Jyeshta Devi / Thavvai Sculptures / ஜேஷ்டா தேவி / தவ்வைத்தாய் of Perum Pazhuvur, Melapazhuvur, Thirupazhuvur in Ariyalur District and Valikandapuram in Perambalur Districts, Tamil Nadu.

The Jyeshta Devi sculptures are parivara Devathai shrines of main temples in Ariyalur and Perambalur Districts was a part of “Perambalur & Ariyalur Districts Heritage Walk” organised by Aatrupadai - ஆற்றுப்படை – A Tours and Heritage group on 4^th and 5^th , November 2023.

These Jyeshta Devi sculptures are in the Pazhuvettarayar period temples, which indicates that Jyeshta Devi worship might be very much popular during their period. Almost all the sculptures are with similar iconography, but with slight variations. All Jyeshta Devi’s are slim, elegant and beautiful, compared to Thondai mandalam Jyeshta Devi sculptures.

Jyeshta Devi at Valeeswarar Temple, at Valikandapuram, Perambalur District, Tamil Nadu.

In this Jyeshta Devi sculpture looks very beautiful. She is in sitting posture along with Manthan and Manthi. She is shown with karanda makudam, ornaments around the neck, in elongated earlobes and sannaveeram. Crow flag is shown on the right side of her back. The right hand is in abhaya hastam and left hand is resting on the seat. This Jyeshta Devi is under worship in the praharam on the back side of the main temple. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Jyeshta Devi at Twin Temples, Keezhaiyur, Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu.

In this Jyeshta Devi sculpture, Jyeshta Devi is in sitting posture along with Manthan and Manthi. She is shown with karanda makudam, ornaments around the neck, in elongated earlobes and sannaveeram. The surface seems to be unfinished behind, hence the crow flag and broom stick couldn’t identified. She is holding a flower in the right hand. This Jyeshta Devi is not under worship.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Jyeshta Devi at Sri Sundareswarar Temple, Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Melapalur, Ariyalur District, Tamil nadu.

In this Jyeshta Devi looks very beautiful, is in sitting posture along with Manthan and Manthi. She is shown with karanda makudam, ornaments around the neck &  in elongated earlobes and sannaveeram. A crow flag is shown on her left side. She is holding a flower in the right hand. This Jyeshta Devi is under worship in a separate sannidhi on the back side of the main temple.  

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

 

Jyeshta Devi at Maravaneeswarar Mahadevar Temple, Keezha Pazhuvur, Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu.

In this Jyeshta Devi sculpture, She looks very beautiful, in sitting posture along with Manthan and Manthi. She is shown with karanda makudam, ornaments around the neck & in elongated earlobes and sannaveeram. Crow flag and broom stick are not shown. She is holding a flower in the right hand and the left hand is on her thigh like ooru hastam. This Jyeshta Devi is under worship in a separate sannidhi on the back side of the main temple. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

A Pallava Period Dhara Lingam as Siddhar Lingam / Sri Adhipureeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ ஆதிபுரீஸ்வரர் கோவில் / Adipureeswarar Temple, Sonallur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Adipureeswarar Temple at Sonallur was a part of “Shiva & Vishnu Temples, Hero Stones and Heritage Sites Visit”, from Ponmar to Karunilam, near Guduvanchery, in Chengalpattu District on 24^th October 2023.

 

This Shiva temple little away from the human habitation and on the banks of Sonallur tank, a drinking water source created under the Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam at an estimated cost of Rs 10.79 lakhs.

Moolavar  : Sri Adhipureeswarar / Adipureeswarar 

Consort    : Sri Kamakshi

Some of the salient features of this temple are,....

The temple is facing  east with balipeedam and a Rishabam. Vinayagar  and Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar Sri Adhipureeswarar is of swayambhu on a round avudayar. A Dhara Lingam ( sodasa lingam with 16 fluted surfaces ), written as Siddhar Lingam and Ambal is in the sanctum itself.

Chandikeswarar, Bairavar and Nagar are around the sanctum sanctorum.

ARCHITECTURE

The total temple is under a asbestos shed. An asbestos shed with two pipe supports are erected in front of the temple.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Considering Siddhar Lingam, a Dhara lingam ( sodasa lingam with 16 fluted surfaces ), this Shiva Temple may be a Siddhar Peedam or a Samadhi temple. Dhara Lingas are usually worshiped during the Pallava period. Hence this Dhara Linga as Siddhar Peedam may be existed since 07^th to 08^th Century.

An 18^th to 19^th Century inscription stone is erected on the left side of Vinayagar. Since oil was applied for a long period the letters are very difficult to read. May be a donation stone to this temple.

HOW TO REACH

The temple is about 500 meters before the Village Sonallur and Sonallur is about 1 KM from Sonallur Junction on Kelambakkam to Vandalur Road.

The temple is about 3 KM from Mambakkam, 6 KM from Ottiyambakkam, 8 KM from Kelambakkam, 15.8 KM from Vandalur and 40 KM from Chennai Central Station.

Nearest Railway Station is Vandalur.

LOCATION O THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Gangai Amman Temple - just before Shiva Temple

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Vallapurieswarar Temple / வல்லம் வல்லபபுரீஸ்வரர் கோயில் / Very Ancient Vallapurieswarar Sivan Temple / ஸ்ரீ வல்லபுரீஸ்வரர் சிவன் கோயில், Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Vallapurieswarar temple was a part of “Gajaprsihta / gajabrushta Vimana Shiva temple at Vallam and Jain Temples at Ponnur and Ponnur Hills Visit”, on 22^nd October 2023. This is one of the Pallava period Shiva Temple with gajaprishta / gajabrushta Vimanam in Tiruvannamalai District in Tamil Nadu.

It is believed that the hymns sung by Thirugnanasambandar on Thiruvallam, belongs to this place Vallam and not the Thiruvalam, near Ranipet. In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar mentions Thirugnanasambandar’s route as Thirumalpur – Thiruvallam ( 1003 of Thirugnanasambandar's puranam ) – Ilumbayankottur-Cooum and Thakkolam. In this, both the places Thiruvalam and this Vallam are little far off and routes are not matching.   

எரித்தவன் முப்புரம் எரியின் மூழ்கத்
தரித்தவன் கங்கையைத் தாழ்சடைமேல்
விரித்தவன் வேதங்கள் வேறுவேறு
தெரித்தவன் உறைவிடம் திருவல்லமே.

Moolavar  : Sri Vallapurieswarar

Conort     : Sri Kadina Kujambigai

Some of the Salient features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with an entrance arch form east. Stucco image of Shiva and Parvati are on the top of the entrance. Balipeedam and Rishabam are immediately after the east side entrance. There is a 3 tier Rajagopuram on the South side which is not used now.  Dwarapalakas, Vinayagar and Murugan are at the entrance of ardha mandapam. Rishabam and a balipeedam are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is little big on a Square avudayar. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.

In praharam, Saptamatrikas, Shiva Linga, Nagar, Maha Vishnu, Sri Valli Devasena Arumugar, Suriyan, Navagrahas, Bairavar and Chandikeswarar.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi on the back side of Moolavar sannidhi facing east. Ambal Kadina Kujambigai is in three banga standing posture, while upper hands are holding pasa angusam and lower hands are in abhaya varada hastam. Third eye is on the forehead. The sannidhi is constructed such that circumambulation can be done both Shiva and Ambal Sannidhis.  

Durgai and Ambal

Saptamatrikas

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam and a maha mandapam. The temple was constructed in gajaprishta style from adhistanam to sigaram. The adhistanam is of pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, threepatta kumudam and pattika. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The Pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with square base, naga bandham, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, and poo mottu pothyal. The Kostas are of sala style. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasikudus and Viyyalavari. The eka tala Vimanam is of gajaprishta style. Stucco image of Shiva with Parvati is on lalada nasi, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the Greeva Kostas.

There is a Pallava period Kubera’s sculpture is installed at the entrance of the Temple. The bottom has the bas relief of Gurukkal carrying the naivedyam and a person is holding an umbrella on the top of Naivedyam and another person is ringing a bell. The entrance column  and a mandapam Pillar, in place of Naga bandham on the left side, is in the form of Sanga Nidhi.

Nagabandham - Sanganithi

Sanganithi and Padmanidhi

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple belongs to Pallava period and reconstructed as a stone temple during Chozha period and received contributions from Pandyas and Vijayanagaras.  

Pandyas and Vijayanagara period inscriptions are found on the adhistanam and wall. As per the inscriptions this place was called as Jayamkonda Chozha mandalathu Venkundrakottathu Valla Nattu vallam. And Shiva was called as Vallathu aludaiyar Thiruavagathechuramudaiya Nayanar.

Thiribhuvana Chakravarthi Sundara Pandyan’s 12^th reign year inscription records the endowment of burning 5 perpetual lamps by Azhipadai Thangi Villagers. The tax collected from all the sources to be given to the temple as irayili.  ( SII Volume-7, No 82 ).

The Vijayanagara Period Mahamandaleswara Chaluva Narasingaiya period inscription records the donation of lands as Thevadhanam. ( SII Volume-7, No 83 ). 

LEGENDS

As per the legend, the demons around this are didn’t allowed to worship Shiva of this temple, when Sugar Maharishi. Shiva with the help of Vinayagar in the form of elephant chased them away. Since Shiva gave the vallamai / strength to Sugar Maharishi, Shiva is being called as Vallapapurieswarar. It was told that the some of the Village names are associated with this legend. Since Vinayagar chased away the demons, at a place called Anaibogi, The villagers gathered and prayed Shiva is called as Urgudi, etc,.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, maha shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Panguni Uthiram, Arudra Darshan etc,.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple is under oru kala poojas and usually kept open around 10.00 hrs. An operator / meikavalar is staying on the back side of the temple, who may help to open the gates for the darshan of Parivara sannidhis.

HOW TO REACH

Vallam is about 2.7 KM off from Vandavasi to Polur Main road and after Ponnur Hills.

The temple is about 17 KM from Vandavasi, 19 KM from Chetpet, 42 KM from Uthiramerur, 47 KM from Polur, 50 KM from Tindivanam and 140 KM from Chennai.

Nearest railway Station is Tindivanam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

Veerabhadra..?

Lingothbavar- Dakshinamurthy - Brahma 

Old and New Chandikeswaras 

Pichadanar

Rishaba Vahana

Maha Vishnu and Lakshmi

Bairavar and Suriyan

Suriyan ( Chozha Period )

Dwarapalakas 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---