Utilizing the opportunity of participating the Uzhavaram by Chennai sevas had the darshan of Sri Hridayaleeswarar and Eri Katha Ramar at Thiruninravur. This Shiva temple is few meters away from 58th Divyadesam, Sri Bhaktavatsala Perumal temple at Thiruninravur. This post was separated from the combined post and updated with Legends, History and Architecture. Please click the link to see the old post with Erikatha Ramar temple.
West side entrance
Moolavar : Sri Hridayaleeswarar
Consort : Sri Maragathambal
Some of the important features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with entrance arches on the east and west side. On the east side entrance Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam. Sri Vinayagar and Balamurugan are at the entrance to the inner prakaram. The sanctum sanctorum is of Gajabirushtam style with Pallava Architecture. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Vishnu Durgai. Moolavar is little large on a square avudayar and Poosalar one of the 63 nayanmar is in the sanctum facing south.
In the inner Prakaram sannadhi for Suryan Navagrahas, Pallava King Rajasimhan, Ninravur Polla Pillayar, Nalvar, Sekkizhar, Naagars, Mahaganapathy, Urchava moorthangal, Valli Devasena Subramaniar with Naagars, Chandikeswarar, Palliyarai, Natarajar saba, Bhairavar and Chandran.
In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Vinayagar, Nava kanniyar, Mandapam and office Room. Ambal is in a separate sannadhi facing south.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a Pada bandha adhisthanam with three patta kumudam on a upanam. The sanctum sanctorum is of Gajaprishta shape from upanam to sigaram. The temple was constructed with stone from upanam to prastaram. A two tier brick Vimanam is on the prastaram.
Gajaprishta Vimanam
Gajaprishta Vimanam
Moolavar Vimanam with Ambal sannadhi vimanam
Moolavar Vimanam with Ambal sannadhi vimanam
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple is about 1300 years old and some inscriptions are available on the sanctum wall. It is believed that this temple was constructed during Pallava period. 9 – 10th Century inscriptions are found on the sanctum sanctorum wall.
The 20th century inscription records that in 1905 CE Devakottai Sita Achi had done thirupani to this temple.
LEGENDS
The temple was constructed by Pallava king Rajasimhan for Poosalar. The story goes like this… Poosalar who applied vibhuti all over his body wants to construct a Shiva Temple sitting under Iluppai tree. Even though Poosalar couldn’t physically construct the temple, constructed the Shiva Temple in his heart with a concentrated mind. This was rightly written by Sekkizhar Peruman in “Periya Puranam” as..
அடி முதல் உபானம் ஆதி
ஆகிய படிகள் எல்லாம்
வடிவறு தொழில்கள் முற்ற
மனதினால் வகுத்துமான
முடிவுறு சிகரம் தானும்
முன்னிய முழத்திற் கொண்டு
நெடிது நாள் கூடக் கோவில்
திறம்படி நினைவால் செய்தார்
Poosalar completed the temple in the heart and fixed a date for consecration / Kumbhabhishekam. In the mean time the Pallava king Rajasimhan also constructed a temple for Shiva as “Sri Kailasanathar Temple” at Kanchipuram. Sekkizhar records the construction of the Kachi KaRRali ( Kailasanathar temple ) with mudram, madam etc, as KaRRali / stone temple and spending large amount of money / perumchelvam.
"காடவர் கோமான் கச்சிக்
கற்றளி எடுத்து முற்ற
மாடெல்லாம் சிவனுக்காகப்
பெருஞ்செல்வம் வகுத்தல் செய்வான்
நாடமாலறியா தாரைத்
தாபிக்கும் அன்னாள் முன்னாள்
ஏடலார் கொன்றை வேய்ந்தார்
இரவிடை கனவில் எய்தி"
After completion of the temple the Pallava king fixed a date after consulting the vedic pundits and astrologers. Since the date of consecration coincides with Poosalar’s temple date, Shiva asked the king to postpone the date in his dream and said the he is going to attend the consecration of Temple constructed by his devotee Poosalar. The Pallava King Rajasimhan wants to see the temple and came to Thiruninravur and able to find Poosalar under the Iluppai tree with a great difficulty. Poosalar showed his chest where he built the temple. The king appreciated Poosalar’s bhakthi and constructed a temple as per Poosalar’s wish. Sekkizhar finishes Poosalar Nayanar’s Puranam with this poem as..
"நீண்ட சேஞ்சடையனார்க்கு
நினைப்பினால் கோயிலாக்கிப்
பூண்ட அன்பிடையறாத
பூசலார் பொற்றான் போற்றி"
The Pallava King Rajasimhan
Since Poosalar constructed in his heart ( mind ), it is believed that heart related ailments will get cured by worshiping Lord Shiva of this temple.
TEMPLE TIMINGS :
The temple is kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 12.30 Hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.30 Hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS :
The temple dharmakartha is Sri Jagan Somasundaram of Devakottai, a Nattukottai Nagarathar and the manager is Mr D Balakrishnan whose mobile number is 9444164108.
HOW TO REACH :
The temple is about 3 KM distance from Thiruninravur Railway station which is on the way from Chennai Central to Tiruvallur- Arakkonam.
Town buses are available from Railway station’s south side, 54A to Poonamallee and M54 to T Nagar.
Share autos are also available from Thiruninravur railway station.
East Side entrance
Dwajasthambam, balipeedam and Rishabam
View of the temple from west side
Sapta matrikas with Veerabhadra and Vinayagar
A round stone, what for it is used?- Used for Grinding of lime mortar during renovation
After darshan of Sri Hridayaleeswarar, went to Sri Eri Katha Ramar temple. When I reached, the temple was not opened. Went around the temple. Development work of paving the floor around the sanctum was in progress. Labourers are busy in unloading the granite slabs for the pavement. After 15 minutes the Bhatter arrived and opened the temple for the dharshan. Wow it was a wonderful darshan of Lord Sri Ramar and waiting has been rewarded.
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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