SRI MANNESWARAR TEMPLE, ANNUR ( ANNIYUR ) IN TIRUPPUR DISTRICT – A KONGU TEMPLES HERITAGE VISIT

3^rd February 2019.

Unexpected events were happened in this Kongu Temples heritage Visit. It was around 14.00 hrs, when we reached Annur, Shiva temple. To our surprise the main entrance was kept half opened and cleaning was in progress. When we asked to see at least out side of the sanctums and inscriptions, we are allowed to do so with the restriction of taking photography. This place is also called as Then Kalathi and Metralai Thanjavur.

Presiding deity   : Sri Manneswarar

Consort             : Sri Arunthava Selvi

The Salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing west with a 7 tier Rajagopuram. A Garudathoon is in front. Palipedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are immediately after the Rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala, arthamandapam and a open mukamandapam. In koshtam Dhakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar and Brahma. The Koshtamoorthams are added at a latter date. A mandapa was built  in front of Dhakshinamurthy to form a separate sanctum. The adhistana is with Jagathi, three face kumudham and yazhi vari  and below the vimana Yazhivari and kabotham.

In the prakaram sannadhi for Ambal Arunthava Selvi ( also facing west direction ), Chandran, Suryan, Piradhana Ganapathy, 63var, Nagars, Pancha Lingas.

As per the legend, This place was once a beet / tapioca forest ( Valli Kizhangu ). Hunters used to dig out the same for eating. A Hunter by name Annai, in the process of  digging his crowbar hits the Swayambu Shiva Linga under the earth. Blood was oozed out. After hearing this the Chera King  also tried to pull out through elephant assuming that it must be a big beet or Tapioca. Shiva appeared in the form of thunderous cloud and told that he is under the earth. The Chera King and the Hunter Anni prayed Lord Shiva for pardon.  The Chera king built a temple at this place and the place was called in the name of hunter Anni and latter corrupted as Annur.

INSCRIPTIONS AND DETAILS:

There are 41 inscription in this temple. The inscriptions belongs to  Kokalimoorka Vikrama Chozhan ( 1004.. 11^th Century), Kulothunga Chozha –I and II ( 12^th and 13^th century ), Virarajendra Chozha (13^th Century ), Vikrama Chozha – II & III ( 13^th Centuey ) and Hoysala King  Veera Vallalan ( 15^th Century ).

The inscriptions mentions this place as Vada parisara Nattu Manniyur, Vikrama Chozha Valanattu Mathuranthaka Chathurvethi mangalam, and kuzha mangalamana Virapandyanallurana Manniyur ( Pandya Rule ). A 11^th Century an incomplete Vattezhuthu inscription on the south wall mentions this place as ‘’paampuni kootraththu pazhaiyatru manikka…“

Donations were made in terms of Gold, money, land, land with well and trees, grains, groceries, Ghee, Oil to this temple for daily pooja, Neivethyam, conducting functions, burning of lamp  and perpetual lamps in the temple and   to feed poor & Sadhus ( Thesanthirs – purampokku ). The place where the food was served is mentioned as Thiruganasambandar madam. The account of Lamps donated as – existing 114 and additions 15 and total 129 is also inscribed.

It is understood that upper caste and lower caste ( idangkai & Valangai ) exists in 11^th … 12^th Century itself.

An Interesting inscription of Kongu Pandyas: A Kongu Pandiya Sundara Pandya’s 6^th year rule inscription stone –soolakal-- installed in a field  at Kariyagoundanur about 5 KM away from Annur  mentions that field land  was donated to this Shiva temple. The inscription mentions this place as “Kuzha mangalamana Virapandya Nallurana Manniyur”.

Since the inscriptions available are from beginning of 11^th Century, the temple might have existed from 10^th or 9^th Century.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The land line 04254 262450 and mobile 98422 38564 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The place Annur is 20 KM from Sevur, 23 KM from Mettupalayam, 35 KM from Tiruppur and 20 KM from Avinashi.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Ambal sannadi

 63var

The fate of donors

 A Vikrama Chozha inscription

The Vattezhuthu inscriptions

An Interesting inscription of Kongu Pandyas: A Kongu Pandiya Sundara Pandya’s 6^th year rule inscription stone –soolakal-- installed in a field  at Kariyagoundanur about 5 KM away from Annur  mentions that field land  was donated to this Shiva temple. The inscription mentions this place as “Kuzha mangalamana Virapandya Nallurana Manniyur”. Thanks to the Land Lord and the Shop owner, who showed us this soolakkal, and in the inscription book it is mentioned as Kuththukkal" Location : CLICK HERE ( 11.270597, 77.085038 )

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---