Saturday 29 January 2022

Sundara Varadar and Azhagiya Ramar Temple / சுந்தர வரதர் & அழகிய ராமர் கோயில், Kaveripakkam / காவேரிபாக்கம், Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Sundara Varadar and Azhagiya Ramar Temple at Kaveripakkam was a part of Shiva, Vishnu Temples and Heritage sites at Thirumalaicherry, Gudimallur and Kaveripakkam. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr Ramesh Krishnamurthy for taking me to all these places. This temple was inside the Kaveripakkam fort and about 300 meters from Sri Abhaya Varadharaja Perumal temple. This temple is also called as Sathya Varadha kshethram.



Moolavar  : Sri Sundara Varadar
Thayar     : Sri Sundaravalli

Some of the salient features of this temple are…
The temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Deepa Sthambam, Balipeedam, Kodimaram and Garudan are immediately after the Rajagopuram. Moolavar in the sanctum is about 6 feet tall with 4 hands. Holding Sangu / Conch and Chakra in the upper hands and Lower hands are in abhaya and resting on mace / gadhai. There is no murtis in Koshtam. Utsavars Sri Varadharaja Perumal and Sridevi and Bhudevi are in front of moolavar. Utsavars  are very old compared to Moolavar.

In Praharam, Thayar Sundaravalli, Sudarsana & Narasimhar Andal, Alwars, Nigamantha Maha Desigar, Ramar ( damaged ) in green Stone, unearthed from the temple tank, Nagas and Garuda and Azhagiya Ramar.

Thayar Sri Sundaravalli is in a separate sannidhi facing the same direction of perumal

ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a three anga adhisthana. The hemakuta Vimana ( Nagara ) is over the sanctum sanctorum.

The Thayar sanctum is on a padabhanda adhisthana with jagathy, virutha kumuda, pattigai, on a lotus pedestal. The bhitti starts with vedhika. The brahma kantha pilasters are on the wall. The Koshtas are empty. The Kumudam and jagathy are in green stone. These stones are with Rajaraja-I period inscriptions brought from a dilapidated Temple and not belongs to this temple. The ardha mandapa pillars are also in different style. Thayar sannidhi is without vimanam.   

One of the specialties of the temple is Jala made out of green stone is installed on the south wall of ardha mandapam.


Moolavar Vimanam
Thayar Sannidhi


Pillars of different styles 


HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As per Gurukkal Narasimhan, the temple was built about 800 years before. Most of the stones, Pillars with Chozha period inscriptions were brought from elsewhere and the temple was built. There is no relation to the inscriptions and this temple. Some of the inscriptions belongs to Chozha Period especially Rajaraja Chozha-I. Inscriptions from 10th Century to 17th century are found on the wall stone, floor stones and pillars.     

During Muslim rule, many of the temple’s idols were thrown in to the well or buried in the ground. The Azhakiya Ramar was unearthed from Kottai Perumal temple along with Thayar and Hanuman. Azhikia Ramar was brought to this temple and installed in a separate sannidhi. The Ramar in green stone and granite stone are unearthed from the well and installed in the praharam and ardha mandapam.

As per the History the war between Raja Sahib with 7000 soldiers and Robert Clive with 500 soldiers held at this place. Raja sahib was defeated and killed in the war. It is believed that his body was cut in to pieces and thrown on many places.

Mangalasasanam was done by Ahobila Madam 42nd pattam Injimedu Sri Azhagiya Singar, 44 & 45th Azhagiya Singars, Srirangam Periashram Srimad Andan Swami, Kanchi Kamakoti Chandrasekhara Saraswathi Swamigal. 

Compound wall was constructed during 2011. Sri Azhagiya Ramar temple, maha samprokshanam was conducted on 02nd July 2009.

Rajaraja Chozha's inscription belongs to some other temple




LEGENDS
It is believed that river Palar was flowing on the north side of Kanchipuram. The legend applied to Kanchi Athi VaradaRaja Perumal Temple, Palli Konda Perumal temple near Vellore is applied to this temple also, since all the three temples are on the banks of Palar River / Vegavathi river ( The legend goes like this.. When Brahma was doing a yagam with out Saraswati, she got angry and took the form of Vegavathi River and flowed with full flow to destroy yagam.  To the request of Brahma, Vishnu lay down and stopped the flow of Vegavathi river). This Temple is in the territory of the legend happened and this temple was once on the banks of River Palar.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Panguni Uthiram, Avani Thiruvonam, Sri Rama Navami, Chithirai & Panguni Kalyana utsavam, Vaikunta Ekadasi, Margazhi, Purattasi Saturdays.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
R. Narasimhan, who knows the historical back ground of the Temple and Kaveripakkam, may be contacted on Land line and mobile numbers +91 4177 254522 and +91 9791687534 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH
This temple at Kaveripakkam is about a KM from Madras – Bombay trunk Road / Chennai to Vellore Road / Mumbai Hwy.
The temple is about 10 KM from Walaja Toll gate, 11.6 KM from Walajahpet, 15 KM from Sholinghur, 17.4 KM from Arcot, 17 KM from Ranipet,  38 KM from Vellore and 95 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway Station is Sholinghur

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Dwarapalakas
Both Ramars are recovered from Temple tank 



Azhagiya Ramar Temple





Thayar Sannidhi
Jala made out of green stone
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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