SRI PANCHAMUKHA ANJANEYAR TEMPLE, THARAMANI, CHENNAI.

15^th January 2019.

When I was searching an old Shiva Temple in Tharamani area on 15^th January 2019, I came across this Temple built like a 3 storied flat with small gopuras on the top with saffron flags. For almost 5  and odd years I used to travel on this Yerikarai street to reach my office, not went inside the this temple. To day I had the opportunity of visiting this temple.

The presiding deity : Sri Panchamukha Anjaneyar.

The Anjaneyar is in kneeling position with his right knee touching the ground. The Faces are Hanuman, Narasimha, Garuda, Varaha and Hayagriva. Anjaneyar has 10 hands holding weapons Kumbh, Soolam, axe, chakra, Sword, Shield, Thanda, and a pot. Lower right hand in abhaya hastha and left hand holds a curved knife.

The temple is being maintained by the Bhakti Vedanta Trust, having it’s headquarters at Bhadrak, Orissa, but conducts programs throughout India. This Bhaktivedanta Ashram was founded by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada  for the purpose of propagating sanadana dharma as taught by Lord Krishna. The main activities of the ashram includes distribution of food to the poor and educating people in general public in the understanding of Spiritual life. The Ashram believes that if physical hunger is removed, then it will be possible for the mankind to focus internally towards spiritual advancements.

His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhubada was born in 1896 in Calcutta and got initiated by his Guru Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Goswami in 1922. From 1950 Swamiji retired from his married life and stayed at Vrindavan. He took Sanyasa in 1959 and began his work on Bhagavatham and written spiritual books based on Bhagavatam. He travelled may countries. Swamiji was the instrumental in establishing the International Society for Krishna Consciousness,  more than one hundred ashrams, schools, temples, institutes and farm communities. Swamiji attained siddhi in 1977.

The temple is being manaaged by a Canada national by name Parkar who changed his name as Nithaidass. The Anjaneyar Sannadhi is in ground floor where as the madapalli / kitchen is in the first floor and the persons who does the pooja are in second floor.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple timings are 05.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Mobile number 8300181008 may be contacted for further details.

e-mail address : bvashram@gmail.com

HOW TO REACH:

About 500 meters from Tharamani Link Road on Yerikarai street

About 500 meters from Tharamani bus station ( Town bus route no 5C).

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

SRI SIVA SUBRAMANIYA SWAMY TEMPLE, ALANDUR, CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU

15^th January 2019.

While I was grazing the Kanchipuram District Inscriptions, happened to see a Kamba Varman's period inscription in Sri Siva Subramaniya Swamy temple at Alandur. Thought that the temple may belongs to Pallava period and decided to visit this temple on 15^th January 2019, Thai Pongal Day. It was not so hard to locate the temple and a disappointment too.

Presiding deity: Sri Siva Subramaniya Swamy

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with a Temple pond in front. The Rajagopuram  is of 5 tiers. Palipedam, Dwajasthambam and Peacock vahana are immediately after the Rajagopuram, under a concrete mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum for Sri Vinayagar, Sri Kasi Viswanathar, Sri Siva Subramaniyar,Sri Visalakshi, constructed in U shape.

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for an Amman, Shiva lingam, Raghu, Kethu, Krishna with Radha & Rukmani, Bhaktha Anjaneyar, Bairavar, Veerabathirar. In the front Mandapa on 4 sides (top), stucco statues of Arupadai Veedu sthala puranam.

Looking at the artha mandapa, the temple may belongs to Vijayanagara Nayak Period. But there is an inscription stone laid as a step stone of the Rajagopuram. Only a part is visible now and the major portion was  worn out  due to walking on the inscriptions. The inscription  message is .. The inscription stone belongs to Mangadu Village. There was a Jain School during Kamba varman ( 875 AD) 5^th year rule.  The  Arcot section ( kootram ) Parisai, Village Headman’s daughter and the Jain’s school Teacher Ananda Veera Kuravar’s Student by name “Adigal” donated 60 kaadi paddy  for the students food/ meals and a plate weighing 30 palam. How and when this 9^th Century inscription stone came here is not known. The inscription was identified by Mr K Sridharan and Mr Ramachandran, from Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department. 

There is a history behind the Temple tank / pond also. The pond was dug during 1881. For excavating this pond the fund was aided by a British Major  J.B. Taylor Cant. Magistrate of Mount.  A Bore-well was also drilled by a Jain Lady K Kanchan Devi Jain & Rajan in 2009. In addition to this there is a Sri Sachithananda Harihara Bhajan Madam just opposite to this temple, which as established in 1890 AD.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.   

HOW TO REACH:

About 2 KMs from Guindy Railway station and about 1,5 KM from Guindy MKN Road  Bus terminus.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 The Pallava period inscription stone used as a step stone 

 The Pallava period inscription stone used as a step stone 

 British period inscription for the construction of Temple Tanks

 Borewell donation inscription  

A Bhajan madam adjacent to Temple tank started in 1895

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

SRI SIVA SUBRAMANIYA SWAMY TEMPLE, ALANDUR, CHENNAI

15^th January 2019.

While I was grazing the Kanchipuram District Inscriptions, happened to see a Kamba Varman's period inscription in Sri Siva Subramaniya Swamy temple at Alandur. Thought that the temple may belongs to Pallava period and decided to visit this temple on 15^th January 2019, Thai Pongal Day. It was not so hard to locate the temple and a disappointment too.

Presiding deity: Sri Siva Subramaniya Swamy

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with a Temple pond in front. The Rajagopuram  is of 5 tiers. Palipedam, Dwajasthambam and Peacock vahana are immediately after the Rajagopuram, under a concrete mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum for Sri Vinayagar, Sri Kasi Viswanathar, Sri Siva Subramaniyar,Sri Visalakshi, constructed in U shape.

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for an Amman, Shiva lingam, Raghu, Kethu, Krishna with Radha & Rukmani, Bhaktha Anjaneyar, Bairavar, Veerabathirar. In the front Mandapa on 4 sides (top), stucco statues of Arupadai Veedu sthala puranam.

Looking at the artha mandapa, the temple may belongs to Vijayanagara Nayak Period. But there is an inscription stone laid as a step stone of the Rajagopuram. Only a part is visible now and the major portion was  worn out  due to walking on the inscriptions. The inscription  message is .. The inscription stone belongs to Mangadu Village. There was a Jain School during Kamba varman ( 875 AD) 5^th year rule.  The  Arcot section ( kootram ) Parisai, Village Headman’s daughter and the Jain’s school Teacher Ananda Veera Kuravar’s Student by name “Adigal” donated 60 kaadi paddy  for the students food/ meals and a plate weighing 30 palam. How and when this 9^th Century inscription stone came here is not known. The inscription was identified by Mr K Sridharan and Mr Ramachandran, from Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department. 

There is a history behind the Temple tank / pond also. The pond was dug during 1881. For excavating this pond the fund was aided by a British Major  J.B. Taylor Cant. Magistrate of Mount.  A Bore-well was also drilled by a Jain Lady K Kanchan Devi Jain & Rajan in 2009. In addition to this there is a Sri Sachithananda Harihara Bhajan Madam just opposite to this temple, which as established in 1890 AD.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.   

HOW TO REACH:

About 2 KMs from Guindy Railway station and about 1,5 KM from Guindy MKN Road  Bus terminus.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 The Pallava period inscription stone used as a step stone 

 The Pallava period inscription stone used as a step stone 

 British period inscription for the construction of Temple Tanks

 Borewell donation inscription  

A Bhajan madam adjacent to Temple tank started in 1895

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

KONGU NADUKARKAL ( KONGU HERO STONES - VEERAKALLU ), PULIKUTHI SATI STONE, DOLMEN, MENHIR – A PART OF KONGU HERITAGE VISIT

06^th January 2019.

It was planned to visit  some pre historic period heritage monuments  like Menhir, Dolmen and 16^th Century Hero stone, Pulikuthi Sati memorial Stones of Kongu Nadu on the way to Avinashi from Gobichettipalayam Via Nambiyur and Sevur on 06^th January 2019. During our visit the temples at Malayapalayam, Mondipalayam and Alathur constructed during Kongu Chozhas period are also included. 

  

PULIKUTHI SATI STONE At SEVUR –POLICE STATION.

This Pulikuthi sati stone is erected inside the Sevur Police Station. As per the Lady inspector, it was unearthed near the Perumal Temple and the same was shifted and installed in the present place.

This pulikuthi sati stone is a 3 tier Nadukal. In the first tier the hero is killing the Tiger by shooting an arrow. His wife who took sati by jumping in the funeral fire after her hero husband’s death is standing on the right side of the hero, holding a kattar like a weapon on her right hand. The bottom tier is not fully visible. In the second tier Both hero and wife are taken to the heaven by the deva kanniyars. The deva kannis holds the hands of the hero and his wife in one hand and whisk/ samaram on the other hands. In the third tier the Pulikuthi hero with his wife are in sitting posture and worshiping Lord Shiva. Shiva Linga and Rishabam is also shown to signify that hero was a Saivaite. 

HERO STONE AT MOTTANAM

This hero stone is on the left side of the main road near Karuppa Swamy Temple at Mottanam. The Village is on the way to Gobichettipalayam  from Avinashi. This hero’s head is turned to his left side holding a kattar in his right hand and bow  in the left hand. A half dress is shown from his waist. Since the place Mottanam is  near Gobichettipalayam must be land with vegetation for gracing cattle. It was a practice in those days to steel the cattle of one group by the other group. The hero might have died in the process of recovering the cattle stolen by the other group.

   

DOLMEN AT MALAYAPALAYAM

Like today’s burial of the deceased, this is the prehistoric stone age burial. During stone age it was started with marking of burials by placing stones around, called cairn circles. Latter the deceased are buried in a pot and kept at the centre  called cist. Then 4 slab stones are erected around the cist with a cover stone slab. When it is erected above the ground is called as Dolmen.

The dolmen at Malayapalayam is  on the North side of Sri Muthu Velayutha Swamy, Ayyanar and Veeramathi Amman Temples, in the midst of the field. The west side of the side wall is missing now. The Dolmen is about 6 feet high, 6 feet in length and 4 feet in width. This dolmen is under worship. It was told that some more will be there around this dolmen.

MENHIR – A SHIVA TEMPLE BEFORE POTHAMPALAYAM.

This menhir is in a shiva Temple on the left side of the main road from Sevur to Nambiyur before Pothampalayam. On seeing the  temple’s structure, thought the temple must be very old. We happened to see a stone standing in between Shiva and Ambal temple. As per the experts this stone is a menhir. This menhir is about 4 feet high and 1.5 feet width. This Menhir may belongs to stone age period 3000 to 1800 BC.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

SRI KASTHURI RANGANATHA PERUMAL TEMPLE, ERODE, TAMIL NADU – A PART OF KONGU TEMPLES.

06^th January 2019.

During my last Visit to Sri Arudra Kapaleeswarar Temple, Could not see this Sri Kasturi Ranganatha Perumal Temple, since the temple was closed. So this time, after visiting Sri Mahimaleeswarar Temple, visited this temple also before boarding train to Chennai.

Moolavar : Sri Kasthuri  Ranganatha Perumal

Thayar    : Sri Kamalavalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing south with a Deepa sthambam / Garuda thoon. The 5 tier Rajagopuram is in front. The sanctum sanctorum is about 3 feet above the ground level. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, arthamandapam and a mukamandapam. The entrance steps are on both sides of the mukamandapam. Dwajasthambam, Palipedam and Garudalwar are in the muka mandapam. The Sanctum is in rectangular shape to accommodate Sri Renganatha Perumal's Sayana kolam on Adhi sheshan. Dwarabalakas Jayan & Vijayan are on the east wall of the sanctum. Lord holds Brahma on the left hand, Sridevi ( near the head ) and Bhoodevi ( near the feet ) are in front of Sri Ranganatha Perumal facing each other. Perumal is placing his right hand on Durvasa Maharishi’s head. Since the sanctum is in rectangular shape the vimanam is also in rectangular shape like Rajagopuram. The Mukamandapa top has the yazivari with stucco image of Sri Ranganatha Perumal.

Thiruvenkadamudayan Sannadhi, Venugopala Swamy, Palliyarai are in the arthamandapam. In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Chakkarathalwar, Sri Kamalavalli Thayar ( facing east ), Sri Lakshmi Hayagirivar, Dhanvandhiri, Visvaksenar, Ramanujar, Alwars, Andal, Sri Patham with a 4 pillared mandapam and Anjaneyar.

As per sthala purana, Durvasa maharishi went to Vaikund after a long delayed time. He was stopped by Vaikunda Dwarabalakas Jayan and Vijayan. Durvasa got angry and cursed them to born in the earth. When the dwarabalakas requested to show mercy on them to get rid of this curse. Durvasa gave them two choice. one Born as friends in 5 births or two born as enemies in 3 births before returning to Vaikunda. The dwarabalakas Jayan & Vijayan choose the option 2. So they born as Hiranyajksha & Hiranyaksipu, Ravana & Kumbakarna and Kamsa & Sisupala and were killed by Lord in each birth.  

As per another stalapurana, a pregnant woman offered Kasthuri ( herbal medicine ) for safe delivery to Lord. From then on-wards Lord Ranganatha is called as Kasthuri Ranganatha Perumal. This practice is not continued now.

From the inscriptions inscribed on the adhistanam, the temple belongs to 10^th Century. The Thirubuvana Chakravathi Veerapandyadevar, ganted Moovendrachola Chathurvedhimangalam to this temple moolavar Pallikonda Nayanar. Another inscription mentions Perumal as Pallikondaruliya Perumal and Erode as Poonthurai Nattu Kanchithundathu Erode. 

Another inscription mentions that the temple mandapas were renovated by Chinna Murari Naikar son of Kondamalli Vengayya Naikar and Lakkapuram Muthukumara Gounder. An inscription tablet erected at the left entrance of the mandapam speaks about paving of prakara ie Circumambulatory pathway with Cuddappa stone by Chinnathayammal wife of mandi  E Venkata Naikar ( EeVeRa Periyar – the leader of Dravida Kazhakam and who was against  worshiping of Hindu Gods ) Son of Thamma Naikar and her aunt Chennammal. The amount gifted was from their savings as “siruvattu panam” which means, the balance money of the purchase of groceries is saved for a long period.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The land line may be contacted for further details 0424 2267578

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is just in front of Arudra Kapaleeswarar Temple.

About 3 Km from Erode Railway Junction and 4 KM from Erode Bus stand.

A walk able distance from Peria Mariamman Temple.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Sri Patham with a 4 pillared mandapam

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

SRI MAHIMALEESWARAR TEMPLE, ERODE, TAMIL NADU – A PART OF KONGU TEMPLES.

06^th January 2019.

Visit to this temple was a part of  Kongu Temples Heritage visit organized on 6^th  January 2019. Coupled the visit along with the Kulatheivam temple dharshan. Before boarding on train to Chennai visited this Temple.

Iraivan : Sri Mahimaleeswarar

Iraivi    : Sri Mangalambigai

Some of the important  salient features are…

The Temple is facing west with a three tier Rajagopuram. The sanctum Sanctorum consists of a sanctum antarala and Arthamandapam.  Rishabam, Palipedam and dwajasthambam are in the muka amndapam.  The gopuram above the sanctum was renovated in the recent years. Lot of Sudhai images were added during renovation. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dhashinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.  In the arthamandapam, sannadhi for Vinayagar, Bala Dhandapani and Ambal sannadhi.

In the prakaram sannadhi for  Saraswathy, Veerabathirar, Saptha mathas, 63var, 12 Shiva Lingas, Ganapathy, Subramaniyar, Bairavar, chandran, Suryan and Sandikeswarar.

As per the History it is believed  to  be built by Kodumbalur Irukku Velir’s one of the descendant, Mahimalaya Irukkuvel Paranthaka Veera Chozhan ( 940 to 980 AD ). He was a Chieftain with Paranthaka Chozha and also acted as a 1^st King of Kongu Chozhas of Kongu region.

Before Chozha Kingdom the Kongu region was an independent country. Chozha King Adhithan ( 870 – 907 AD)  captured Kongu and delegate the power of ruling and also allowed them  for naming themselves  with Chozha king’s names like Rajendran, Vikrama Chozha, etc,. Hence they were  called as Kongu Chozhas.   Even-though it is believed that Irukku Velir King Veera Chozhan, built the temple, experts of the opinion  that the temple might have existed before 10^th Century ie between 08^th to 9^th Century by the early Chozhas.

As per the legend the demons Mali, Sumali and Makima constructed the temple, hence Lord Shiva was named after the Asuras. Since moolavar is larger than the doors width, it was assumed that this temple was built by the Asuras,  in the contrary if the Linga is smaller than the door then the temple might be built by Devas and if both are equal then the temple might have been built by Human beings.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is situated in the middle of the city and close to Panneer selvam Park.

The temple is about 3.5 KM from Erode bus Stand and 2 KM from Erode Railway Junction.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Sudhai Sirpams were added on the original Vimana

Sudhai Sirpams were added on the original Vimana 

 Sudhai Sirpams were added on the original Vimana

                       Old Photographs PC: Mrs Sakthi Prakash

 Old Photographs PC: Mrs Sakthi Prakash 

Old Photographs PC: Mrs Sakthi Prakash

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---