01st December 2019.
Visit to this Shiva temple was a part of the Pallava & Chozha period temples between Kalpakkam to Pulipurakoil in Chengalpattu / Kanchipuram District, scheduled on 01st December 2019. After Visit to Vijayanagara period Vittalapuram Vittalar temple, had been to this temple. Though this temple belongs to Pallava period, it was not added in the google map. The place Natham is on the banks of river Palar.
Moolavar : Sri Shenbakeswarar
Consort : Sri Soundarya Nayaki
Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with a Balipedam and Nandhi are in front of the new mukha mandapam. Nandhi is also facing east like Lord Shiva under a mandapam with beautiful pillars. In 7 koshtams Vinayagar, Pichadanar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Sankaranarayanan and Durgai. In the Mukamandapam, Ambal is facing south ( Ambal is holding Nilothpala and lotus flowers on her hand instead of Pasa & Angusam ), Arumugar ( sitting on Peacock facing opposite direction- called asura peacock ), Brahma Sastha and Vinayagar. The other Sannadhis are under construction.
Even-though the temple is under renovation Lord Shiva is under worship.
ARCHITECTURE
The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antaraa, arthamandapam, Mahamandapam and a Mukhamandapam. The Sanctum sanctorum is on a pathabandha adhisthana.
The new sannadhis for Nalvar, Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Navagrahas, Bhairavar, Suryan and Chandran are under construction.
HISTORY & INSCRIPTION
The temple was built during the Pallava King Nirupathungan ( 869- 880 AD ) and was extended during Chozhas, Pandyas and Vijayanagaras. The inscriptions belongs to Kulothunga Chozha-I, Rajendra Chozha-I, Rajaraja-III, Pandyas, Maravarman Soundara Pandyan and Vijayanagaras, are on the adhisthana and sanctum walls.
This
place was called in the name of Rajaraja-I ( Also called as Nakaril Chozhan ) as “Nikarili Chozha Chathurvedi mangalam” As
per Rajaraja-I inscription, this Village Saba was managed by 12 members called “Samvathsara
Variyam”, elected in Ipasi Month. They assemble in “Rajendra Chozha Sathuschali”
mandapa, once in a year.
This
place came under Sembur Kottam in Jayangonda Chozha mandalam. This inscription
records the donation of paddy for the poojas. The Pillar fallen down inscription records the
gift of 90 goats for burning perpetual lamp.
Latter
Rajaraja-III’s inscription mentions that this place was called as Chozhakula
Chathurvedi mangalam. Another pillar inscription records a land was donated to
this temple to celebrate Chitraivisu, Ipasi Visu and Masimaham for the benefit of
Rajendra Chozha and Thandi Piratiyar, by the Thandi Piratiyar, Veerakosa
Mangalamudayar and Udayapiratiyar.
The
pandya period ( Maravarman Sundara Pandyan?)
inscription there is a note of “Pazhampattinam Perumantrathalwar”.
The temple first re-constructed during Uthama Chozha / Parantaka Chozha period. A 16 Pillard mandapa built during Rajendra Chozha period was brought down. The temple was in a dilapidated state and reconstruction is in progress. The Mandapa Simha pillars with inscriptions and ordinary pillars, Dwarapalakas, Jyeshta Devi, Nadukal ie Hero stone, Sandikeswara, 5 Shiva Lingas with Nandhis are scattered around the temple. These Shiva Lingas and Nandhis are called as Panchabootha Lingas ie 5 elements.
One of the inscription belongs to Rajaraja-I, the Queen Lokamadevi donated money to convert barren land to fertile land.
LEGEND
There are interesting legends behind the Nandhi facing the same direction of Lord Shiva.
Sri Lakshmi came to this Shenbaka forest and done penance to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva asked Nandhi to Guard her. So Nandhi turned its back. At the end of penance Lord Shiva gave dharshan to Lakshmi.
Another interesting story is Lord Shiva went out of this place to nearby Palar River island and hid there. When Parvati searched Lord Shiva and climbed the island hill through her knees. Lord Shiva Blessed her as Kailasanathar and stayed in the island. So Nandhi is still expecting Lord Shiva’s arrival facing the Kailasanathar temple.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
Since orukala pooja is conducted, the closing and opening time is un predictable.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Sri Jambu +9199945 87182 and Sri Sivagnanam +9194430 67193 on their mobiles for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
This temple is in Ayapakkam village a part of Natham, Parameswaramangalam panchayat.
The temple is 12 KM from Kalpakkam, 28 KM from Thirukalukundram, 40 KM from Chengalpattu and 77 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway station is Chengalpattu.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
Pichadanar
Dwarapalaka
Jyeshta Devi
A Arikanda - Hero stone
A Pallava period Sandikeswara
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
No comments:
Post a Comment