranigar Naimisharanya Munivar, Chandra with cold waves  after getting boon from Lord Shiva of Thiruvannamalai, came to this place which is on the south west direction of Thiruvannamalai. He established a Shiva Linga and Worshiped with amirtha. It is believed that this place Irungal may be the one referred in the Thiruvannamalai sthala purana.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from oru kala pooja special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, etc.

As per FaceBook, with the effort of Mr Udhaya Kumar, 75 pradoshams were conducted, after the Shiva Lingas are salvaged. All the functions are conducted with the help of Sivanadiyars from Various parts of Tamil Nadu.

Readers are requested to participate this temple’s poojas and bring back this temple to its old glory.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mr Udhayakumar  may be contacted on his mobile number +91 95000 24143 for further details.

A Face book page on this Village and the Temple is also maintained by him.

HOW TO REACH

This place Irungal is 7.2 KM from Cheyyar, 38 KM from Kanchipuram, 66 KM from Chengalpattu, 70 KM from Arakkonam 75 KM from Thiruvannamalai ( District Head quarters ) and 113 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway station is Kanchipuram and Junction Arakkonam or Chengalpattu.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE     :  CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---