The Visit to this temple was a part of “Trichy Heritage Walk” organised by “Yaaooyakay – யாஊயாகே- Group”, to the Historical Chozha period temples, in and around Trichy aka Tiruchirappalli, scheduled on 20th & 21st March 2021. Even-though they were contributed by the Pallava, Chozha, Pandya, Vijayanagara Kings and the present Nattukottai Nagarathars, they are less popular.
This place is on the banks of River Kollidam and during Chozha period this place was called as “Parantakapuram” and now called as Sennivaikal, Nannimangalam.
Moolavar : Sri Sundareswarar
Consort : Sri Meenakshi
Some of the salient features of this temple are....
The temple is facing West with an entrance arch. Stucco image of Kubera doing Pooja to Lord Shiva is on the arch. Moolavar is little a level below the artha mandapam / Antarala. Moolavar is in dark green colour, about 5 feet tall. Rishabam and Balipeedam are in the mukha mandapam. In Koshtam, Dakshinamurthy and Vishnu Durgai.
In prakaram Vinayagar, Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal, 2 Chandikeswara ( one Chandikeswarr is sitting Kadakasana and other is in Arthapadmasanam ), Bhairavar ( Bhairavar is holding kapala, Thirisoolam, Damaru amd Pasam ) and Navagrahas ( all the 8 grahas are facing Suriyan ). Ambal is in the artha mandapam facing south. Ambal Meenakshi is in standing posture and wearing a metti in her leg finger.
In Lakshmi Narayana temple, Lakshmi is on the left laps of Narayanar and Narayanar is in sitting Posture. Varadharaja Perumal with Sridevi and Bhudevi is on the left side of the Lakshmi Narayanar sannidhi.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of Sanctum, Sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and Mukha Mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a simple Padabandha adhisthana, built with stone from Adhisthanam to prastaram. An Ekatha Vesara Vimana is on the prastaram. In griva koshtam Lord Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma. Both Brahma and Maha Vishnu are with their consorts. Maha Nasis are on the vimana Sikaram and alpa nasis are in between the Maha nasis. Ambal shrine Vimana is of Dravida Style.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
There is a Hero stone installed in the ardha mandapa, which belongs to Pallava King Nandhi Potharaiyan period. Hence it is presumed that this temple might be exiting since 9th Century. This Hero stone was found Chenni Vaikal, very close to this place. The inscription of the Hero stone refers this place as Parantakapuram and a temple name as Arinjigai Eswaram. It is believed that the temple mentioned only this temple.
The inscriptions recorded from this temple are incomplete, so could not get the full details. Most of the inscriptions records the endowment of naivedyam like Thayiramuthu, Neyyamuthu, Kariyamuthu, Appamuthu, Adaikaiamuthu, Burning of sandhi & Perpetual lamps, for the same a lands are gifted to this temple. One of the Land donation inscription mentions as Melai land 6 ma, Koothan sei 2 ma, Kusavan / Potter kuzhi 2 ma, madaivlakam land 7 ma, Appathal sei 3 ma, Koothar sei land 2 ma, Udayar Koil Nerkadaya land 1 ma, gifted to this temple.
The inscription in the mandapa lintel believed to be belongs to Rajaraja Chozha. The inscription records the endowment of burning perpetual lamp, Naivedyam, playing Padakam lather Instrument. For the same lands are gifted. The player was gifted with paddy Kuruni Nanazhi per day, mathalam player was given with 6 nazhi paddy.
During Hoysalas rule irrigation facility with Mathaku / regulator was created on the canals to feed water to the fields.
The Pallava King who conquered in Thellaru war ( 811 CE ), Nandhi Potharayar’s period inscription at Lalgudi Temple records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp at that temple for which gold coins were given to this Nannimangalam Sabhai.
LEGENDS
As per the sthala purana, the three leaves Vilvacharam could not find even in Devaloka. If the Vilvasaram is placed on a Swayambhu Linga and chant Namasivaya mantra, the Vilvacharam will turn in to gold and grow multifold with wealth. This Vilvasaram will be visible only to those with divine sakthi / power. Lord Shiva gave this Vilvacharam to Kubera. So Kubera asked his sons Manikireevan and Nalakooban to go to the Bhooloka and find out the sacredness of this Vilvacharam and in which temple it will grow in multifold. When they were holding, it was visible to them. They came to this Bhooloka and worshiped Shiva of many temples. The Vilvacharam doesn’t grow and in some places disappeared too. They came to Thiruvannamali and worshiped Lord Annamalaiyar keeping the Vilvacharam on the feet. They prayed Annamalaiyar to guide them to the Shiva Temple where this Vilvasaram will grow multifold. Lord Shiva guided them to go to south to this temple at Chennivaikal where Lord Shiva as Sundareswarar and Ambal as Meenakshi on the banks of River Kaveri.
தென்திசைக் காவேரி இயல்சீர் சேர்
சென்னி சிவக்கயல் சுந்தரம் பார்..
Happy with the guidance Sri Annamalaiyar, Kubera’s sons Manikireevan and Nalakooban went to Thiruthavathurai Sri Saptharishiswarar Temple at Lalgudi with the Vilvasaram. Both took bath in the Sivaganga and found that their Swarna Vilvacharam had disappeared. Worried brothers went inside the temple and found that their Vilasaram multiplied many fold, when they chant the Namasivaya mantra and they were happy. Finally they came to this temple and placed the Vilvacharam on the Shiva Linga and chanted the Namasivaya mantra. To their surprise, the Vilvacharam grew in multifold and turned to gold.
Knowing this sacredness of this temple, Kubera also came to this Temple and worshiped Lord Shiva.
So the Shiva Devotees after completing the circumambulation of Thiruvannamalai Hills on pournami days ( full moon day ), came to this temple and worships Lord Shiva. They do Adiprakthachanam of the sthala Vruksha Vilva Tree. It is believed that by doing so the wealth earned through hard labour and good & genuine way will grow multifold through Maha Lakshmi.
In continuation to the legend, Sri Annamalaiyar guided Kubera’s sons to this temple in Chenni Valanadu. Since Lord Brahma with 5 head ( Senni – head. The five heads are Sathyojatham, Vamadevam, Agoram, Thatpurusam and Eesanam ) came to this temple, worshiped Lord Shiva and attained Moksha. Hence Lord Shiva is called as “Chenni Sivam”.
The athipathi of all crore Naga Loka Sri Astheeka Siddhar Yoga Sugana, during his Yathra used to come to this temple. The presence of Kubera Chandra Nagas / Snakes is more in this place. There is an anthill in a coconut farm near the temple. Devotees used to do pooja on pournami days.
It is believed that Suriyan worships Lord Shiva dainy before sun set. This happens First three weeks of Panguni month sun rays falls on moolavar during sunset. During that time Lord Shiva, Dark colour Shiva Linga glitters like jewel.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from Regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Ekadasi, Pradosham, Adi & Thai month Fridays, Vaikunta ekadasi, Maha Shivaratri, Saptha sthala Peruvizha and Pournami Abhishekam.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The mobile number of Ganesa Gurukkal +91 97861 89093, Trustee +91 94865 97484 and office Land line number +91 431 2541329 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
Town bus and Autos are available from Lalgudi.
The temple at Nannimangalam is about 3.5 KM from Lalgudi, 26 KM from Main Guard Gate, 30 KM from Tiruchirappalli, 46 KM from Thanjavur and 320 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway station is Lalgudi and Railway Junction is Tiruchirappalli.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Hero Stone - details will be posted separately
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
Very detailed and informative article. Thank you sir!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouraging comments
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