24th August 2019.
The Visit to this Penneswaraswamy / Pennai Nayanar temple at Penneswaramadam was a part of Heritage walk to the Temples, Hero stones ( Nadukarkal – Veerakallu ) and Rock arts in & around Kaveripattinam in Krishnagiri District. The temple is on the South bank of river Then Pennai.
How the phrase madam was added to Penneswaramadam is not known. The 13th century inscriptions mentions about the existence of “Cheraman Perumal Madam”. Perhaps this “Madam” may be added to Lord Shiva’s Name for this temple. During Chozha period this place Penneswaramadam was in Nigarili Chozhamandalathu Vijayarajendra Chozha Thagadur Nattu Pennai Thenkarai Paiyur patru ( Paiyur was also one of the division in Chozha period as nadu )... Penneswaramadam.
How the phrase madam was added to Penneswaramadam is not known. The 13th century inscriptions mentions about the existence of “Cheraman Perumal Madam”. Perhaps this “Madam” may be added to Lord Shiva’s Name for this temple. During Chozha period this place Penneswaramadam was in Nigarili Chozhamandalathu Vijayarajendra Chozha Thagadur Nattu Pennai Thenkarai Paiyur patru ( Paiyur was also one of the division in Chozha period as nadu )... Penneswaramadam.
Iraivan : Sri Penneswarar / Pennai Nayanar / Penneswaraswamy
Iraivi : Sri Vedanayaki ( Thiru Kamakottamudaiyar )
Some of the Salient features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with an entrance 7 tier Rajagopuram on the south side. The details of the Hero stones installed in front of the temple will be written separately. Nagars are under banyan trees. Entrance arch is also on the south side. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, arthamandapam and a mukamandapam. Sri Sankadahara Gananpathy ( Facing the south entrance of the Sanctum sanctorum ) and Nandhi are in Arthamandapam. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dhakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.
In prakaram Nalvar with Sekkizhar, Sapthamatrikas, Seetha Ramar & Lakshmanar with hanuman, Vinayagar, Arputha Linga, Ananda Linga, Mangala Langs, Iswarya Linga, Poorna Linga, Sri Valli Devasena Arumugar ( In standing posture ), Bhairavar ( Naga Bhairavar – without Dog ), Nandhi balipedam, Sandikeswarar and Kulothunga Chozha-III.
ARCHITECTURE:
The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple pathabhanda adhisthana with jagathi and three patta kumuda. A 3 tier Vimana is over the sanctum. The Arthamandapa pillars are of cylindrical ( Vrutha ) type. The Prakara sannadhis are on a raised platform.
HISTORY & INSCRIPTION:
There are about 40 inscriptions recorded in 1973 and published by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology. The Kulothunga Period 1188AD inscription is the earliest. Hence it may be assumed that the temple might have constructed during his period. The inscriptions belongs to Chozhas, Kulothunga Chozha-III ( 1188AD, 1206AD…) and Rajaraja-III ( 1233AD), Hoysalas Veera Ramanathan ( 1295AD), Someswaran and Viswanathan ( 1208AD), Nulamba King Mathuranthaka Nulamban ( 1344AD) and Vijayanagaras Virupaksharayar ( 1476AD), Veerakampa Wodayar and Pukkurayar ( 1410) and an 18th century inscription also available.
The inscriptions mainly speaks about donations of Gold, lands ( Kandaka – a measure ), cows, Articles like Lamps ( with weight like 800 palam ), reservoir ( Eri ), etc, towards burning of perpetual lamps, regular poojas and Neivethiyam offered to Lord Shiva. The Chozha King Rajaraja-III’s queen and Vanakovaraiyan’s daughter Koothadunthevar Nachiyar directly donated 10 Cows & a Rishaba towards burning of perpetual lamp to this temple and this inscription ends with a Chozhas Tiger Symbol. The Villages like Paroor, Kooththandankuttai, Kandaka Kazhani, Paiyur etc, are mentioned in the inscriptions.
One of the inscriptions mentions about renouncing of doing pooja for 6 days to Seemakeswara Battan by Vidukathan. A 13th Century inscriptions mentions that a “Cheraman Perumal Madam”, this indicates that a Thevara School may be functioning and land belongs to Nagakandakanputhur was donated to this madam.
A 13th Century Hoysala King Vira Raramanathan’s Period inscription is considered as an important one, since, if any person doing Soru venduthal ( The word சோறு வேண்டுதல் used in this place is a begging for a cooked food is also treated as a crime ), or obstruction to the gifts/ donations in Penneswaramadam or in the Villages gifted to Sri Pennai Nayanar will be beheaded or slice his head on his own (Navakanda ) and the severe punishment will be given to the officer and the Accountant.
Kulothunga Chozha-III ( 1208AD ), inscription mentions that Sandeswarar was installed along with a donation of land by Jayangondan Mallan on behalf of his son Erandai. A 14th Century inscription is in the form of Venba song which resembles like Sri Adi Sandeswarar himself is speaking about celebration function of 6th day of Chithirai festival by a devotee of Kathari Village.
An 18th century inscription mentions that the mandapa ceiling was paved by a Vellappa Nadan Mecheri Kandan Kanda Chetty. A Vijayanagara period 13th Century inscriptions mentions of the places like Thamal Village near Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram, Sathurangapattinam, Kovalam, Thanda malai, Aanaikundhi, etc which are faraway from Penneswaramadam.
LEGENDS:
It was told that after constructing this temple the Then Pennai River changed its course and an island was formed. The Bhairavar is with Snakes instead of Dog. Hence this temple is famous for Naga Dhosha Nivarthi sthalam. Also Ashtami Theipirai poojas are conducted to this Bhairavar. Sun Light will fall on moolavar on Masi Maha nakshathra day.
THE TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30 Hrs.
HOW TO REACH:
The Penneswaramadam is about 5 KM from Kaveripattinam, 28 KM from Krishnagiri, 290 KM from Chennai.
Autos and private buses are available from Kaveripattinam.
Sapthamatrikas
Suryan - xxx - Kulothunga Chozha - Chandran
A Vijayanagar period - herder relief
A pandrikuthipattan bas - relief on a pillar
Inscription on the sanctum wall.
Inscription of Kumudam- adhisthanam
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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