A Wandering Heritager: Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple / ஸ்ரீ பாலசுப்பிரமணிய சுவாமி கோயில், பாகசாலை/ Sri Murugan Temple, Pakasalai / Pagasalai, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

ஈளை சுரங்குளிர் வாத மெனும்பல
நோய்கள் வளைந்தற ...... இளையாதே
ஈடு படுஞ்சிறு கூடு புகுந்திடு
ஈடு படுஞ்சிறு கூடு புகுந்திடு
காடு பயின்றுயி ...... ரிழவாதே

……திருபுகழ்

The Visit to this Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple at Pagasalai was a part of Temples Visit in Tiruvallur District, before attending the Uzhavarapani at Janamejaya Eswarar temple at Panambakkam and Palalayam function at Senji Panambakkam Sri Kailasanathar Temple. I was not aware of this Murugan temple before my visit. This is one of the Thirupugazh Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Moolavar : Sri Murugan as Brahma Sastha

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Kodimaram, Balipeedam, Vahana Peacock are in front of maha mandapam entrance. Bas reliefs of Murugan with his vahana peacock and Vinayagar are on both sides of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar Lord Muruga is in standing posture holding akka mala and Kamandalam in the upper hands and lower hands are in abhaya varada hastam.

In praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Yaga salai, Chandikeswarar…?, Arunagirinathar, Anjaneyar ( believed to be installed by Vyasaraja ), Pamban Swamigal, Chidambaram Swamigal who installed Thiruporur Murugan and Kumaragurubarar in Vinaiyarukkum Vel mandapam. Stucco images of Muruga are on the parapet wall of the sanctum sanctorum.

The Hymns sung by Arunagirinathar, Pamban Swamigal, Kumara Gurubarar, Kandha Puranam, Kandhar Sashti Kavacham, etc, are fixed in the form of tablets on the sanctum walls.

The 15^th Century Saint Arunagirinathar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Muruga of this temple. In that he mentioned this Pagasalai as Pagai.

ஈளை சுரங்குளிர் வாத மெனும்பல

நோய்கள் வளைந்தற ...... இளையாதே

ஈடு படுஞ்சிறு கூடு புகுந்திடு

காடு பயின்றுயி ...... ரிழவாதே

மூளை யெலும்புகள் நாடி நரம்புகள்

வேறு படுந்தழல் ...... முழுகாதே

மூல மெனுஞ்சிவ யோக பதந்தனில்

வாழ்வு பெறும்படி ......மொழிவாயே

வாளை நெருங்கிய வாவியி லுங்கயல்

சேல்கள் மறிந்திட . ..... வலைபீறா

வாகை துதைந்தணி கேதகை மங்கிட

மோதி வெகுண்டிள ...... மதிதோயும்

பாளை நறுங்கமழ் பூக வனந்தலை

சாடி நெடுங்கடல் ...... கழிபாயும்

பாகை வளம்பதி மேவி வளஞ்செறி

தோகை விரும்பிய ..... பெருமாளே.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum antarala, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum was built with stone. An Ekathala stucco Nagara Vimana is above the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Based on the Arunagirinathar’s hymns, the original temple might have been existed before 15^th century.

Ashta bandhana Maha kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 24^th June 1988 after completing the thirupani ( works started on 29^th November 1985 ) at a cost of Rs 3.61 lakhs, in presence of Kanchi Thondaimandala Adheenam Kayilai punithar Gnanaprakasha Desika Paramachariya Swamigal,

Under Sri Balasubramaniya Swamy Vazhipattu mandram, construction of Rajagopuram, installation Kodimaram and other thirupani works were started on 20^th April 2000 at a cost of Rs 20 lakhs. After completion of thirupani Jeernodharana ashta bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 28^th June 2006, in presence of Thondaimandala adheenam sri-la-sri Thiruvambala Desika Gnanaprakasha Paramacharya Swamigal.

LEGENDS

Usually Murugan will be with Sri Valli Devasena. It will be rare to see that Murugan is alone as moolavar and this is one of the temple where Murugan as Brahma Sastha with aksharamala and Kamandalam. Similar Moolavar is found at Voyalanallur. As per the legend, the creator, Brahma is supposed to know the meaning of Pranava mantra. When muruga asked the meaning of Pranava Mantra, Brahma couldn’t give the meaning. So Muruga imprisoned Brahma and took charge of the creation of this universe. And also holds the attributes aksharamala and Kamandalam of Brahma.

This place Pagasalai / Pakasalai Murugan temple is on the banks of river Kosasthalaiyar River and the river is flowing from south to North as Utharavahini in this place. Any place with a river flowing from South to north is considered as a holiest place and equivalent to Ganga. This river Kosasthalaiyar’s specialities are mentioned in the matsya purana, Koorma purana, Linga Purana, Bhavishya Purana and Markandeya purana.

It is believed that the Devas, Lord Brahma, Chitragupta, Narada, Sage Agasthiyar and saints like Adi Sankarar, Guru Raghavendra Swamy visited this temple.

In another legend, during the British period a collector passing through this place happened to see Lord Muruga as his religion Padhiriyar ( Christian priest ) from a long distance during one his travelling. Since other religion people are allowed to enter in to a Hindu temple, he couldn’t go nearer. In that Night, Murugan came in his dream in the form of Christian priest and took him to this temple. Hence Local Christians refers Lord Muruga as Padhiri Ayya. They used to offer prayers and break coconuts.

It is believed that worshiping Lord Muruga will answer all the prayers. Devotees used to lit ghee lamps for 48 days / one mandala to fulfill their wishes. In some cases the wishes are fulfilled even before completion of 48 days due to the grace of Lord Muruga. As a part of Thanks giving devotees used to offer abhishekam after doing angapradakshinam or 108 times circumambulation of the sanctum sanctorum.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Kiruthigai, Sashti, Panguni Uthiram, Tuesdays, Amavasya days etc,. Annual Brahmotsavam will be held in the month Masi ( Feb – March ).

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.30 Hrs to 10.30 Hrs and 16.30 hrs to 18.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number of the Gurukkal +91 8110949465 and +91 9176529893 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 6 KM from Perambakkam ( Autos are available at Perambakkam and to Perambakkam, city buses are available from Poonamallee, Thakkolam ), 5 KM from Manavur, 20 KM from Arakkonam, 24 KM from Tiruvallur, 40 KM from Poonamallee and 58 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway station is Manavur.