15th December 2019.
The visit to this Shiva temple was a part of Kanchipuram and Ranipet District temples visit scheduled on 15th December 2019. When I browsed the web and found that a sculpture of a child in the womb of a mother available in this temple, create me more interest to visit this temple. After the dharshan of Sri Karapureeswarar at Thiruparkadal, had been to this temple. I found very difficult to reach this temple since it is located between Ocheri and Kaveripakkam and buses denied to stop at Sirukarumbur bus stop. This temple Ambal is more powerful than Lord Shiva, hence called as Kamakshi Amman Temple. The Archakar took me around the temple and explained, the specialty of the sculptures. The temple is really a treasure trove for the heritage lovers.
Moolavar : Sri Tripurantakeswara
Consort : Sri Sundara Kamakshi.
Some of the salient features of this temple are....
The temple is facing east with a balipedam, Dwajasthamba base and Nandhi. The entrance arch is on south side. Both Shiva and Ambal temples are small with Sanctum, artha mandapam and a small mukha mandapam. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai. Dakshinamurthy’s jadmudi with Small Small Shiva Lingas looks awesome. On the side wall of the sanctum, reliefs of pulikal munivar- Vyaghrapatha worshiping Lord Shiva.
In the prakaram Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Bhairavar, Navagrahas and Veerabhadra. Veerabhadra is with thiruvasi on the back and Dakshan is standing on his right with goat head. Unlike usual ferocious look, there is a beautiful smile on his face, hence called as Santha Veerabhadra.
Ambal Sri Sundara Kamakshi is in a separate shrine facing east in parallel with Lord Shiva’s sannadhi. Ambal Kamakshi is in standing posture and wears anklets. It is very rare to see Kamakshi in standing posture. There is a Srichakra, installed in front of Ambal, by Mahaperiyava. Balipedam and Simha are in front. The temple was constructed with green stone. The sanctum walls are adorned with beautiful reliefs in between the Pilasters and Koshtas. The Kumbha panjaras are with mythological animal yazhi lifting the elephants, birds ( Annam, Swan), flowers, Hindu deities, etc. In the mukha mandapa reliefs of saptamatrikas, Mangala symbols, poorna kalasas, Lakshmi, Saraswati, etc,.
The dismantled structures like pillars, kodungai, Kabotham with karnakood of the mandapa / shrine are kept in the prakara. The karnakood has the reliefs of deities with minute details. The archakar showed me the famous sculpture of child in the mother’s womb and the adult with mother.
ARCHITECTURE
Lord Shiva’s sanctum Sanctorum was built with sanctum, arthamandapam and mukha mandapam. The Adhisthana is of pathabandha adhisthana and prastharam is of kabotha style. A single tier Gajabirushta vimana is on the prastharam. Ambal Temple is with Sanctum, arthamandapam and a mukha mandapam. Ambal temple was built with green stone, might have been sourced from Vallimalai or nearby hills.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION
Since there is no inscriptions found in the temple and fragment stones unearthed has the inscriptions. The earliest inscriptions belongs to 10th Century and from this the temple might have been built before 10th Century. These inscriptions are unearthed under the guidance of Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamikal during 10th to 12th May 2010. As per the inscription this place was called as Rajaraja Cheri.
A 10th Century fragmentary inscription records the endowment to upkeep the temple. Another Rajaraja-I, ( 28th year 1013CE ), inscription records conservation of metal image of Uma Parameswari, consort of Buvaneka Vitangar (Nataraja ) in the temple by the Villagers of Rajarajacheri. Another Chozha period inscription records that Nagai Kaniccan alias Irumudi Chozha Muvendavelan, who gifted 900 kadi of paddy, which yielded 30 kalanju of gold as an annual interest that was to be utilized for meeting the expenses of the temple.
The temple was rebuilt many times and additional carvings were added during 17th Century Vijayanagara Period. Latter during Mohuls the temple was left uncared and the same was covered with sand. In 1958 CE Baskara Thondaiman of Vellore Collector took initiative to uncover the sand and the temple came in to alive.
Maha Periyava visited this temple during 1970s. He was the instrumental in conducting Kumbhabhishekam in 1979. It was believed that Adi Sankararar also visited this temple.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
Since orukala pooja is conducted the temple will be opened between 08.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and Devotees are advised to confirm with archakar / Gurukkal.
CONTACT:
The Gurukkal may be contacted on his mobile +91 9486370223 for further details.
HOW TO REACH:
The temple is about 750 meters off Chennai to Mumbai highway. Since buses from Chennai to Arcot, Vellore will not stop at Sirukarumbur Village, get down at Ocheri or Kaveripakkam or Check post. From there can be reached through auto.
Sirukarumber is about 5,5 KM from Kaveripakkam, 21 KM from Arcot, 45 KM from Vellore and 91 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway Junction Katpadi is about 47 KM.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
Koshta with kumbha panjaras on both sides
Poorna kumbhas
Saraswati
Valli with Lakshmi
Kumbha panjara
Monkey eating banana
Kamadenu
Dakshinamurthy
A-beautiful smile of Dakshinamurthy
Shiva lingas on the jadamudi
Believed to be child in mother's womb
Baby and mother
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
Very narrative.thanks.
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Deletethanks. planning to visit
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot
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