Sri Lakshmi Narayana Temple at Mudigundam, Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka.

The visit to this temple at Mudigundam was a part of our Chozha period temples Visit on the ancient trade route from Chamarajanagar to Kollegal ( Gangapadi ), in Karnataka State. During Chozha period this place was the capital of Mudikonda  Chozhamandalam ( a part of Gangapadi ), Hence it obtained the name as Mudikonda, which has corrupted to the present name of Mudigundam.

Moolavar  : Sri Narayana Swamy.

Thayar     : Sri Lakshmi.

Some of the Salient features of this temple are.....

The temple is facing east with balipeedam and 2 half pillars with bas reliefs of Vishnu, Rama, etc,.  Thayar is in a separate sannidhi facing east, only with sanctum.

Mahavishnu, Venu Gopalan / Krishna and saint are in the maha mandapa. There is an under ground storage room in the artha mandapam. May be used during Muslim’s invasion to safeguard the idols.

A mandapa on the back side of the temple was pulled down and the Pillars with beautiful bas-relief are  dumped on the side of the sanctum sanctorum.

ARCHITECTURE

The sanctum sanctorum consists of  Sanctum, antarala, ardha mandapa, maha mandapa and Mukha mandapa. The ardha mandapa with supported by 4 beautiful Ganga style vrutha pillars. The Palakai is little large and the Pothigai is of Vettu pothigai.

The original temple was reconstructed, keeping the adhisthana. The Mandapams may be built during Vijayanagara period. The adhisthana is of padabandha adhisthana  with three patta kumuda. The inscriptions are found on the Jagathi, Kumuda and vethigai. The temple

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple was built during Chozha period by the traders. This place was called as Mudigonda solapuram alias Desi-uyyakondapattinam

This and four others below the inscriptions in Tamil and Grantha characters of 13^th Century engraved on the pillars are in Tamil.

This mentions that Tiruvarangaperumal son of Kipa. Peruvaniyan-kuttandai of Mudigonda solapuram alias Desi-uyyakondapattinam, got the pillar made at the cost of 3 gadyanas.

An incomplete inscription refers to an individual ( name lost ) of Perumarudur Puduppalli who got a pillar made.

Another inscription records that a pillar was the gift of Siramadevan, son of Ayupillai of Perialttur.

The donor of this Pillar was Pattividivandai of the Village Ogaiyur.

Another Inscription gives the names of the donor of the pillar and of his father. But they are only partly preserved. It refers to Marudur.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since orukala pooja is conducted the closing and opening times are unpredictable.  

HOW TO REACH:

This place Mudigundam is on the bus route Chamarajanagar to Kollegal. 37 KM from Chamarajanagar, 3 Km from Kollegal, 63 KM from Mysore and 143 KM from Bangalore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE ( GPS Co-ordination   12.142192, 77.089916 ).

The Pillars removed from old mandapa

Thayar Lakshmi & Narayana

The underground room

The inscriptions

The inscriptions

The inscriptions

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Paathaleswarar Temple / Sri Padaleeswarar Temple / பாதாளேஸ்வரர் கோயில் / அரித்துவாரமங்கலம் / Arathaiperumpali / அரதைப்பெரும்பாழி / Haridwaramangalam, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 216^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 99^th sthalam on the south side of river  Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. Now this place is called as Haridwaramangalam.

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva Of Thiru Irumpoolai ( Alangudi ).

பாடும் அரதைப் பெரும் பாழியே முதல் ஆகச்

சேடர் பயில் திருச்சேறை திருநாலூர் குடவாயில்

நாடியசீர் நறையூர்தென் திருப்புத்தூர் நயந்து இறைஞ்சி

நீடுதமிழ்த்தொடை புனைந்து அந் நெடுநகரில் இனிது அமர்ந்தார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

பைத்தபாம் போடுஅரைக் கோவணம் பாய்புலி

மொய்த்தபேய் கள்முழக் கம்முது காட்டிடை

நித்தமா கந்நட மாடிவெண் ணீறணி

பித்தர்கோ யில்அர தைப்பெரும் பாழியே

....... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

                                                -“விரும்பும்

விரதப் பெரும்பாழி விண்ணவர் களேத்தும்

அரதைப் பெரும்பாழி ஆர்ந்தோய்”

...... திருஅருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Padaleeswarar, Sri Paathalavarathar

Consort    : Sri Alangaravalli, Sri Alangara Nayagi

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam and Rishabam are after the Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas are made of Stucco. In sanctum moolavar is swayambhu and there is  shallow / “kuzhi’, is on the Shiva Linga. In koshtam, Dakshinamurthy in a separate sannathi abutting sanctum, Lingothbavar and Brahma.

In the front mandapam Natarajar is with Sivakami, Patanjali and Vyaghrapada, Vinayagar and Murugan ( Little large in size). There are two Utsava vahanas in the mandapam.

In the outer praharam Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Murugan, Chandikeswarar, Bhairavar, Visalakshi, Viswanathar, Mahalingam, Shanieswarar, Chandran, Saptamatrikas, and Natarajar. There is no separate Navagrahas. There are 7 Vinayagars in this temple.

Ambal is in a separate Temple. Since Ambal is of Durga, there is no Durgai in the Koshtam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirugnanasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before 7^th Century. The temple was reconstructed during Chozha Period and further extended during Nayakas / Marata period.

The inscription recorded from this temple belongs to Kulothunga Chozha –III’s 10^th reign year inscription starts with his mei keerthi as Madurai konda, day as Tuesday and Uthrattathi nakshathra – Suthamallivalanattu veNNi... and found damaged. The full details of the inscription are not known. 

LEGENDS

In sanctum moolavar is swayambhu and  there is  shallow / “kuzhi’. on the Shiva Linga, which is believed that Vishnu in the Varaha avatharam excavate this kuzhi to find the feet of Shiva. This legend is associated with the Lord Shiva’s Lingothbavar form. When a conflict raised between Maha Vishnu and Brahma, regarding who is great. Lord Shiva told them that who ever sees first the start and end of him and stood in the form of Column, will be the greatest. Brahma took the Anna bird form and flew to the top to find out the end of Lord Shiva. Where as Maha Vishnu took the form of Varaha avatara started digging / excavating the earth to find out the start point of Lord Shiva. Finally Maha Vishnu  came out  and accepted his failure. To signifies this legend, there was a hole on the top of Shiva Linga, which was closed now. 

Haridwaramangalam means – Hari – Vishnu, Dwaram- excavate the earth ( making a hole - Thulaiyiduthal ), Mangalam – the sacred place.

This is one of the Pancha Aranya kshethras, they are 1. Mullaivana nathar Temple Thirukkarugavur ( Mullai ), 2. Sri Satchi nathar Temple, Avalivanallur ( Pathiri ), 3. Pathaleswarar Temple, Arathaiperumpazhi (Vanni ), 4. Sri Abathsahayeswarar Temple, Thiru Irumpoolai – Alangudi ( Poolai ), 5. Sri Vilvavaneswarar temple, Thirukollampudur ( Vilvam ).

Devotees worships Lord Shiva to remove the obstacles in the marriage,  and Child boon etc. After fulfilling their wishes they used offer new vastras and abhishekam to Lord Shiva and Ambal.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ),  Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Makara Sankranti and Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS 

Mobile and Land line numbers +91 94421 75441 and +91 4374 264 586, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

Bus facility( Town bus Route no 38, ) is available from Kumbakonam via Ammapettai to Haridwaramangalam. 

The temple at Haridwaramangalam is  10 KM from Alangudi,  21 KM from Kumbakonam, 40 KM from Thiruvarur, 55 KM from Mayiladuthurai and 316 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :  CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Aabathsahayeswarar Temple / Apathsahayesvarar Temple / ஆபத்சகாயேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில் / ஆலங்குடி குரு கோயில் / Alangudi Guru Temple, Irumboolai / Alangudi, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 215^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 98^th Sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. Now this place is called as Alangudi. This is one of the Navagraha sthalam ie. Dakshinamurthy sthalam or Guru Sthalam.

In Periyapuranam, Sekkizhar records that, Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirukarukkudi.

தேவர்பிரான் அமர்ந்ததிரு இரும்பூளை சென்று எய்தக்

காவணம் நீள் தோரணங்கள் நாட்டி உடன் களிசிறப்பப்

பூவண மாலைகள் நாற்றிப் பூரணபொன்குடம் நிரைத்து அங்கு

யாவர்களும் போற்றிசைப்பத் திருத்தொண்டர் எதிர்கொண்டார்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.  

சீரார்கழ லேதொழு வீர்இது செப்பீர்

வாரார்முலை மங்கையொ டும்உடன் ஆகி

ஏரார்இரும்பூளை இடங்கொண்ட ஈசன்

காரார்கடல் நஞ்சமுது உண்ட கருத்தே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

நடுநடுங்கா நின்றதுள்ள முனைநம்பினேன்

        நம்பினேன் வட கயிலையாய்

உல்லாச பரமகுரு நாதனே ஆலடியில்

        உறைகின்ற பரதெய்வமே

ஒன்றாகி ஆனந்த உருவாகி என்னுயிர்க்(கு)

        உயிரான பரமசிவமே

..... தட்சிணாமூர்த்தி திருஅருட்பா

                                                        -“வாய்த்த

பெரும்பூகந் தெங்கிற்பிறங்க வளங் கொள்ளும்

இரும்பூளை மேவியிருந்தோய்”

.... திருஅருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Kasi Aaranyeswarar, Sri Aabathsahayeswarar

Consort    : Sri Yelavar Kuzhali

Some of the salient features of this temple  are …

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram and there are many beautiful stucco images on the rajagopuram. “Kalangkaamal kaaththa Vinayagar” sannathi is abutting the Rajagopuram after the first entrance vayil. Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam are in front of the sanctum. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Guru Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In prakaram Vinayagar, Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar, Shiva Lingas, Nalvar, Suryeswarar, Someswarar, Bhairavar, Chandran, Suriyan, Gurumoksheswarar, Somanathasamy, Saptharishinathar, Vishnunathar, Brahmeesar, Agathiyar, Kasi Viswanathar with Visalakshi and Navagrahas. Aakgnaaganapathy, Somaskandar and Natarajar Sabha. Shaniswaran, Sukravara Amman, Vasantha mandapam, Saptamatrikas are alo in the prakaram.

Utsava murtis are Vinayagar, Pradosha Nayagar Chandikeswarar, Sri Bakthar, Chandrasekarar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Kalyana sastha, Adaikalam Thanthaar, Saptamatrikas and Aalayam Aamarnthavar. Utsava Dakshinamurthy s with Sanakathi munivars.

In maha mandapam Nandhi, balipeedam are in cheppu ( Copper ). Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of Maha mandapam.

Ambal sannathi is facing south after the Second stage entrance.  The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and ardha mandapam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Thirunavukkarasu swamigal has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple, the original temple might have existed before 7^th Century. The same was reconstructed during chozha period and further extended during Vijayanagaras / Marathas period.

LEGENDS

Dakshinamurthy is of special and a Guru Parihara Sthalam, hence this sthalam is called as Dakshinamurthy Sthalam  

As per the legend, Devas and asuras churned milk ocean, Maha Vishnu as Koorma ( tortoise ) supported th Meru hill on his back, The Snake Vasuki as rope to get the amirtha. Due to pain Vasuki spitted the poison – Alakala Visham. Before it getting mixed with the Milk ocean, Lord Shiva took and drank the poison. Thus he saved the Devas. Hence this place was called as Alangudi. It is believed that nobody dies due to snake bite in this place. To support the above statements the poem composed by Kalamega pulavar is as given below.

ஆலங்குடியானை ஆலாலம் உண்டானை

ஆலங் குடியான் என்று ஆர் சொன்னார் – ஆலம்

குடியானேயாகில் குவலயத்தோரெல்லாம்

மடியாரோ மண் மீதினில். 

Since Lord Shiva came in the form of swayambhu under the sthala plant ( Vruksha ) – Poolai, this place was called as Irumpoolai. In another version this place is on the banks of river “Poolaivala River”. Hence this place obtained the name of Irumpoolai.

This temple is considered as a parivara temple of ThiruvidaiMaruthur. The others are.1 Thiruvalanchuzhi ( Vinayagar), 2. Thiruveragam ( Murugan), 3. Thiruvaduthurai ( Nandhi – Rishabam), 4. Suriyanar Koil ( Navagrahas ), 5. Senganur ( Chandikeswarar), 6. Thillai alias Chidambaram ( Natarajar), 7. Sirkazhi ( Bhairavar) and Thiruvarur. ( Somaskandar.

This is one of the Pancha Aranya kshethras, they are 1. Mullaivana nathar Temple Thirukkarugavur ( Mullai ), 2. Sri Satchi nathar Temple, Avalivanallur ( Pathiri ), 3. Pathaleswarar Temple, Arathaiperumpazhi (Vanni ), 4. Sri Abathsahayeswarar Temple, Thiru Irumpoolai – Alangudi ( Poolai ), 5. Sri Vilvavaneswarar temple, Thirukollampudur ( Vilvam ).

The legend associated with Andankoil also applicable to this temple also with the change  of name of the Minister. After beheading Minister for parting his good karma earned by constructing a Shiva temple, the King ( Musukuntha Chakravarthi )  worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple to get rid of the Brahmahathi dosha. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

During Aippasi holy water from “Poovalai River” ( may be the present Vettaru River )  will be brought and abhishekam will be done to moolavar. Chariot procession will be conducted for Dakshinamurthy during Brahmotsavam. On Guru peyarchi day, special poojas and homas / Yagnas and on Thursdays are conducted.

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on a 10 days Chitra Pournami brahmotsavam ( full moon days ) in the month Chithirai  ( April – May ), Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept   Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ) and monthly pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs. The timing will change of Brahmotsavam days and Thursdays. 

CONTACT DETAILS 

Land line number +91 4374 269 407 may be contacted for further details.

Temple Web site: http://www.alangudigurubaghavantemple.tnhrce.in/

HOW TO REACH 

This place is on the bus route Kumbakonam to Needamangalam.

The temple at Thiruvirumpoolai / Irumboolai / Alangudi is 8.5 KM from Needamangalam, 10 KM from Andankoil, 18 KM from Kumbakonam, 21.5 KM from Mannargudi, 33 KM from Thiruvarur, 52 KM from Mayiladuthurai and 314 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Siddeswara Temple / Arthanareeswara Temple, Maddur, Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka.

The visit to this temple at Madduru was a part of our Chozha period temples Visit on the ancient trade route from Chamarajanagar to Kollegal ( Gangapadi ), in Karnataka State.  This place was called as Perumaruthur and the same was corrupted to the present name of Maddur. This place was also called as Upendrapuram.

Moolavar: Sri Siddeswara / Arthanareeswara.

Some of the Salient features of this temple are.....

The temple is facing east with a Rishaba mandapa. There are two rishabas under the mandapa. The entrance to the sanctum is from south side with a porch. There are no other idols except Moolavar.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapa. The temple was reconstructed during recent years may be 19^th to 20^th Century. The super structure above the pada bandha adhisthana was reconstructed and the same resembled like a house and windows are also like house windows.

The old Koshta salas are kept on the walls. The Rishaba mandapa was supported by 4 pillars with carvings like dancing girls, Man on elephant, etc. The pillars are supported by Tharanga pothiyal.  The south side entrance porch pillars also has the relief of Gandaberunda and some other reliefs The artha mandapa is supported by vrutha Pillars with Vettu pothigai. The base is of square with nagabandam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the Inscription This place was called as Maddur alias Upendrapura in Padi nad. Lord Shiva was called as Moolasthanamudayar. The original temple was constructed by the Traders during Chozha Period.

This incomplete  record refers to a merchant, Mayilappudaiyar –vadugan Tiruviramesvar Udaiyar. A Certain headman (  Kilan ) of the Village Mangalam who raised this nandi-mandapam also mentioned. ( probably from Thondai Nadu, a part of Chennai ).  

This records the death of makka-mayiletti in a cattle-raid. He was the son of Vira-mayiletti and grandson of Pillaipattattil. Described as the naduvirukkai officer of Anudappu-mudali Vidipparan-Marapon of Perumarudur alias Sri Savanamadevi-chaturvedi mangalam.

This incomplete inscription records a gift fora perpetual lamp to god Isvara-appa  of...

A 963 CE inscription records in faulty Sanskrit mixed up with Kannada, the grant of of the village Maddur whose boundaries are enumerated, to Devasvami by Krishnaraja. The gift was made on the banks of the Tungabhadra. The done was a resident of Jennana and belonged to Kausika gotra.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

Since orukala pooja is conducted the closing and opening times are unpredictable.  

HOW TO REACH:

This place Maddur is on the bus route Chamarajanagar to Kollegal. 26.5 KM from Chamarajanagar, 12.0 Km from Kollegal, 66 KM from Mysore and 156 KM from Bangalore.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE ( GPS Co-ordination   12.0775286,77.0672594 ).

This incomplete  record refers to a merchant, Mayilappudaiyar –vadugan Tiruviramesvar Udaiyar. A Certain headman (  Kilan ) of the Village Mangalam who raised this nandi-mandapam also mentioned. ( probably from Thondai Nadu, a part of Chennai ).  

The symbol of Hoysalas- Gandaberunda

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---