A Wandering Heritager: KAMALA VARADHARAJAR TEMPLE ( AKA ) SUNDARA MAHALAKSHMI TEMPLE, ARASAR KOIL, CHENGALPATTU DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU.

19^th January 2020.

After a gap of 2 months, once again started the temples Visit along with Mr Kesavan, a Heritage enthusiast, from Arasar Koil to Koovathur on the banks of Palar river, near Changalpattu. Our first stop was at Arasar Koil Vishnu Temple called as Sundara Mahalakshmi Temple and this is one of the temple where Thayar is considered as more powerful than the presiding deity Sri Kamala Varadharaja Perumal.

Moolavar : Kamala Varadharajar

Thayar : Sundara Mahalakshmi

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing west with an entrance arch without any stucco images. Balipedam, Dwajasthamba base and Garudan are immediately after the entrance arch. In the sanctum Moolavar Sri Kamala Varadharajar is with Sridevi and Bhudevi. There is no images in the koshtas. Sri Kamala Varadhararajar is in standing posture, holding a lotus flower in his right hand and right hand is on gatha.

In the prakaram Thayar and Andal Sannadhi and both are facing east. Perundevi Thayar is sitting in padmasana posture and both hand are in abhaya hastham. She has six toes in her right foot.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple was in dilapidated condition and the same was reconstructed after 2006. The temple was reconstructed in recent years and do not know how it was. The main sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, arthamandapam, mahamandapam and a mukha mandapam. A two tier Nagara vimana is on the sanctum. The adhisthanam is of padabandha adhisthana with tripatta kumuda. The prastharam is of kapotha style with nasi koods. Padmam is in the Valabi. In bhoomidesam yazhi vari ( Vyazha vari ). Vishnu’s avathara stucco images are on the parapet walls of the mandapa. Stucco image of Vishnu with his consorts on both sides are Garudan and Anjaneyar are at the front fascia of Mukhamandapam.

Thayar Sanctum Sanctorum consists of sanctum and a mukhamandapam. Mukhamandapa was supported with Simha musical pillars pillars ( musical notes will come when tapped the pillars). The adhisthana is of padabandha adhisthana with vrutha kumuda. The pratharam is of kapotha style with nasikood. Vyazhavari is in the bhoomidesam. A Vesara vimana is on the sanctum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTION

The main temple was believed to be constructed during Chozha period and latter it had received contributions from Pandyas and Vijayanagaras. As per the inscriptions this place was donated to Brahmins who are experts of 4 Vedas, called ChaturvediMangalam. This place was a part of this Chaturvedimangalam called as Mathur Pidagai and Perumal was called as Thiruvarasura Nayanar. The place was named after Perumal as Arasar Koil.

The temple may belongs to 12^th Century. The temple has Chozha period Rajaraja-III ( 1216 to 1250 CE ), Pandya Period Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan ( 1259 CE ), Sundara Pandyan –II ( 1291 CE ) and latter Vijayanagara period Inscriptions. The inscriptions mainly records the gift of Cows with calves, Lands, sale of Lands etc, for burning perpetual lamps / Nandha vilakku and Poojas.

The Rajarajan-III ( 1237 CE ) period inscription records the gift of land after getting 12 Kasus to this temple towards poojas. During Chozha period this place & Perumal was called as Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Thaniyur Sri Mathuranthaka Chathurvedimangalathu Vadapidagai Mathur Oor Thiruvarasuram Perumal

Sri Sundara Pandyan (1259 CE ) period 3 line inscription inscribed on the north side kumuda, records that, when the payment of Taxes by Vamana Pattan defaulted and ran away, the persons signed as surety paid after selling the land to this temple sabha. The is reproduced as below….

1. ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீ கோச்சடைபன்மர் திருபுவனச் சக்கரவத்திகள் ஸ்ரீ சுந்தர பாண்டிய தேவர்க்கு யாண்டு [ப]தினைஞ்சாவது மீந நாயற்று அபரபக்ஷத்து ஸப்தமியு[ம்] ச[னி]க்கிழமையும் பெற்ற [ஸ்வா]தி நாள் _ _ _ _ த்த ஸ்வதுர்வேதிமங்கலத்துப் பிடாகை மாத்தூர் ஸபை. [இவ்]வூர் திருவரசுர நாயனார் கோயிலில் ஸ்ரீ ஸேனாபதி ஆழ்வார்க்கு ஸ்ரீ ஸேனாபதிப் பெருவிலை ஆக விற்றுக் குடுத்த பரிசாவது, இவ்வூர் ஸபையாரில் காஞ்சி சொக்கத் தேவரான [மூ]த்த வாமன பட்டன் பதினாலாவது வரையும் உழுது தன் பேர்க்கடமை செலவறாதே ஓடிப் போகையில். இவன் பேர்க்கடமைக்கு சேர்வை என்று எங்களை இப்பணம் _ _ _

2. _ _ ன்று கோமுள்ள மாவிஸனம் பண்ணுகையாலே. எங்களுக்கு _ _ ங்க _ _ _ பாத்தி இல்லாதப்படியாலே _ _ _ _ _இதர்க்கு தேவரான [உ]த்த[ம] வாமன பட்டன் உள்ளிட்ட _ _ _ _ _ன நிலமான மேலைப்புதுத் திரு ந_ _த்து _ _ _சி குருகூர் ஸ்ரீ சவ_மம் ப்ரயாகைத் திருப்பொரி பட்டன் உள்ளிட்டார் இராசேந்த்ர விளை நிலமான முன் மடைப் புதுத்திருத்து நந்த[கஸ]ம். வெண்ணைக் கூத்தன் _ _ _ தனால் இன்னிலம் ஒன்றே இரண்டு மாவுக்கும் பெறும் வஸ ஆக நிச்சயித்த அன்றாடு நற்காசு வாசிபடர் வராகன் பணம் 27

3. [இரு]பத்தேழும் விலையாவதாகவும். இப்படி சம்மதித்து மாத்தூர் [எ]ழுவாத நா[ய]னார்க்கு ஸ்ரீவேதநாயகனும் இவற்கு விலை ஆக விற்றுக் குடுத்தோம் மாத்தூர் ஸபை ஊரோம். இப்படிக்கு இவை _ _ _ ஞ்சி இவாய்வ _ _ _ _ன் பட்டன் எழுத்து. இப்படிக்கு இவை வங்கிப்புறத்து திருவேங்கட பட்டன் எழுத்து. இப்படிக்கு இவை ஆதன்பாக்கத்து திருவேங்கட பட்டன் எழுத்து. இவர்கள் சொல்ல இப்ரமாணம் எழுதினேன் ஸ்ரீ சுத்தவல்லிச் சருப்பேதி மங்கலத்து உய்ய வந்த பெருமாள் கோயில் வீற்றிருந்தான் பட்டனேன். இவை என் எழுத்து.

Another Sadyavarman Sundara Pandyan’s ( 1259 CE ) inscription records the gift of land which include trees and wells purchased for 40 panam towards daily naivedyam. The periphery limits of the land are also mentioned.

It was believed that Sathguru Venkataraman was the instrumental for reconstruction of this temple in 2006 CE, when it was in dilapidated condition.

LEGEND

As per the legend Brahma performed penance at this place and in response Vishnu as Kamala Varadharajar with Sridevi and Bhudevi appeared and blessed. In another legend, during the process of collecting earth to make Perumal for Kanchipuram by Brahma, the idols of Vishnu with Sridevi and Bhudevi are unearthed. Hence this temple is considered as older than Varadharajar temple of Kanchipuram.

Thayar has got 6 toes on her right leg, the number 6 belongs to Sukhran and this is a parikara sthalam for Sukhran. Thayar is believed to be the controller of Sukra, 64 form of wealth / Iswaryas and devotees worships Thayar on Varalakshmi Vrata day and Fridays.

The Nava Grahas with their consorts worshiped Thayar considering as 9 forms as Adi Lakshmi ( Aditya – Sun – Sooryan ), Soma Lakshmi ( Chandran ), Mangala Lakshmi ( Chevvai ), Bhowmya Lakshmi in the root form of Sri Vidya Lakshmi ( Bhudan ), Gurupara Lakshmi ( Guru - Viyazhan ), Shukra Lakshmi ( Shukran – Velli ) and Bhagya Lakshmi or Sumangali Vara Lakshmi ( Shani ).

Devotees also worships Gomukh considering as Kubera Gomukh by applying turmeric paste and Kungum(am). It is believed that with the blessings of Thayar one can get relieved from poverty, Debts, Losses in business, Court Cases and other litigation problems.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 07.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Bhattars may be contacted on their mobile numbers +9196985 10956 and +9381744615 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple at Arasar Koil is on the way to Padalam GST Road to Cheyyur Road. Share autos and autos are available from Padalam Koot Road on GST Road.

Arasar Koil is 20 KM from Chengalpattu, 57 KM from Tindivanam, 59 KM from Kanchipuram and 76 KM from Chennai.

Nearest Railway Junction is Chengalpattu.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE