A Wandering Heritager: SRI ADAVALLEESWARAR TEMPLE, MUNNUR MIDWAY BETWEEN TINDIVANAM & MARKKANAM, TAMIL NADU.

28^th April 2019.

When Mr Manoj asked me to join with them for the temples visit on the route from Marakkanam to Tindivanam, which includes Munnur Shiva and Vishnu temples. Since I didn’t covered any temples in this route, readily accepted to join. Mr Ramesh one of my face book friend, invited us to visit the temples of his native Village Munnur. Even though Mr Ramesh, lives in Chennai, came to Munnur, especially for us, during this temples Visit. After Perumukkal temples visit, we are little late, when we reached the Shiva temple at Munnur.

I extend my sincere thanks to Sri Munnur Ramesh, Dr Ko Uthradam and the trustees of the Shiva and Vishnu temples for their excellent hospitality extended to us

Iraivan : Sri Adavalleeswarar

Iraivi : Sri Brahan Nayaki , Sri Periya Nayaki.

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing South with Palipedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam on a raised platform to match with the height of moolavar under a metacolour sheet canopy. The temple tank is on the right side. The remains of Rajagopuram after the Rishabam. The Sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, arthamandapam, Madhavarayan mandapam ( 16 pillar mukamandapam ), mahamandapam and a front muka mandapam.

The sanctum sanctorum is at an elevated level, since the floor level is maintained from the base of the upanam.( In most of the temples upanam will not be visible). The sanctum adhistanam is a padmabandha adhistanam. The Yazhivarai is just above the pattikai. The sanctum kumudam is virutha style, where as the mandapa kumudam is of three faced one. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dhakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai. Eventhough the temple is facing south, the deva Koshta moorthams are positioned in the clock wise direction from Vinayagra to Durgai keeping Vishnu on the back of the moolavar. On the top of the pilaster pothiyal Bhoothavari, Kabotham with nasi and Yazhivari. The three tier Vesara vimana is above the sanctum.

In the sanctum moolavar is on a round avudayar on a padma pedam and the komugam is on the east side instead of usual north side. In the prakaram sannadhi for Selva Periya Vinayagar ( mentioned in the inscription), Iyappan, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaiyar (Arumugar), Kailasanathar, Eswari, 63var, Urchavars, the remains of Sapthamathar panel ( broken in to three pieces & belongs to 12^th to 13^th century ), Anjaneyar, Suryan, Bairavar, Kamakshi Amman ( facing east wrongly mentioned as Brahan Nayaki ) and Sandikeswarar. Ambal Sri Brahan Nayaki sannadhi in mukamandapam. ( Brahan Nayagi was originally in a separate temple, called Kamakotta Nachiyar, on the east side of the temple. The total with Ambal was destroyed during muslim invasion, a New Ambal with sannadhi was built in the mukamandapam during 1978 Kumbhabhishekam. The damaged Ambal is kept outside under a shed. The pillars are used for reconstruction of the front mandapam. ). Vinayagar and Nagars are under the sthala viruksham Vanni tree. There is a Panel which contains the reliefs of Brahma, Shiva Lingam, Parvathi, Murugan and Narasimha. After analyzing Dr Nagasamy told that the panel was made out of soap stone and belongs to 7^th to 8^th Century. Further he told that the might have existed before 8^th Century.

In the front Mandapam, a statue of Navakandam ( Offering of head to Kali for the well being of the king or get a Victory in the war or to get cure from decease and offering his head to show his bravery) and a Thavvai Thai ( Jyeshta Devi – was under worship up to 11^th Century and latter it was discontinued. The reason is not known ). In one the pillars, a relief of a King, colorfully painted. It was told that this relief may be Rajendra Chozha-I, since the earliest inscription belongs to him. In front of Rajagopuram base there is Statue of Chandran. This Chandran, Jyeshtadevi and Navakanda statues are found out during cleaning of the Temple tank.

LEGEND:

The sthalapuranam was appeared in the 1978 Kumbhabhisheka souvenir, which was a mixture of poem and text. In that it was mentioned as Lord Shiva danced for Sanakatha maharishis and Kulothunga Chozhan for his yeoman service. Hence Lord Shiva is called as Adavalleeswarar. Lord Shiva gave mukthi to the Tharukavana rishis after destroying their egos by taking the form of Pickshadanar. As per HR&CE, when Pandavas are in exile, lived in the place called “Munnutru mangalam”, they worshiped lord Shiva of this temple.

As per the advice of Vishnu, Parvathy came to this place Munnur created a Shiva Linga with neerazhi mandapam ( always to keep cool ) and worshiped Lord Shiva. Shiva gave dharshan to Parvathi with Anandha dhandavam.

Guru Bagavan who is the son of Angirasa Rishi and grand son of Brahma, supposed to be a master of 4 Vedhas, forgotten everything due to ego. As advised by Brahma, Guru came to Munnur, worshiped lord Shiva and regained his powers. So this temple lord Shiva facing south will bless his devotees who are weak in Guru palan and relieve from all illness. Guru Bagavan is Guru for Devars and also one of the Navagrahas. He is also called as Prakaspathi. This Temple is considered as a Parikara sthalam for Guru.

A King by name Adavalli Koothan ruled this place, noticed that the quantity of milk given by the cow was very low. When the same was checked and found the cow mulched on a Shiva Lingam in the forest. Latter the King built a temple on that place.

The place is called as Munnur, since there were 300 temples once it had. Hence called as Munnuru latter corrupted to the present name of Munnur.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS:

The inscriptions mentions Lord Shiva, as Adavalleswarar, Adavallanayanar, Thirumoolasthanamudaya Mahadevar.

The place Munnur was called as Munjoor ( முஞ்ஞூர் ), Rajanarayana Chathurvedhi Mangalam, Purushothama Nallur and Singavananthal. 11^th to 12^th Century, this place was called as Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu Oyma nattu Vijaya Rajendra valanattu Munjoor ( முஞ்ஞூர் ) otherwise known as Rajanarayana Chathurvedhi mangalam.

During Sadayavarman Vira Pandyan’s period the place Vizhuvur was changed as Adavalla Kootha Nallur.

During Rajendran-I’s, period,

A place called “Kidaram Konda Chozhan Salai”- in this as per experts, we may take it as Choultry for feeding food, or a School or Coin printing place, or a horpotal ( athura salai).
An inscription mentions donation of 120 Saava moova peradu in which 90 for Ghee and 30 for buttermilk to the Chathur Vedha Brahmins. ( Saava moova peradu – sheep or Goats, the goats will be given after some time if the goats gives birth the baby goat to be surrendered to the Temple and incase any one dies the temple will give one. This means at any point of time the quantity will be maintained as given )

During Kulothunga-II ‘s, period,

A merchant by name Thamaiyan Ennayiravan bought a land of 200 kuzhi in exchange of gold from the temple and created a street called Merchant street ( வாணிபர் தெரு ).
One by Ganamurthy pattan donated a land in which the channel feeding water name is mentioned as abimana meru.
Thirukoyilur Eran was killed accidently by the son inlaw of Meekama Pallavarayan. As a punishment he gave 500 kuzhi land for burning of perpetual lamp in this temple.
For celebrating special poojas like Thaipoosam, Maha Shiva Rathri, Solar Eclipse day, No moon day, Kiruthikai day, Avani Thirunal, rice was offered as neivedhyam to this temple.

During Rajaraja-II’s, period

Chengony Ammaiyappan Seeyan Rajanarayan Sambuvarayan in the name of Ethirika narayan, allocated taxes towards construction, renovation and maintenance of prakaram.

During Kulothunga –III, period….

Sirupadi Village also called as Kulothunga Chozha Nallur was gifted to this temple.
Samandan Adhiyaman raised a stone wall with door in Madhavaraya mandapam and sopana mandapam in front of Dhakshinamurthy Devakoshtam. He also done Kumbhabhishekam to the moolavar vimanam after renovation and excavated a well for the Lord Shiva’s thirumanjanam.
Iraiyur Balakannan Kaman bought a land from the temple and the money he spent for clearing the Periya Eri of Munnur.

The inscriptions mainly speaks about donation of land, gold, money, sheep, goat, cow, etc, towards burning of perpetual lamps, daily poojas, annual celebrations ( Thiruvizha) like Chithirai Thiruvizha, Avani Thiruvizha, Karthikai thiruvizha, Masi thiruvizha and pounami pooja etc,. The food offered to Lord Shiva like Arisi amuthu ( rice ), thayirmuthu ( curd rice ), Neiyamuthu ( ghee rice), Kariamuthu ( vegetable rice) are also mentioned in the inscriptions.

During 1968, Mambalam Viyaragavalu Reddy, came for worship. At that time the temple was in dilapidated condition. In that night Shiva ordered him to reconstruct the temple in his dream. He told this to Kanchi Mutt Maha Periyavaa. They visited the temple in 1969. On seeing the ruined condition of the temple Mahaperiyava asked Reddy to start the renovation immediately and gave Rs 1121, as Kanchi Mutt’s share towards renovation. Sri Kirubanda Variyar also contributed some amount from the money received through discourse. Sri-la Sri Siddhar Sivanandha Swamikal Konikatti Swamikal also called as Mouna swamikal worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. After 10 years of hard work the Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 19^th June 1978.

TEMPLE TIMINIGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Archakar Seetharam Sivam may be contacted on his mobile 8098899927 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

Munnur Village is about 3.1 KM off from Tindivanam to Marakkanam main Road. The Bus stop name is Alanguppam.

Alanguppam bus top is 18.4 KM from marakkanam, 19.3 KM from Tindivanam Railway Station and 36 KM from Pondicherry through Brahmadesam.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE