A Wandering Heritager: Thirunavaleeswarar Temple/ திருநாவலீஸ்வரர் கோயில், நாவலூர்/ Navalur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

Monday 19 June 2023

Thirunavaleeswarar Temple/ திருநாவலீஸ்வரர் கோயில், நாவலூர்/ Navalur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

This place Navalur is on the Rajiva Gandhi Salai Old Mahabalipuram Road ( OMR ), an IT hub of Chennai City. On 28^th May 2023, on the way to Sithalapakkam via Ottiambakkam, visited this Shiva Temple.

Moolavar : Sri Thirunavaleeswarar

Consort : Sri Akilandeswari

Some of the salient features of this temple are…

The temple facing east with a temple tank. Balipeedam, Rishabam are in front of the temple. Stucco dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is on a round avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Mahavishnu, Brahma and Durgai,

In praharam Vinayagar, Vallidevasena Subramaniar, Ambal Akilandeswari, Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas, Lakshmi Narayanar Temple, Ayyappan with kannimoola ganapathy, manjal matha, Nagars, Arasarai Maha Vinayagar, Nagars ( under the Sthala Vruksham, Naval & Vila ) Trees

Ambal Akilandeswari is in a separate sannidhi facing south. Ambal is in standing posture with Abhaya varada hastam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and the open mukha mandapam.. The Complete temple was constructed with bricks and cement concrete. The sanctum sanctorum is on a upanam and pada bandha adhisthanam. A three tier vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stucco images of Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are on the Tala and Greeva Vimana koshtams. 1^st Tala Brahma is on his vahana with his consorts.

In Lakshmi Naraya temple, the Vimanam is of two tier vesara Vimanam. Stucco images of Maha Vishnu’s various avatars are on the Vimanam.

The Ayyappan’s sannidhi was built at a latter date in a separate enclosure, in Kerala architecture style with Kanni moola Ganapathy, Manjal Matha and Nagars.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It was told that the Moolavar and Rishabam are unearthed about 35 years before. Maha Periyava visited the site and told the original Shiva Linga is more than 1000 years. He also named Shiva as Navaleeswarar. It is also believed that the temple was constructed about 700 -750 years before by a regional king of this place.

திரு ச கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி எழுதிய, தொல்லியல் நோக்கில் காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டம் புத்தகத்தில் உள்ள நாவலூர் என்ற ஊரின் குறிப்புபடி, செங்கல்பட்டு வட்டம் கேளம்பாக்கம் உள்வட்டத்தில் உள்ள நாவலூருக்குச் சென்னையில் இருந்து நகரப்பேருந்துகள் பல செல்கின்றன. இவ்வூரில் இருந்து 1934-35 ஆம் ஆண்டில் படியெடுத்த ஒரு கல்வெட்டு ( எண் 13 ) புத்த காஞ்சி இறைவன் கச்சி நாயகனுக்கு இவ்வூர்ப் பள்ளிச் சந்தமாக வழங்கிய விவரத்தைக் குறிப்பிடுகிறது. எனவே இவ்வூர் புத்த சமய ஊராக முன்பு இருந்திருக்க வேண்டும். தருமபுரி அருகே கண்டறியப்பட்ட இரு மைல் கல்வெட்டுகளில் இடம்பெறும் நாவல் தாவளம் இவ்வூராக இருக்கலாம் என்று சிலர் கருதுவர். அதியமான் கோட்டையிலிருந்து நாவல் தாவளம்வரை பிற்காலச் சோழர் காலத்தில் ஒரு பெருவழி இருந்தது. அதன் பெயர் அதியமான் பெருவழியாகும்

As per Tholliyal Nokkil Kanchipuram mavattam, written by Sa Krishnamoorthy, an inscription was recorded from this place ( ARE 1934 – 35, No 13 ), states that this place was given to Buddha Kanchi, god Kachi Nayakan as palli santham. Hence it is presumed that this place might have been a Buddhist place.

The Inscription found out near Dharmapuri, mile stone, mentions a place called “Naval thavalam”. The historians, is of the opinion that this place may the Naval Thavalam mentioned in the mile stone inscription. During Latter Chozha period there was a Peruvazhi - path called Adhiyaman Peruvazhi, which originates from Adhiyaman Fort and ends at Naval Thavalam.

The temple is being run and maintained by the Thirunavaleeswarar Temple Trust.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Shiva appeared under the Naval Tree, hence Shiva is called as Navaleeswarar and this place is also called as Navalaur.

Also the Devotees prays to Shiva and Akilandeswari to get rid of marriage obstacles, Child boon etc.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Fridays, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Adi pooram. Chitra Pournami, Sankadahara Chathurti etc, Etc.

The Childless ladies worships Akilandeswari, after fasting till Aadi month Ashwini nakshathra day, do poojas to Ambal, offering bangles and , Pachchai payiru as naivedyam. After pooja, the naivedyam is consumed to get the child boon.