24th February 2019
It was planned to Visit the Temple built during Chozha period in and around Thanjavur. This temple Matcha Pureeswarar Temple is on the way to Thanjavur from Kumbakonam on the South of rivers Kavery and Kudamuruti. This is one of the Thevara Vaipu sthalam and Thiruganasambandar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. It is also believed that Sri Baladevarayan, who composed “Kandha Sasti Kavasam”, belongs to this place. As per the inscriptions this place was called as “Chelur” and “Rajakesari Chathurvedhi mangalam”.
Iraivan : Sri Matcha Pureeswarar
Iraivi : Sri Suguntha Kundhalambigai, Sri Narung Kuzhal Nayaki..
The salient features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with a newly built entrance arch. Palipedam and dwajasthambam are in front of the entrance and dilapidated ( old ) Rajagopuram base. On the right is the Temple like a sannadhi for Ambal Sri Sugundha Kundhalambigai. On the left is the Sthalaviruksham vanni tree with Vinayagar and Nagar. On the back, is the Durgai Amman with 8 hands ( Ashtabhuja ) in a separate sannadhi, facing North.
Ambal sannadhi was built with sanctum, Antarala / arthamandapa and open muka mandapa, facing South. The muka mandapa was built at a latter date. The sanctum was built on a pathabandha adhistana and no inscriptions are found. The Koshtams are empty. In the sanctum Ambal is in standing posture. A Mahameru is in front of Ambal. Who installed mahameru is not known. In the arthamandapam / antarala Rishi / Minis are installed.
The main sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala, Arthamandapam and mukamandapam. At the entrance of Mukamandapa pillars the reliefs of Cow ( Kamadhenu ?) worshiping Lord Shiva on the left and on the right Sri Maha Vishnu as Fish ( Matcha Avathar ) worships Lord Shiva of this temple. In the arthamandapam, sannadhi for Vinayagar and Navagrahas. In the sanctum Moolavar looks cute with Matcham (Fish) worshiping lord Shiva. The Sanctum was built on a pathabandha adhistana with Bhoodhavari, Kabhodham and Yazhi vari on the top. The Yazhi vari has the mixture of elephants also. In the Koshtam Balavinayagar, Dhakshinamurthy ( due to break of hand of the original statue a new Dhakshinamurthy is installed in front ). Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai. A nagara vimana is on the sanctum.
In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Siddhar Pedam Sri Babaji, Saptha mathas, Nalvar Narasimhar ( Simha Vishnu ), Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi, Nardhana Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devani samedha Murugar with six faces as Subramaniyar ( holding Sanghu / conch and Chakkra ), Gajalakshmi, Sandikeswarar, Iyappan, Saraswathy, Anjaneyar, Kala Bairavar, Yoga Bairavar, Saniswarar and Suryan.
As per the legend Mahavishnu took the matcha ( Fish ) avadhar to bring back the 4 Vedhas which are stolen and hidden under the sea by the Demons. In another legend Vishnu in Matcha Avathar saved this earth from the piralayam by keeping on his back. Since this Iraivan Lord Shiva was worshiped by Mahavishnu in the form of Fish, this temple is one of the Parikara sthalam for the “Meena Rasi”. Regular Poojas, Prodhasam, Avani Months pooja in Ashwani Narkshathiram Pancha Murthy procession, etc, are conducted in this temple.
INSRIPTIONS:
It is believed that this temple exists before 8th Century ( Thiruganasamndar Period ). As per the inscriptions and Thiruganasambandar's Thevaram this place was called as “Chelur” and iraivan as “ Thiru Chelur Mahadevar”. Also it is believed that this temple was built by Adhitha Choza-I ( 880 to 907 AD ) as a brick structure and latter rebuilt to stone temple by Paranthaka Chozha –I ( 907- 955 AD). Latter it had the contributions from Vijayanagaras, Nayakas, Hoysalas and Marathas. Kumbhabhishekams were done after renovations during 1928 AD and 2010AD.
There are 55 inscriptions start with Chozhas up to Hoysalas. The inscriptions mainly belongs to Paranthaka-I, Adhitha Chozha, Uthama Chozha, Rajendran, Vira Rajendran, Hoysala King Vira Ramanathan, etc. The inscriptions are inscribed from Adhistanam to top including Kabotham above Bhoodhavari. In one of the inscription it was mentioned as this place land was donated to Thanjavur Hospital ( Adhura salai) by Kundhavai the elder sister of Rajaraja Chozha-I. The other inscriptions speaks about donation of Land, Money ( Black coin, Eezha kasu ( Srilankan Coin – since Srilanka was under Chozha’s Rule. It is interesting to note that a foreign coin was exchanged in Chozha’s country)), for burning of Day and Night Lamps/ perpetual lamps, Pooja, offering to god, to bring 4 pots of water from river Kavery for Lord Shiva’s abhishekam, etc.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 Hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Mr Poyyamozhi may be contacted for further details on his mobile 8870570289 and 9894085435.
HOW TO REACH:
The Place Kovil Devarayan Pettai is a part of Pandaravadai in between Kumbakonam to Thanjuvur bus route and the temple is about 600 meters off the main road. Get down at Pandaravadi Bus stop. Thanjavur is about 22 KM and 19 KM from Kumbakonam.
All route buses from Kumbakonam to Thanjavur stops at Pandaravadai.
Town bus from Kumbakonam route nos 8,7 and 25 are also stops at Pandaravadai.
Through Train get down at Pandaravadai railway Station.
LOCATION:CLICK HERE
Mahavishnu worships Lord Shiva in the form of Fish
Saptha Mathas
Nalvar
Ambal Sannadhi
Inscriptions
Inscriptions on the Kabotham too-- above is the Yazhivari
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
Your great. God is with you stay blessed
ReplyDeletePl indicate other temples nearby, so that people can also have darshan there
ReplyDeleteSure Sir
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