This second visit to this Sri Jambunatheswarar Temple at Jambai was a part of Villupuram Heritage Walk organized by History Trails, scheduled on 24th and 25th July 2021. The First visit to this temple was a part of Thiruvannamalai Heritage visit organized by the Tiruvannamalai District Historical Research Center on 30th December 2018. Jambai is a 1000 plus years old ancient Village. Saivam, Vainavam, Jainism, Buddhism and Saktham were flourished in this village. The temples like Shiva Temple, Ayyanar Temples, Jain's sculptures, Sangam period ( 1st Century BCE ) inscriptions on the rocks proves that Jambai is an ancient Village. This place Jambai was called as Sambai, “Veerarajendra Chozhapuram” and “Valaiyur” during Chozha period.
Moolavar : Sri Jambunatheswarar, Sri Jambukeswarar, Sri ThanthondreeswararConsort : Sri Akilandeswari.
Some of the Salient features of this temple are….The Temple is under renovation some of the Murtis / Idols are removed and kept outside the sanctum and the details of the sannidhis may not holds good after Kumbhabhishekam.
The Temple is facing east with balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Nandhi with a two tier Rajagopuram. The temple is on the northern banks of river Thenpennai..
In Koshtam, Vinayagar ( not in the niche now ) with Venkotrakudai and Samaram, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai. In the prakaram, sannidhi for Vinayagar, Maha Vishnu with Sridevi and Bhoodevi, A Shiva Linga with Nandi, Subramaniar with Valli Devasena, Bairavar, Thavvai ( Jyeshta Devi with Manthan and Mandhi ), Lakuleesar in standing posture, Navagrahas, Mahishasuramardini ( in the front Mandapam ) and Chandikeswarar. Dwarapalakas are looking cute like Pallava sculptures. Ambal is in a separate Temple facing east.There are two Navakanda statues kept abutting the main Sanctorum mukha mandapam.
ARCHITECTUREThe Temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, Antarala, Artha mandapam, Maha mandapam and a Mukha mandapam. In the sanctum moolavar is on a round avudayar. The two tier Nagara Vimana is over the sanctum without any stucco images. The Adhisthana is of prati bandha ( virutha / round Kumudam ) adisthana. The walls are supported with square / Brahma Kantha pilasters.
The mukha mandapa of the main shrine has a simha pillar and Ambal sannidhi mandapa pillars are of yazhi pillars. Some of the experts of the opinion that this Simha pillars belongs to Pallava period.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONSSome of the experts claims that the original temple belongs to Pallava period and reconstructed as stone temple during Chozha period. The temple has the contributions from Rashtrakutas, during middle of 10th Century. Murugan, Jyeshta Devi, Kalabairavar, Durgai are believed to be of Rashtrakutas sculptures. The temple also has the contributions of Medieval Chozhas, Pandyas, Rashtrakutas, Vijayanagaras and Nayaks.
The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Parantaka-I, Rajararaja, Rajendran-1, Vikrama Chozha, Kulothunga Chozha - I, Rajadhirajan, Vijayarajendran ( Rajadhiraja-I ..? ) Pandya Kings Sundara Pandyan, Kulasekara Pandyan, Pallava kings Koperunjingan, Rashtrakuta King Kannaradevan ( Krishna - III ), Vijayanagara kings, Sadasiva maharaya, Achyutadeva Maharaya, Virapratapa Virupakshadeva Maharaya-II, and Vira Narasingaraya,
The inscriptions mainly speaks about donations made to the temple in terms of Villages, money, coins, Gold coins, lands for conducting regular poojas, Naivedyam, burning of perpetual lamps with donor’s name. The inscriptions also mentions Lord Shiva as “Thanthondreeswarar”, “Thanthondripiran”, then how this name was changed to the present name of Jambukeswarar, is not known. This place was called as “Sambai” alias “Veerarajendra Chozhapuram” also called as “Valaiyur” alias Nottavodapuram in Vanagopadi alias Madurantaka valanadu a part of Jayangonda Chozha mandalam. ( Exemption of Tax - Somasulavari to this temple during Achyutadeva Maharaya period )
Parantaka-I ‘s inscription records the endowment of worship to the Jyeshta Devi for which a land was gifted. The Jyeshta Devi, presently in the prakaram was on the banks of the Temple Tank during Parantaka period.
Parantaka Chozha-I’s 34th reign year inscription records the endowment of Construction of a Mandapa, Maintenance and burning of a perpetual lamp by Viranaraniyar consort of Gandaradita and daughter in-law of Chozhamadeviyar in the name of “Nagarattar valaiyur”. For the same 70 kalanju Gold was gifted.
Parantaka-I’s inscription records the sacred bath on Sankranti days of Tanthondriappar at Valaiyur. Similarly a fragment inscription records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp in front of Vidividangar ( processional deity ) by Ayyaradigal, a head man of Irayankudi. Another inscription records the endowment of burning 5 perpetual lamps for which 50 Kalanju Gold was gifted. Rajaraja-I’s 28th reign year inscription starts with his meikeerthi and records a gift of 10 Kalanju of gold deposited with the urar / Village sabha of Palaippandal on the southern bank, for a perpetual lamp in the temple by a merchant of the village by name Angadi Porraman for (the memory of) one piratti Siralan of Munaippadi Navalur. The reason for the gift is stated to be that the latter trespassed into the former’s house in the night and tried to assault his mistress in his very presence, by which he was enraged so much as to stab intruder to death.
Rajaraja-I’s 24th year inscription records the grant of 20 Servu land by the Sabha of Nerkunram alias Vairamegha Chaturvedimangalam, urar to the user of Kolliyur in exchange of lands acquired, on their behalf from the latter by the Rajaraja Vanakovaraiyar for the construction of a tank calle “araiyagal – adittapereri” in their Village. Amount of taxes to be given to the King by the Urar was fixed as 1000 kalanju Gold.
Rajendra Chozha's 3rd year ( 1054 CE ), inscription records the gift of 32 Kasu for burning a lamp with ulakku oil daily. The Udaiyan of the place compels a lady to pay tax ( by torture ) and she takes poison and so people from all quarters and nadus meet, throw the blame on him and compel him to make the gift.
Kulothunga Chozha's ( I..?) 3rd reign year inscription records the gift of 64 sheep ( ..?) for burning two perpetual lamps. One Kovalarayaperaraiyan happened to wound fatally another and the people of 79 Nadus met, threw the blame on him and compelled him to endow 64 Cows...? for two lamps.
Vikrama Chozha's period inscription records the endowment of burning a lamp for the reason being... A man apparently pushed his wife as a result of which she fell and died. The 1500 men of the four quarters declared him guilty in their assembly and compelled him to provide for lamps.
Vikrama Chozha's 9th reign inscription records the gift of 64 Cows for two lamps, by a man who in the course of a comparison of martial skill with two vellalas, killed one of them.
The Chozha King Rajakesarivarman alias Udaiyar Sri Virarajendradeva ( 1063- 1070 CE ), inscription records the gift of 500 Kulis Land to the account of Rajendrapura by the temple authorities to the temple account among whom figures the Mahavratin Lakulisvara Pandita as the head of the pijaris. This Pujaris name figures in Melpadi inscription, of Rajendra Chozha-I, (SII Vol -III, page 28 )and Beligami inscriptions 9 Epic Indica Vol -V p 227 ), perhaps all these were same. Lakulisvara Pandita was evidentlya Kalamukha. ( A Lakulisvara's idol is in the prakaram ) Vanakovarayan Rajarajadevan Vannenjarayan’s 11th reign year inscription records that Kasayam, Ponvari, alamji and antarayam Taxes exemption was given to the Village Gunamangalam, which belongs to this “Tiruttantonri Avudaya Nayanar”.
Another Vanakovarayan Rajarajadevan Vannenjarayan’s 11th reign year inscription records that agreements was made by the Siva Brahmins to provide paddy offerings to gods on two festival days and also feeding for maheswaras with the offered food from the interest of 60 kalam paddy measured on the “Tonro Marakkal”, received from Arasan Tiruttonda Nambi a Devakanmi belongs to the temple Udayar Thiruvannamalai Udaya Nayanar ( Lord Shiva of Thiruvannamalai ).
Koperunjingan’s 13th reign year ( 119 of 1906 ) inscription records that a tax free land of 150 Kuli by the Thanathar for this temple, according to the order of Gangayar to Annamalai, the younger brother of Atkondan, who cut of his head so that the nittu mandapa in the temple of Tirttantonri Aludaiya Nayanar at Sambai might be completed. Atkondan is stated to be the younger brother of Perralvi, devaradiyal ( temple maid servant ) residing in the Village. ( This inscription is for an instance of Voluntary sacrifice for the successful completion of a Mandapa ).
Koperunjingan’s 14th reign year inscription records the endowment of offerings to the God Thanthondri Aludaya nayanar, on the 7th day of the annual festival, by Mulaiyanudaiyan Ponparappinan Kovalrayan, for which 10 Kalam paddy was received by the trustees ( thanaththar ) of this temple.
Koperunjingan’s 16th reign year inscription records the endowment of special pooja called “Vennenjan Thirunal”, in the month Purattasi ( August – September ), from the income of the paddy assigned by Vannenja Nayanar, is the chief of Vanakovarayan Rajadevan Vannenjan of Aragalur, a subordinate to Koperunjingadeva.
In another inscription a lady was forced to commit suicide, when she was compelled to pay the taxes by the official. On verification the officer was found guilty and as a punishment, he was ordered to burn a perpetual lamp at this temple. 
LEGENDSDevotees worship Lord Shiva and Ambal for Child boon, to get rid of Rahu & ketu Dosham to remove marriage obstacles.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONSApart from regular poojas, special, poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Amavasya, Thai Pongal, Maha Shivaratri, Karthigai Deepam.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:Since the temple is under the renovation, time opening and closing is unpredictable.
CONTACT DETAILS:Venkatesan 9443815936, Shanmugam +91 9965206975 and Elumalai +91 9597140997 may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH:Jambai is about 19 KM from Thirukovilur and 25 KM from Thiruvannamalai.Nearest Railway station is Thirukovilur.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
Vinayagar and Lakulisar
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
Vinayagar and Lakulisar
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