SRI AGASTHESWAR & PRITHYANGIRA DEVI TEMPLE, PADUR, NEAR VILLUPURAM, TAMIL NADU

16^th April 2019.

After Ulundandar Temple’s visit our next destination was to Parikal. On the way to Parikal, it was suggested to Visit an old Shiva and a Perumal Temple at Padur.  Since Padur is on the way to Parikal, visited the Shiva temple first and then the Perumal Temple. Local people guide us to this temple if we ask for Prithyangara Devi Temple. 

Iraivan      : Sri Agastheswar

Iraivi         : Sri Abithakusambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with an entrance arch on south side. The temple do not have Rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala and arthamandapam. There is a 2 Pillar mandapam at the south side entrance of main sanctum. The sanctum is on a pathabanda adhistana with virutha kumudam.  A Vesara Vimana is on the sanctum. An Yazhivari is above the Kumudham.  Ambal sannadhi is facing south in the abutting arthamandapam.

In the prakaram sannadhi for Ganapathy, Valli Deivanai samedha Subramaniyar, Kalinga narthanar without kalingan ( snake) and a donar statue. The Prithyangra Devi sannadhi is near to the south side entrance. The Local people Knows more about Prathyangara Devi than Lord Shiva of this temple. On no moon day "Nikumbalaa" Homam will be conducted in which, Red Chilli, fruits and vasthram are offered. 

    

LEGEND: Agasthiyar and Sukrachariyar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. As per the legend, Sukarachariyar was the Kulaguru for the Mabali Chakravarthi. When Vishnu in Vamana avathar was about to get the three feet of land, Sukrachariyar advised Mabali not to give, even after Knowing that Vishnu only came as Vamana. As per the law of Sin, obstructing the giving gift to some one is also a sin.  To get rid of the sin caused Sukrachariyar worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. The stucco image of this sthala purana is on the south side wall of the prakara. Agasthiyar found out this swayambu Shiva Linga, installed  and worshiped. Hence Lord Shiva is called as Agastheeswarar.

INSCRIPTIONS: Paranthaka Chozha-I’s brother and the Rashtrakuda King Kannaradhevan ( to be checked ), Kulothungan-II, Rajarajan-III, Seenatharayan,  and Krishnappa Naikar, who ruled Senji period inscriptions mentions  about the donation of Lands, Villages, differing of Taxes, burning of perpetual lamps.  The Chozha King Kulothunga Chozha donated this Village Padur to Brahmins and called as Chaturvdimangalam.  From the above details, this temple might have been existed before 11^th Century. 14^th to 16^th Century Vijayanagara Nayak period inscriptions are also found on the kumudam, inscribed during renovations/ Thirupani.

Ashtabhandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was held in 1988 in that Kanchi mutt Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamikal also participated.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 09.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

Padur Village is on the  Villupuram to Kallakurichi Road.

The Temple & The village Padur is about 28 KM from Villupuram and 10 KM from Ulundurpet.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Stucco Gajalakshmi

 Sthalapurana

Vijayanagara/ Nayak  period inscriptions

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

SRI ARTHANAREESWARAR TEMPLE, ELAVANASUR / IRAIVANARAIYUR NEAR PIDAGAM & VILLUPURAM, TAMIL NADU

16^th April 2019.

It was planned to visit some of the old temples around Villupuram on 16^th April 2019, during our visit to Koovagam Koothandavar temple Thiruvizha. After reaching Villupuram, First we had been this Shiva Temple at Elavanasur Kottai. The temple is on a rocky place / hill called Thirumalai. Since the temple was built like a fort with Guarding deities on all 4 sides, the place is called as Elavanasur Kottai and moolavar is called in different names.

Iraivan      : Sri Arthanareeswarar, Sri Grama Arthanareeswarar,

                  Sri  Oor Bhagam Kondaruliya Nayanar,

Iraivi         : Sri Brahan Nayaki, Sri Periya Nayagi.

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing west with a 6 tier Rajagopuram built during Vijayanagara period. Ambal Sri Periya Nayagi is in a separate temple immediately after the Rajagopuram facing east. The temple tank and a urchava vavval nethi 100 pillar mandapam is on the left.

The second level 3 tier Rajagopuram was built during Chozha period and inscriptions are found with title.  Palipedam, Dwajasthambam and rishabam are before the second level Rajagopuram. The Raishabam and the Prakara rishabam are facing west in the same direction like moolavar. The sanctum sanctorum consists of a raised level sanctum, antarala and arthamandapam. The vesara vimana is on the sanctum. The terrace of the corridor may be used for circumambulation.

In the koshtam Vinayagar and Dhakshinamurthy. In the prakaram sannadhi for Sani, Nagar, Govinda Raja Perumal, Suryan, Bairavar, Navagrahas, Naalvar, 3 idols of Sapthamathar Group, Vinayagi, Valli Devasena Subramaniyar and west facing Rishabam.

LEGEND:

As per the legend “Deivigan, a Malayaman Chief Killed an asura Karundan, who was Brahmin in his previous birth. So Deivigan got the brahmahatti dhosha. To get rid from the dhosha he performed  sacrifice and gifted  4 neighboring Villages to 400 Brahmins and found  400 more are left out. He got confused and do not know what to do. Lord Shiva in the form a Brahmin appeared before him asked to gift half of this Village to the 400 Brahmins and rest of the half to him. Deivigam does so. On receiving the half village the Brahmin disappeared and reveals himself as Lord Shiva. From this incident Lord Shiva was called as Oor Bhagam Kondaruliya Nayanar ( ஊர் பாகம் கொண்டருளிய நாயனார் )  and the sanskritised version is Grama Arthanareeswarar.

INSRIPTIONS:

From the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called as Oor-Bhagam-Kondaruliya Nayanar / Mahadevar, Oorudaiya Paramesvarman etc. The place was called as Iraivanaraiyur ( Elavanasur may be a corrupted name )  also called as Sri Chozha Kerala Chathurvedhimangalam in Palur Kottam of Miladu Jananatha Valanadu.

The temple has inscriptions from 900 AD to 1500 AD. The inscriptions belongs to Rajaraja-I, Rajendra –I, Uthama Chozha, the son of Chembiyan Mahadevi, Kulothunga –I, Vikrama Chozha, Rajaraja-II & III, Rajadhiraja-II, Kulothunga-II, Pallava King Koperunsingan and Vijayanagara dynasty. One inscription speaks about gift of 132 Cows to burn a perpetual lamp for  killing a person by an another person by  mistake in the process of hunting a boar. Vikrama Chozha’s inscription mentions a gift of land for reciting Thiruchalal from Thiruvasakam composed by Manikavasakar. The other inscriptions speaks about donation of lands and money towards functioning of daily poojas and burning perpetual lamps.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

The place Elavanasur is on the Junction of  Salem to Ulundurpet Highway and Thirukoilure to Asanur ( Vellore to Tuticorin).

59KM from Villupuram, 15 KM from Ulundurpet, 25.5 KM from Kallakurichi.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Ambal Sannadhi

 Brahma sastha

Vinayagar & Vinayagi 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

SRI DURGA VIGRAHA, IIT. MADRAS, CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU.

15^th April 2019.

The place where the IIT Madras  established, was originally belongs to Tharamani and had many temples. After purchase of land by the Armenians and Britishers the people were evacuated and the temples were un attended.  This leads the temples ruined and some were disappeared in the thick forest.

In that the Durga Vigraha is one of them. Now Durga is under a banyan tree in IIT Madras Swimming pool complex. Vigraha was chiseled out of black granite stone. An enclosure was constructed in recent years. Daily poojas are conducted by one Mr Arumugam, a retired employee of Swimming pool.

This Durga Vigraha was referred with Dr Nagaswamy. He is of the opinion that this Durga may belongs to 8^th Century  and may be one of the sapthamathas group.

LOCATION:12.988878, 80.237060

Mr Arumugam who takes care of this shrine and Prof Sampath Kumar
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA--- 

SRI VARASIDHDHI VINAYAKAR TEMPLE & SRI ADHIPUREESWARAR TEMPLE, IIT. MADRAS, CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU.

15^th April 2019.

This Varasidhdhi Vinayakar temple is a part of IIT Madras campus temples, which has many important heritage structures and statues right from the periods of Chozhas, Pandyas and Vijayanagaras and also to the present period. Since we had discussed the details of this place & IIT  Madras Campus in the Sri Jalakandeswarar Temple, IIT Madras’s Post, we will restrict the details of this temple alone in this post. The original post was written by three Alumnus of this institution Arun Ayyar, Harish Ganapathy and Hemanth C after an extensive research. They had interviewed many old timers, Archaeologist Like Dr. Nagasamy and Raj Bhavan authorities. Thanks to  them. I also extend my sincere thanks to Mr Sampath Kumar, Prof of IIT Madras who took me to this temple.

This complex is not like Sri Jalakandeswara Temple, Sri Durgai Peeliamman Temple. The Complex is with two simple separate sannadhis for Sidhdhi Vinayakar and Sri Adhipureeswarar. The rest are installed in the open space

The Complex consists of….

1.   Sri Varasidhdhi Vinayagar.

2.   Bhajana Madam and Tulasimadam

3.   Sri Adhipureeswara Lingam & Rishabam

4.   Sri Kailasanatha Lingam

5.   A Black stone on back side of Rishabam.

SRI VARA SIDHDHI VINAYAGAR

The moolavar is Sri Vinayagar, without any ornamental carvings. In addition to this there is a Urchavar in the sanctum. Experts of the opinion that the moolavar is more than 200 years old. As per the Tharamani Local people, the Sri Siddhi Vinayagar Sannadhi existed from their grand, great great grand father’s period.

BAJANA MADAM & TULASI MAADAM

This Thulasi madam is on the right side of the Sri Vara Sidhdhi Vinayagar Sannadhi. A small madam with Mahavishnu Photo was kept before establishment of IIT Madras. The Thulasimadam was in front of the madam. People used to do Bhajans especially during Tamil Markazhi month. Now the Thulasi madam only exists as a witness of the past and the fate of Bajana Madam is not Known.

SRI ADHIPUREESWARAR SANNADHI WITH RISHABAM

On the left side of Varasidhdhi Vinayagar Sannadhi is the Sri Adhipureeswarar Sannadhi. This swayambu Shiva Linga banam was unearthed from the bushes near Sri Varasidhdhi Vinayagar Sannadhi by the then Security officer Mr T N Venkatraman. During Sri Jalakandeswara Temple’s Kumbhabhishekam in 1966AD Mahaperiyavaa visited this temple and conducted a pooja for this Shiva Linga banam. He instructed to make an avudayar. Due to financial problem Mr T N Venkatraman had done avudayar in concrete. Second time Mahaperiyaa Visited in 1975-76, when Somu Gurukal was  the priest ( now at Dhandeeswaram Shiva Temple who served as a priest between 1976 – 2008 ). Mahaperiyavaa placed his dhandam on Shivalinga and done meditation. After meditation he instructed Somu Gurukal to take proper care of Sri Adhipureeswarar. In 2000AD a copper kavasam was provided on the swayambu banam. The Kavasam will be removed for three days in a year,  during Thirukarthikai and sambarani oil will be applied.

PC: Alumni's  article 

RISHABAM

The rishabam is in front of Sri Adhipureeswarar sannadhi. As per Dr Nagaswamy this rishabam belongs to 8^th Century Pallava period  after examining the distinct hump, short ears and small horns. He also told that this variety of rishabam is called as “Nellore / Ongole Bull” considering the distance between the hump and the tail. The Rishabam was made out of laterite stone. The red in colour was changed to black over a period due to applying oil and abhishekam.

SRI KAILASANATHA LINGAM.

This Shiva Linga is on the back side of Sri Varasidhdhi Vinayagar sannadhi. This Linga was unearthed during excavation for construction of Ganga Hostel. The same was kept at CCW office, before shifting to the present place in 2005AD.

BLACK STONE WITH VIJAYANAGARA AND PANDYA EMBLEMS.

A Black stone is installed on the back side of the Sri Adhipureeswarar Sannadhi rishabam. This stone has some engravings, which are not clear. After taken the estempage  of the engraving Dr Nagaswamy told that the engravings contains a “bull”, the royal emblem of 15^th Century Vijayanagara on the upper portion. On the lower portion contains two fishes and cendu in between. This was the royal emblem of 12^th Century Pandyas.   The engraving also contains a sun and a moon. As per Dr Nagaswamy, this stone may be a boundary stone for the Vijayanagara and Pandya empires.

                                        PC: Alumni's  article 

                          Vijayanagara Emblem PC: Alumni's  article 

                                  Pandya Emblem PC: Alumni's  article 

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is located in the Hostel Zone, behind Tharamani Guest House.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

ARULMIGU SRI DURGA PEELI AMMAN TEMPLE, IIT MADRAS, CHENNAI, TAMILNADU.

15^th April 2019.

This is one of the Village guarding deity / Ellai Amman / Goddess of Tharamani from ancient times. We had seen Peeli Amman temples at Pallipattu and Anbalagan Nagar, Anna Nagar ( Near Bus Tharamani Bus Terminus ) in our previous posts, are part of Tharamani. The place where this Arulmigu Durgai Peeliamman temple exists in IIT Madras was also a part of Tharamani, before establishment of IIT Madras.

Presiding Deity : Arulmigu Sri Durga Peeli Amman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The Temple is facing north. The sanctum was built in octagonal shape with a front open mandapa. In Koshtam Ganapathy, Icha Sakthi, Kiriya Sakthi, Gana Sakthi and Maheswari. In sanctum Arulmigu Durga Peeli Amman is in sitting posture. The Sri Durga Peeli Amman is worshiped as a benevolent goddess with out fierce look. A Soolam, Palipedam and Simha vahanam are in front of the sanctum. The mandapa pillars has the Amman’s Various avathara Stucco images, installed during recent renovations. On the North east corner of the sanctum sanctorum, Navagrahas are installed in a octagonal manadapa. A Ganapathy, Amman and Sri Valli Deivanai samedha Subramaniyar sannadhis are added during the recent renovations.

The Local people follows a ritual called “Kodaikalyanam” in those days, for health issues. After getting cured, the person used to take “Sakthi Karagam” ( a pot filled with water) on their heads and go round the boundaries of Villages Thiruvanmiyur, Kottivakkam, Perungudi, Narayanapuram, Puzhuthivakkam, Velachery and finally ends at Arulmigu Durga Peeli Amman temple. The person would worship Grama Devata of each  village before returning to this Temple. Due to urbanization the authors of the original article could not locate the exact Village.

      

As per the Rajbhavan records this Arulmigu Durga Peeli Amman Temple was mentioned as Ellai Amman. After first Kumbhabhishekam may be during 1965, Punaravardhana Jeeranotharana Ashtabandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was held after renovation on 24^th March 2019. The Kumbhabhishekam was carried out by Sivasri Dr K Pichai Gurukkal, the head priest of Sri Karpaka Vinayagar Temple of Pillayarpatti.

The temple authorities planned to install a Dwajasthambam at a cost of Rs 20 lakhs for which funds are expected from the Devotees.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 06.30 Hrs to 10.00 hrs and 15.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs on Tuesdays, 06.30 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00hrs to 20.00 hrs on Fridays and 06.30 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs on other days.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The temple is being managed by Sri Durga Peeliamman Temple Samajam, Peeliamman Devotees Society  and the land line number is +91 44 22579482.

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is on the Delhi Avenue near Stadium of IIT Madras.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA--- 

SRI JALAKANTESWARA TEMPLE, IIT MADRAS, CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU.

15^th April 2019.

This visit to the temples of IIT Madras was happened on 15^th April 2019. Mr Sampath Kumar, Prof Metallurgy Department, personally came along with me to all the temples. Without him, I wouldn’t be able to cover the temples through unknown routes of the Campus. I extend my sincere thanks to Prof. Mr Sampath Kumar, for his excellent  hospitality and sparing his valuable time in spite his busy schedule.

    

Iraivan      : Sri Jalakanteswarar

Iraivi         : Sri Devi Katyayani.

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with an entrance on east and west side. On the east side entrance, Kalabairavar and Nagars under a Peepal tree. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and a muka mandapam. Palipedam and Rishabam are in front of the open mandapam. On the front mandapam top stucco images of Shiva’s family  ( Shiva Parvathy Ganesh and Murugan ).   Ganapathy and Subramaniyar at the entrance of the sanctum. In koshtam Ganapathy, Dhakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai. Sandikeswarar is in front of Brahma. Ambal Sri Katyayani is on the right side of the main sanctum facing south.

STHALA PURANA: As per the 1986 kumbhabhisheka Souvenir released the text reads as… The story of the Lingam, summarized from the reading of the Kakabujander Nadi, which was with the Raj Bhavan Authorities is as follows.

“There was a Gandharva Kumaran by name of Vanavilangan. While he was passing through the sky, he spotted a lovely lake with a swan on it. He attempted to capture  and take the swan away, but as the swan was goddess “Kali” herself, She cursed Vanavilangan that he would become a stone. The Gandharva Kumaran accepted the punishment but prayed to goddess for redemption. The Goddess relented and commanded him to built a temple and perform penance as stone, until he was redeemed by the touch of holy feet of Thrikala Gnanis and saints. Comforted  by this  blessing of Goddess, he built a temple where Goddess rested and established  a Shivalinga at the foot of which lays as a stone for ages, until he regained his original form. The Lingam was shifted as years passed and once a King ( Hunter ) attained salvation by spotting it. Finally a Brahmin Yogi with great efforts lifted the Lingam and installed on the bank of the lake , where it was subsequently found in 1959. The adi describes the Shivalingam as a composite whole, fusing Lord Jalakanteshwara and Devi Katyayani as one o cognate expression of universal peace, prosperity and glory.”

HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE.

Prior to the establishment of IITM, the Shiva Linga was under a Mandapam with a thatched roof near the lake. Mahaperiyavaa, of Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt, clarified that this Shiva Linga is of more than 500 years old and worshipped by Sri Appaya Deekshidar ( 1520-1593AD), who was an advaita Vedanta scholar who composed the famous Margabandu Stotram and Atmarpana stuti. Maha Periyavaa also asked to check the records of Rajbhavan.

As per the authors of the original article, they had checked with the records of Raj Bhavan. According to the information furnished by the Controller of Raj Bhavan area in 1959, the precincts of  the temple had formed the route from an ancient place of worship in Vedasreni ( Present Velachery) to Thiruvanmiyur and had been frequented  by great saints including Appaya Deekshitar (1520 – 1593AD). Kanchi Kamakoti Peethadhipathi Jagadguru Sri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamiji mentioned that then king performed the Shastiabdapurthi ( 60^th birthday) of Appaya Deekshitar in the temple where the Jalakanteswara Lingam had been present.

The re-construction of the temple was started in 1962 and completed in 1965 ( Vesara style vimana weighs around 300 kg). Kumbhabhishekam was performed on 18^th June 1965 in presence of Kanchi Kamakoti Peethadhipathi Jagadguru Sri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamiji. Sringeri Sharada Peetathipathi Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Swamiji visited on 7^th Nov 1965. Sri Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar Bahadur, Maharaja of Mysore Visited 1965 Kumbhabhishekam. Mahaperiyaa also visited on 20^th Feb 1966. Again Kumbhabhishekam was performed in 1986.

REFERENCE:

The article written by Arun Ayyar, Harish Ganapathy and Hemanth C, alumnus of Indian Institute of Madras in consultation with Kanchi Sankara Mutt, Controller of Raj Bhavan and Dr Nagaswamy. The link to the article Click Here.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Mahaperiyaa also visited on 20^th Feb 1966. 

 Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Swamiji visited on 7^th Nov 1965.

 Sri Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar Bahadur, Maharaja of Mysore

The 1965 Kumbhabhishekam

                                     ---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---