Shri Kanakapureeswarar Temple / Sri Swarnapureeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ கனகபுரீஸ்வரர் ஆலயம், Kattavakkam, Enathur, Tamil Nadu.

The list of Shiva temples in and around Kanchipuram with link to Google Photos, Location link on Google Map and Location QR Code are posted already in this blog.  

Maha Shivaratri 2020 – Kanchipuram  Shiva Temples  Visit- 14

21^st February 2020.

The visit to this Shri Kanakapureeswarar / Swarnapureeswarar Temple was a part of 2020 Maha Shivaratri Temples Visit, on 21st February 2020. This temple is about a KM from the Village. After Attuputhur Sri Atheeswarar Temple's visit our next destination was to this temple at Kattavakkam, Enathur. The temple at Kattavakkam is on the north east direction of Nagareshu Kanchi also called as Ekambaranathar Temple, the prithvi ( earth ), one of the Panchabhuta / Pancha bhoota temples.  It was around 17.30 hrs when we reached the temple. A Pallava period beheaded Rishabam is abandoned about 50 meters from the temple, reminded us the antiquity of the original temple.

Moolavar: Sri Kanakapureeswarar

Some of important details are...

The temple is away from the Village on an elevated level. Probably the original temple might have existed on that spot. A Lotus pond is on the opposite to the Temple. The Balipeedam and Rishabam are in front. Moolavar is believed to be of Swayambhu without brahmareka and about 5 feet tall on a square avudayar. 

ARCHITECTURE

The temple is with sanctum sanctorum with a eka thala vesara Vimana.  The stucco image of Agasthiyar, Pulasthiyar and Vivarjitha ( Devlok bird Annam ) worshiping Lord Shiva with golden bilva leaves is at the east face of the Vimana. The total temple was constructed with bricks and cement.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS.

From the remains of the original temple, the Shiva Linga and beheaded Nandhi, it was concluded that the original temple belongs to 8^th to 9^th Pallava Period. It was also told that the temple was under worship till 18^th to 19^th Century ( 124 years ) before. This present temple was constructed on the same place where the Shiva Linga was found and Kumbhabhishekam was also conducted on 08^th June 2017. The required fund was received from Public and Locals. It was believed that this was possible due to the grace of Agastya Muni.

LEGENDS

It is believed that Agasthiyar and Pulasthiyar  Worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple and Vivarjitha ( Devlok bird Annam ) worshiped Lord Shiva with golden bilva leaves. Hence Lord Shiva is called as Kanakapureeswarar.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

Since the temple is located in a remote place and oru kaala pooja is conducted, the opening and closing is unpredictable. 

CONTACT DETAILS:

The is being managed by M Vijayakumar +91 9698948618 & +918056397431 and Archakar +918098730291 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is about 1.1 KM from the  Meenakshi Medical college and hospital. 

The temple is about 7.0 KM from Kanchipuram Bus Stand, 6.5 Km from Kanchipuram Railway station, 40.0 KM from Arakkonam and 65 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kanchipuram and Railway Junction is Arakkonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

 PC: Web

 PC: Web

 PC: Web

PC: Website

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Arunachaleswarar temple / ஸ்ரீ அருணாசலேஸ்வரர் கோயில், காஞ்சிபுரம் , Maha Lingesam, Between Old Nos 13-B &, 14-A, Apparao St, Melkathirpur, Periya Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple at Periya Kanchipuram was a part of “Maha Shivaratri 2023- Shiva Temples Visit” organised by “தெய்வ வழிபாட்டு குழு காஞ்சி”, under the leadership of Mr Barani Daran and Mr Vels Kumaran. This temple is on the banks of Chakra Theertham.

Moolavar : Sri Arunachaleswarar

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with Balipeedam and Rishabam. The moolavar is little tall on ( neel sathura ) square / rectangular avudayar with Kamakshi Amman. Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. In Koshtam,  Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma.  Chandikeswarar is in the praharam.

ARCHITECTURE

The  temple is on a raised upanam, consists of sanctum sanctorum, and ardha mandapam. The adhistanam is of simple pada bandha adhisthanam with three patta kumudam. An eketala vesara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.

Some of the specialities of this temple is, All Koshta murtis, Vinayagar, Murugan and Chandikeswarar are not in the form of idols, instead they are in the form of Padukas / Pathukas and with Photos / Chithra ( Chitra prathishta ).

Vinayagar & Chandikeswarar

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the inscription tablet, Sri Veerateswarar Temple, Sri Krishneswar, Sri Muktheeswarar, Sri Mahalingeswarar are similar to this temple and it was came to know through Maha Periyava.

The present temple was constructed / reconstructed during recent years. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 30^th April 2017.

LEGENDS

It is believed that this temple is very much similar to Thiruvannamalai Sri Arunachaleswarar, with equal power. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on pradosham and Maha Shivaratri days.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since oru kala pooja is conducted, opening and closing times are un predictable.

HOW TO REACH

The address of the temple is as.. Maha Lingesam, Between Old Nos 13-B &, 14-A, Apparao St, Melkathirpur, Periya, Kanchipuram.  

The Temple is on the south side banks of Chakra Theertham, about 400 meters from Kanchipuram Railway station, 2 KM from Kanchipuram Bus stand and 73 KM from Chennai.

Nearest railway Station is Kanchipuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Vinayagar

Lingothbavar and Brahma

Amman Temple before Shiva temple

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Thiruvarut Kaleesvarar Temple / Thiruvarul Kaleesvarar Subramaniaswamy Temple, Malayakkoyil / Okkaleesuvaram, Malayakovil / Malaikoilpatti, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Thiruvarutkaleeswarar Rock Cut Cave temple at Malayakovil in Pudukkottai District was a part of Pudukkottai Heritage walk, on 7^th and 8^th January 2023, organised jointly by Aatrupadai, TTDC and Ula. Thanks to M/s Trichy Parthy, Prabhaharan and Francis Edison.

 

This Malayakovil Rock Cut Cave temple complex consists of two caves, back to back. Okkaleesuvaram Cave Temple is facing west and Seevaramudayar Cave Temple is facing east. In addition to these two caves, two small Shiva Lingas are excavated on the rock / boulder, in the form of koshtas, of one is under worship, which is facing south.

OKKALEESUVARAM - WEST FACING ROCK CUT CAVE TEMPLE

Moolavar : Sri Thiruvarutkaleeswarar /Thiruvokkaleeswarar

Consort    : Sri Dharmasamvardhini / Sri Aram Valartha Nayaki

Some of the Salient features of this two Cave temples are….

Vinayagar and Murugan are in the mandapam. The first cave is facing west with a Sanctum sanctoum and a mukha mandapam. A new mandapam was built abutting the mukha mandapam at a latter period. A Shiva Linga on a round avudayar is in the sanctum Sanctroum excavated out of mother rock. This Shiva Linga is worshipped as Thiruvarutkaleeswarar. Rishabam is in the ardha mandapam.

A Shiva Linga is also excavated on the south side of the west side cave like koshtam. A small Ambal, Navagrahas, Saniswarar and  Bairavar are in the right side mandapam in front of south facing  koshta like rock cut shrine.

Ambal is in a separate temple facing North. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam. Vinayagar Sannidhi with ekatala vimanam is after Ambal temple. The Vinayagar temple was constructed by Ragunatha Pillai. Next to that is the village deity Karuppar’s sannidhi.

The Vinayagar sculpture… The Valampuri  Vinayagar in the ardha mandapam is found with leg damaged. The right tusk is not there and left tusk is available in full. He is shown with yagnopaveetha and without uthara bandham. He is holding Mothakam, mothakam / Mango (… ? ), flower and the broken tusk in hands. Sarapalli is shown on the neck and a small makuda is on the head. This Valampuri Vinayagar belongs to the same period of this Rock Cut Cave Temple ie.. 7^th Century.

     

200 – 300 years old ( May be Nayakas … ?) paintings are in the Mukha mandapam wall and verandah ceiling. The paintings include A Queen worshiping a Shiva Lingam, a King worshiping Anantha sayana Perumal, Sankara narayanan, Krishna, Andal, Natarajar, etc,.

Murugan as Valli Devasena Subramaniyar is in a separate temple with 3 tier Vesara Vimanam, Mukha mandapam and circumambulatory path above the Rock cut cave temple. Idumban is also in a separate sannidhi with ekatala vimanam.

திருவோக்காலீசுவரம்....  குடைவரையின் காலம் ஏழாம் நூற்றாண்டாய் ஆய்வாளர்களால் கருதப்படுகிறது. எனினும் அக்காலத்தையை கல்வெட்டுகள் கிடைக்கப்பெறவில்லை. மூன்றாம் குலோத்துங்கன் கால கல்வெட்டொன்று. இக்கோவிலினை "குளமங்கலத்து உயாரான திருவோக்காலீசுவரம்" என்கிறது.

கிழக்கு மேற்காக 3. 18 மீ. நீளம், வடக்குத் தெற்காக 3 மீ. அகலம், 2.08 மீ உயரம் கொண்டு கருவறையின் சுவர்கள் அமைந்துள்ளது, நாற்புறத்தும் வாஜனம் கூரையின் நடுப்பகுதியில் இலிங்கத்திருமேனிக்கு மேலிருக்கு மாறு தாமரைமலர் காட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதே போன்ற செதுக்கல் சிற்றண்ணல்வாயில் குடைவரையின் கருவறைக் கூரையிலும் காணப்படுவது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

கருவறைத் தரையின் நடுவே 4 28 மீ. சுற்றளவு. 62 செ.மீ உயரம் கொண்ட பாதபந்த அமைப்புடைய வட்டவடிவ ஆவுடை யாரும் 63 செ. மீ. உயர் உருளைப் பாணமும் தாய்ப்பாறையில் அமைந்துள்ளன. சிறிய கோமுகம் பெற்றுள்ள ஆவுடையார் மேற்பகுதியில் சிதைந்துள்ளது. திருமஞ்சன நீர் ஓட்டத்திற்காக ஆவுடையாரைச் சுற்றி 2 செ.மீ. அகலம், 1 செ.மீ ஆழம் கொண்ட குழி வெட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது.

குடைவரை வெட்டப்பட்டுள்ள பாறையின் மேற்பகுதியில் கருவறை செங்கற் கட்டுமான மாய் இரண்டாம் தளமும் வேசர கிரீவம், சிகரம், தூபி இவையும் பின்னாளில் கட்டப்பட்டுள்ளன. அது போலவே பைரவருக்கென ஒருதள நாகர கிரீவம், சிகரம் இவையும் பிள்ளையாருக்கென ஒருதள வேசர கிரீவம் சிகரம் இவையும் செங்கல்லால் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. இக்குடைவரை காலத்தில் செய்யப்பட்ட அற்புதமான விநாயகர் சிலை ஒன்று குடைவரையின் உள்ளே உள்ளது. தலையில் சிறுமகுடத்துடன் சம்மணம்மிட்டு அமர்ந்துள்ளார் வலம்புரி நாதர்,

ARCHITECTURE

The mandapa infont of the cave is with two full pillars and two pilasters, which makes 3 entrances. A provision was made for the abhisheka water out let through the mandapam. The pillars are 4 cm after the floor from the outer edge. The bottom squares of the pillars are larger than the top square. A damaged inscription is found on the top of the pillar. The pthyals above the pillars, some are bends, with virikona  tharanga. The vajanam abutting he uthram ceiling, extended on east and west side. The kapota is without extending Ceiling. Kulothunga-III’s period inscription is found on the east side wall.  

The sanctum sanctorum is with an entrance on the east side measuring 1.1 meter width and 1.93 meter high. The sanctum sanctorum measures 3.18 meter length, 3 meter wide and 2.08 meter high. A Lotus medallion is above the Shiva Lingam. The Shiva Linga at the centre measures 4.28 meter circumference and 62 CM high excavated out of mother rock. A channel is cut around the avudayar to drain the abhisheka water.  A Brick two tier brick vesara vimanam was built above the sanctum sanctorum. A two tier Vimanam was also constructed above Bairavar during recent years.

On the south side of the west facing cave, a small sanctum on the right side is in the form of koshtam / rock cut measuring 1.04 meter wide, 96 CM width and 49 cm depth with a Shiva Lingam excavated out of mother rock.

Tharanga pothyal

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It is believed that this Rock Cut Cave Temple belongs to 7^th Century and there is no evidence to prove the same. There are 3 inscriptions found of which one on the pillar is not able to read. Kulothunga Chozha-III’s period inscription mentions this temple as “குளமங்கலத்து உயாரான திருவோக்காலீசுவரம்”.

Kulothunga-III, period inscription starts with his meikeerthi. This inscription records the sale of Manguruchi Field & Tank situated in Panayaiyur paRRu as irayili devadhanam to Kulamangalathu Udayar Thiruvokkaleesuwaram, by Rettapadi konda Chozha valanattu Panaiyur Udayars Araiyars Rjan Periyan alias Nattu Priyan, Rajan Ulagan alias Rettapadi Kondan, Rajan Chandran, Rajan ENman, Ulagan Keralan alias Thannusiya  Rayan, Gunaperarayar KaRRilamallan Ooran, Mudiyan Sirummudiyan Periyan, Ooran Devan alias Thuvarapathi NadaLvan, Keralan Udayan alias ILaiyudayan. While mentioning the limits of field it was mentioned as PaNkudithalai, The Keel vaikal / Channel coming to Manguruchi tank Velanjai, Kollan Sei and  Veerapandya Peraiyan.

The inscription on the west wall  records the endowment of service to be done on Adi Karthigai, for the same, the tax called “Siru kaval” collected from Kulamangalam Villagers was given to the temple  by a person who belongs to Kulothungapuram. Since the inscription is damaged, the donor’s name is not able to read.

The 1883 inscription on Murugan Temple steps, records the construction of steps leading to Murugan temple and the spring by Soodamanipuram Udayan Nachanthupatti alias Thirumalai Chamudram, Periya karuppan Chettiar’s son Ramanathan Chettiar. Soodamani Samudram was in Kerala Singa Valanadu alias Brahmapoor Nattu Iluppaikudi alias Pukazhidamana Patnam.

The inscription on the south side cave side boulder belongs to Kulothunga-II, 12^th Century. This inscription records the donation of land to temple by Panaiyur Villagers Rajan Ulagan, and Rettapadi Kondan. ( New inscriptions from the book, by Karu Rajendran of Pandya Nattu Varalatru Aayvu Maiyam. )

The Pandya King Kulasekara Pandya period inscription inscribed in the form of poem on the wall of the rock cut cave shrine,  records the exemption of Taxes  to the thevadhana land. ( Pudukottal kalvettukkal )

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Since this Rock Cut Cave temple, Shiva and Murugan are the Ishta Theivam for the Villages like Nachandupatti Chettiars, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, maha Shivarati, Panguni Uthiram, Thaipoosam, etc,. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The Rock Cut Cave Temple  at Malayakovil is about 2.8 KM from Nachandupatti, 18.5 KM from Pudukkottai, 66 KM from Trichy, 76 KM from Thanjavur and 394 KM from Chennai.

Nearest railway station is Namanasamudram ( 9 KM ).

Ref:

Pudukkottai Navatta Kudaivaraikal by Mu. Nalini and Ira. Kalaikovan.

Pudukkottai Mavatta Kalvettukal

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Bairavar

Murugan

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---