The Visit to Sri Ponnambalanathar Temple at Silattur near Aranthangi was a part of Shiva, Vishnu Temples of Pudukkottai and Sivagangai Districts Visit on 23rd & 24th September 2023. The Sri Ponnamabalanathar Temple is a Gajaprishta / Gajabrushta Vimana Temple, is rarely available in south part of Tamil Nadu and one of the three such temples in Pudukkottai District.
Moolavar : Sri Ponnambala Nathar
Consort : Sri Soundarya Nayaki
Some of the salient features of this Temple are...
The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. The 5 tier Rajagopuram is under construction. Balipeedam, Rishabam, Kodimaram are in front of Mukha mandapam. The Donors sculptors in anjali hastam are at the entrance of ardha mandapam like dwarapalakas. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. In kostam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy ( sannidhi is in front of Vimanam, may be due to space constraint ), Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.
In praharam Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Ambal, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Chandran and Suriyan. Ambal is in a separate sannidhi facing South. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and open mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a kapota bandha adhistanam with vrutha kumudam. Sthamba panjaras are in antarala portion. The Bhitti starts above kapotam. The pilasters are with square base & Naga bandham, Vishnu kantha body, malai thongal, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam and poo mottu pothyal. The Prastaram consist of lotus petals valapi, kapotam with plain nasi kudus and Chandra mandapam. Yazhi vari is above the kapotam. The adhistanam is of Gajaprishta/ Gajabrushta style and the same is followed up to greevam. A vesara style sigaram is above the greevam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy and Brahma are in the tala kostas.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The sanctum sanctorum and ardha mandapam may be constructed during the end of Chozha period or latter period Pandya’s period. The Maha mandapam was extended by the Aranthangi Thondaiman’s during 15th to 17th century, who ruled this area indipendentatly and under Thanjavur Maratas. The 3 inscriptions belongs to Jadavarman Veerapandyan ( 1 ), Aranthangi Thondaimans ( 2 ) and latter period Ekapperumal Thondaiman (1 ) are recorded from this temple.
As per the Aranthangi Thondaiman’s inscriptions, this place was called as Sundarapandya valanattu mizhalai kootrathu Silattur and Shiva was called as "Azhagiya Ponnambalanathar".
Jadavarman Veera Pandyan’s period inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp at Thirukkurungalur Temple and the donations made ( this inscription is not mentioning this temple).
One of the mandapa pillar inscription records as “Chidambaram Satha Sevai..” may be the person Chidambaram donated the pillar.
The latter period Ekapperumal Thondaiman’s inscription was recorded by Archaeology Department in 1942 ( published in the annual report ) and the same is not available now. This inscription records Shiva’s name as Mizhalaikatteechuramaudaiya Nayanar
Thanks to கார்த்திக் ராஜேந்திரன், one of my face-book friend for providing me the details and the old photographs.
The open mukha mandapam was built with cement concrete during recent years.
The bell was installed on 15th September 1970 and the same was gifted by Karunanandam Mahamayi. The temple is under the control of HR & CE department.
Pillar inscription
May be the Thondaiman's images
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Panguni Uthiram, Thaipoosam, Amavasya days, etc,.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 10.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
Archakar Thiru Sethuraman’s mobile number +91 9597005848 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
The temple at Silatur is about 100 meters from Silattur bus stop and Town buses are available from Aranthangi Bus stand, every 1 Hour.
The temple is about 9.6 KM from Aranthangi Bus Terminus, 25 KM from Avudaiyarkoil and 42 KM from Karaikudi.
Nearest Railway Station is Aranthangi.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Suriyan and Chandran
OLD PHOTOGRAPHS
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--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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