28th April 2019.
Since we had enough time to reach Munnur, as scheduled, after Sri Bhoomeeswarar dharshan at Marakkanam, thought of Visiting the Perumukkal Shiva Temple on the hills, before the sun reaches the top. It was told that climbing the hill with 470 and odd steps, will take just 20 minutes. Steps were neatly paved since the temple is under the control of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ). While climbing up the temperature was favorable to us. On the middle of the steps we could find a Vijayanagara period temple in ruins. The pillars, lintels, roof slabs and even the idols are strewn around. Little above the temple was built inside a fort. Even-though, who built the fort was not known, the ruling power was shuttled between, Hyder Ali & Tippu Sultan and Britishers. The remains of the fort, Vijayanagara Period Temple reminds the wars happened in 1760, 1780, 1783 and 1790. The granite quarrying also done enough damages to the Temple and fort structures. This was stopped now through court order. I sincerely extend my thanks for providing the details.
Iraivan : Sri Mukyachaleeswarar, Mukthiyaleeswarar
Iraivi : Sri Kamakshi Amman ( Base of the hill )
Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The Shiva temple is on the top of the Hill facing east. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, arthamandapam and Mahamandapam. In the mahamandapam palipedam and old & New Rishabams. There are two Shiva lingas Kept in front of the entrance. In the arthamandapam the reliefs of “Periyan Thiruvana Siruthondan” “KakkumNayakan”, and the Archakar “ Thiruchitrambalamudayan Anbarkarasu Pattan”, who are involved in the reconstruction of this temple during Vikrama Chozha period.
The sanctum adhistana is a simple padmabandha adhistana with three face kumuda. The Pilasters has the Thamaraikattu, Kalasam, Kumbam, Palakai, Kandam Pothyal etc. On the Top Boothavari is below the Kabotham is with nasis, but with out kudu. In the boothavari above Dhakshinamurthy koshtam /niche, the sculptures of Seetha in ashoka vanam scene. A Vinayagar idol and a Vijayanagara period Hanuman relief is on the south side wall of outer prakaram. On the top is the Yazhivari. There is no vimana over the sanctum.
A level below on the south side there is a shrine for Sri Anjaneyar with sanctum, antarala and arthamandapam. This Anjaneyar temple was built during Vijayanagara period. The Seetha cave with 7th Century, vattezhuthu inscriptions and more than 6000 years old carvings / petroglyphs are on the east side of the hill.
LEGEND:
Seetha cave… it is believed that Sitha lived in this cave and Lava and Kusha was also born in this cave. Valmiki Maharishi worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple after a severe penance. This hill was also worshiped as Thirumalai, Mukyasailam, Sanjeevi Malai, Ganamalai, etc,.
In 1906 When Kanchi mutt 66th Peedathipathi Sankarachariyar was observing Chathurmasa viradh in this hill temple, he identified Swaminathan alias Sri Chandrasekarenthira Saraswathy Swamikal as 68th Kanchi mutt peedathipathi.
Aasivakam one of the Saiva Bhakthi cult was in peak during 3rd Century. In that one monk called Nandhasiriyan also called Nandhvaacha in Bali language lived here. Since he was an expert in astronomy and Science, he was called as Kaninandhaasiriyan. He worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple and attained mukthi. Hence Iraivan is called as Mukthiyaleeswarar.
HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS:
As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called as Mukthiyaleeswarar, Thiruvanmigai Eswaramudiayar, Perumukkal Udaiyar, etc,. This place was under Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu, Oyma nattu, Vijaya Rajendra Vallanattu Perumukkal alias Gangaigonda Nallur. The historians of the opinion that this name “Gangaigonda Nallur” was given during Rajendran-I’s period after the victory of Ganga region.
The temple has about 60 inscriptions belongs to Chozhas, Pandyas, Kadavarayas, Sambuarayas, Vijanagaras. The earliest inscription belongs to Uthama Chozha ( 970 AD), then Kulothunga Chozha ( 1070 -1122 AD) and Vikrama Chozha. During Vikrama Chozha’s period (1118−35 ), the brick temple was reconstructed as stone temple. Kulothunga Period-II (1148AD ) inscription speaks about sale of land through auction and the money is utilized for burning of perpetual lamp. The inscription also throws light on the measurement scale & procedure. A 12th Century inscription speaks about Munnur Munnutru kudipalli Sengoni Naalaayiravan Ammaiappan aka Samburarayan’s donation towards celebration of annual function / Thiruvizha. From and another inscription, A Land was donated to a servant maid who lost her life to cure the contagious decease of Rajaraja Sambuvarayar. The inscription also records that a group prayer exists during Chozha period.
In 2013 Rs 1 crore was allotted for renovation of Hill and base temples. Since the allotted fund was not sufficient, the work was not carried out.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The opening and closing times are un predictable, so the devotees are advised to contact the pujari before visiting the temple.
CONTACT DETAILS:
The Poojari Sampath 9786064598 and his son Ajith 9159395749 may be contacted for further details.
The following mobiles may also be contacted for further details 9442898395 and 9787703262
HOW TO REACH:
The Perumukkal Hill is about 1 KM off the Tindivanam – Marakkanam main road.
Perumukkal is about 12 KM from Tindivanam & Marakkanam, 42.5 KM from Pondicherry.
LOCATION:CLICK HERE
Kamakshi Amman temple Rajagopuram
The ruined Vijayanagara period Temple and mandapa
Vijayanaga Sculpture - Herdman
Seetha in ashoka vana scene in Bhoothavari.
Anjaneyar Temple
SRI KAMAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE.
The Amman temple is mentioned as “Thirukamakotta Nachiyar” in the inscriptions. The Amman temple is also facing east at the base of the hill. There are two mandapas before the 3 tier Rajagopuram. The base of the Rajagopuram has the reliefs of Hindu deities. On the left inside the Rajagopuram there is a Kotravai Sculpture. In front of the sanctum is the Rishaba mandapa. The sanctum sanctorum consists of a Shiva sannadhi and a Amman sannadhi. Inscriptions are found in Shiva Sannadhis sanctum adhistanam. The total temple, Vimana and Rajagopuram are in dilapidated condition.
Till the 3rd quarter of 20th Century, Lord Shiva Urchavar was taken to the base temple after arthajama pooja for palliayarai pooja and taken to the hill temple for palli yezhuchi pooja. Due to dilapidated condition of Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple, the practice was discontinued.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The time of opening and closing are unpredictable devotees are advised to contact the Archakar before visiting the temple,.
CONTACT DETAIL:
The Archakar 9786260772 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
The Perumukkal Hill is about 1 KM off the Tindivanam – Marakkanam main road.
Perumukkal is about 12 KM from Tindivanam & Marakkanam, 42.5 KM from Pondicherry.
LOCATION:CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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