A Wandering Heritager: Sri Choleeswara Swamy Shiva temple / அருள்மிகு சுந்தராம்பாள் சமேத சோளீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், Kavanthandalam, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

Tuesday 14 March 2023

Sri Choleeswara Swamy Shiva temple / அருள்மிகு சுந்தராம்பாள் சமேத சோளீஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், Kavanthandalam, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Choleeswara Swamy Shiva Temple at Kavanthandalam, was a part of REACH Foundation’s Epigraphic field visit on 26^th February 2023. Kavanthandalam is on the banks of River Cheyyar, one of the tributary to river Palar in Kanchipuram District.

காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டம் பாலாற்றின் உப நதியான செய்யாற்றின் கரையில் உள்ள காவான்தண்டலம் கிராமத்தில் உள்ள ஸ்ரீ சோழீஸ்வரர் சிவன் கோயில். அதே ஊரில் ஸ்ரீ லக்ஷ்மி நாராயணர் கோயிலில் உள்ள சோழ அரசர் முதலாம் ராஜேந்திரரின் கல்வெட்டு அவரின் மந்திரி கன்டன் பிச்சன் என்பவரால் “ராஜேந்தர சோழீஸ்வரம்” என்ற இச்சிவன் கோயில் கட்டப்பட்டது என்று பதிவு செய்கின்றது. ஆனால் இக்கோயிலில் ராஜேந்திர சோழனைத் தவிர்த்து குலோத்துங்க சோழன் மற்றும் விக்ரமச்சோழனின் கல்வெட்டுக்களே காணப்படுகின்றன. கல்வெட்டுக்கள் கோயில் பூசனைகளுக்கு நிலமாக மற்றும் பணமாக கொடுக்கப்பட்ட தானங்களைப் பற்றி பதிவு செய்கின்றன. கல்வெட்டில் இவ்வூர் ஜெயங்கொண்ட சோழமண்டலத்து ஊற்றுக்காட்டு கோட்டத்து தமனூர் நாட்டு காவாந்தண்டலம் என அழைக்கப்பட்ட சதுர்வேதி மங்கலம் என குறிப்பிடுகின்றது.

Moolavar : Sri Choleeswara Swamy

Consort : Sri Sundarambal

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with an entrance arch. Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati as rishabaroodar is on the top of the arch. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam / Kodimaram and Rishabam are after the entrance arch and before the Mukha mandapam. Moolavar is on a round avudayar. In koshtam, Siddhi Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai.

In the inner praharam, Nalvar, Naga Lingam, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Natarajar with Sivakami and Chandikeswarar. Vinayagar and Navagraha are in the outer praharam. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam in a separate sannidhi facing south.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, Antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The Sanctum sanctorum is on a Pada bandha adhistanam with Jagathi, muppattai kumudam and pattigai. The Bhitti starts with Vedikai. An eka tala vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Maha nasis are on the 4 cordinal direction of the sigaram. Stucco images of Shiva, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the greeva koshtam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

During Chozha period this place was called as Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu URRukattu Kottathu Thamanur Nattu Kaivanthandalam alias Chathurvedi Mangalam, Srikarana Chathurvedimangalam. The inscription recorded for this temple belongs to Vikrama Chozha, Thirubhuvana Chakravarthi.

This temple was constructed during Rajaendra Chozha- I's – (1017 to 1040 CE ) period. The temple was called as Rajendra Chozheeswaram and this place was called as Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu Ootrurkottaththu Thammanur Nattu, Kavanthandalam alias Chaturvedi Mangalam. Now the Shiva temple is called as Chozheeswarar Temple. Even-though this Shiva temple was built during Rajendra Chozha-I’s period, his period inscriptions was not found, Instead Vikrama Chozha’s and Kulothunga Chozha’s inscriptions are found.

The inscription at Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Temple, in the same Village records the construction of this Shiva Temple. Rajendra Chozha-I's – (1017 to 1040 CE ) period. The Sanskrit inscription records the building of this “Rajendra Chozheeswaram” Temple by Vallala Kandan Pichan a Minister under Rajendra Chozha of Vaigur and this place was called as Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu ORRukattu Kottaththu Thammanur Nattu Kavanthandalam or Chaturvedi Mangalam. The inscription also mentions Pichan as Chozha Country Minister - சோளராஜஸ்ய மந்திரீ. In sanskrit this place was mentioned as sthandilam - ஸ்தண்டிலம். How a Shiva Temple's inscription went to that Lakshmi Narayana Temple is not known. The details of the inscription with explanation are written by Sri Sankaranarayanan G in Sarasvatam. ( The inscription is recorded in South Indian Inscriptions Volume 7, No 423 and Kanchipura mavatta Kalvettukkal Volume 4 )

Another Rajendra Chozha-I’s ( 1027 CE ) period ( SII-Vol 7, 424 ) inscription mentions as “Chaturvedi mangalathu Mahasabha … This is a incomplete and damaged inscription and further details are not known.

Kulothunga Chozha’s, 24^th reign year ( SII Vol 7, 415 ) inscription starts with meikeerhi as Thiribhuvana Chakravarthi madurayum Pandyan Mudithalaiyum koNdaruLina.... திரிபுவனசக்ரவர்திகள் மதுரையும் பாண்டியன் முடித்தலையும் கொண்டருளின... The inscription records the gift of land measuring 380 Kuli after sale as a capital by Kanakkani udaya Karanathan Kavaythandalamudayan alias Thiruvavalanchuzhi Udayan and Chozhamandalathu Thirupputhur nathar Koyil Kaikolan Eesanadevan and his brother Periya Pillai.

Vikrama Chozha ‘s 5^th reign year inscription ( SII Volume 7, 416 ), records the endowment of Naivedyam by Jayangonda Chozhamandalathu Kiliyur nattu Kuruchi Udayan Bhoomisutheeran Kannalathevan’s wife Poongamalachelvi. For the same a land was gifted to the sabha after sale for 20 Kasu.

Vikrama Chozha’s 5^th and 6^th year, inscription ( SII Volume 7, 417 ) records the endowment of burning 3 sandhi lamps by Poongamalachelvi ( mentioned in the above inscription ) and her Sister’s daughter Nangai. For the same 3 araiyee irandu ma kasu – 3 அரையே இரண்டுமா காசு--- was gifted.

Vikrama Chozha’s 6^th reign year inscription ( SII Volume 7, 418 ), records the endowment Naivedyam, by the servant of the temple, who does thirupani called Andar Manivasagangadanthar. For the same a land was gifted after purchase for 6 Kasu.