SRI VALEESWARAR TEMPLE ( KAPALEESWARAR TEMPLE ), SEVUR – A KONGU TEMPLES HERITAGE VISIT.

3^rd February 2019.

We planned to close our  3^rd Feb 2019, day’s  Kongu Temples Heritage Visit with Sri Valeeswarar temple at Sevur, since we could not see during previous visits. It was around 16.00 hrs when we reached Sevur and the temple was not opened. A nearby flour grinding shop owner helped us to get the Sivachariyar’s mobile number and called him. We sat in front of the temple, with a decision of visiting inside the temple and go back home. At last around 17.30 hrs the Sivachariyar came and opened the temple. During 13th Century Hoysala King Vira Someswaran period the place was called as Chembiyan Kizhanadi Nallur. 

Presiding deity   : Sri Valeeswarar, Sri Kapaleeswarar

Ambal               : Sri Aram Valartha Nayaki or Araperunselvi

The salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. A Garuda thoon or Deepa sthambam is in front. A bas-relief of Vali worshiping Lord Shiva is at the base of the Deepa Sthambam. The Sanctum sanctorum consists of  Sri Kapaleeswarar, Sri Valli Devanai Subramaniyar and Ambal Aramvalartha Nayaki. All the these main sanctums are in parallel to each other with a common muka mandapam and facing east with palipedam and Vahanas. In Shiva Sannadhi’s  koshtam Dhakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar and Brahma.

In the outer prakaram, sannadhi for Thiruthala Vinayagar, Natarajar Mandapa, Naalvar, Baladhandayuthapani, Saneeswarar, Navagrahas, Kalabairavar, Suryan and Chandran.

As per the legend, the sthalapurana story is related to Vali and Sukreeva. Both meditated and Vali got the boon of getting the half power of his opponent. By killing a Brahmin, Vali got the Bramahathi dhosha / curse. He got relieved after installing and worshiping of Lord Shiva of this temple.

INSCRIPTIONS AND DETAILS:

The temple was reconstructed in the recent years and most of the inscriptions were lost. Only a few that too grounded and letters are not legible. The details of the inscriptions are taken from the inscription book. The original Temple had 12 inscriptions. The inscriptions belongs to 12^th Century Kulothunga Chozho-I & Virachozhan, 13^th Century Virarajendran, Hoysala King Vira Someswaran & Kongu Pandiyar Vira Pandyan and 16^th Century Mysore ViraNanjaiyar. As per the inscriptions moolavar was called as Kapaleeswarar and Ambal was called as Araperun Selvi. During 13th Century Hoysala King Vira Someswaran period the place was called as Chembiyan Kizhanadi Nallur. 

The inscriptions mainly mentions about donation of gold, money, material like pillar ( by Thattan  Sirukooththan maaran), etc, towards burning of Temple Lamps,  Neivethyam, Pooja. The Servant maid Araiyan Valli of Vanavan kokizhaanadikal ( may be from Chera princes ), the wife of Vira Rajendran also donated gold towards burning of Lamp.

The Murugan Sannadhi was built during Virapandyan period and Vinayagar Sannadhi was built during 12^th Century Virachozhan period. A Tiripuranthakar statue was also donated during Virarajendra period.

The Taxes levied on Soola ( Soola a Kannada word means Dhasi ) was removed during Mysore king ViraNiranjaiyar. Also during the Chozha period the caste discrimination exists as Idangai and Valangai.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 19.30 Hrs. Since the timings are not strictly followed, the Gurukkal may be contacted before visiting the temple.

CONTACT DETAILS:

This temple is attached to the Sri Venkatesa Perumal Temple and comes under the Tamil Nadu HR & CE Department Control. The HR&CE’s officer may be contacted on his land line +91 4296 289270 and the Gurukkal mobile number is 90439 67779.

HOW TO REACH:

Sevur is about 8 KM from Avinashi and 48 KM from Coimbatore.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---