Wednesday 25 November 2015

Sri Adheeswarar Temple and Sri Adhi Narayana Perumal Temple Aathiyur ( Kunnathur ) - In Search of History - Kuruppa Nadu in Kongu Nadu.

I did  my secondary School education at NRKN Kalvi Nilayam, Kunnathur in Erode district. The place Adhiyur is very close to my school. Since there are some places are named with Kunnathur, This Kunnathur is called as Adhi Kunnathur. The meaning of Adhiyur is , the Village and ஊர் in tamil, came first. After getting interested in search of History of my Kuruppa Nadu of Kongu Nadu visited the Adhiyur on Saturday 21st November 2015. After seeing both Shiva and Vishnu temples, I felt why I missed both temples, so long time.  Both temples were undergone many changes in the name of renovation, but one thing we have to appreciate is the sanctum was kept with old structure. Understood the inscriptions were studied by Pulavar Raju, the epigraphist. ( Met him at his house and he had shown the way to get the copy of the details and will be posted after getting the details. )

Both Shiva and Vishnu temples are close to each other.  Even though both temples were built at the same period there is no inscriptions at Vishnu temple.

SRI ADHEESWARAR TEMPLE


Moolavar    : Sri Adheeswarar
Consort      : Sri Annapoorani

Some of the important details of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with an arch. A Vilakkuthoon or Garudathoon or Deepa Sthambam  is in front. Vinayagar sannidhi and a ant hill are on the left side of Garudathoon. Balipeedam with Rishabam are immediately after the main entrance under a concrete mandapam.

Sannadhi for Nalvar with Thiruneelakandar, Chandikeswarar, Balamurugan without Valli Devasena, Navagrahas, Bairavar, Chandran and Suriyan. Ambal Sri Annapoorani is in a separate sannidhi facing east.  A front mandapam is named as Dhyana mandapam in front of artha mandapam.

 Moolavar vimanam – built during 1991

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
All the sannadhis were built at a latter state keeping the original structure of sanctum Sanctorum. The Adhistanam is simple pada bandha adhistanam with three patta kumuda. The pilasters are of Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus ppetals mandi, palakai, veera kandam and pushpa potyal. The 3 tier moolavar nagara vimanam was built during 1991. ( A Stucco image holding a slate with year on the vimanam ). Inscriptions around the sanctum walls from adhistanam.

Kumbhabhishekam are conducted during 1941, 1992 and 2010.  Since this place is dominated by mudaliar community, their contribution is more. An interesting point to note is a Muslim  devotee also donated for the renovation of this temple.

 Inscriptions 
 Inscriptions

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS :
Since oru kala pooja is conducted, the will be kept open during morning hours, darshan can be done at any time since the Sivachariyar is living adjacent to the temple.

CONTACT DETAILS :
HOW TO REACH :
The temple is about 0.5 Km, off Aathiyur Bus stop and Aathiyur is about 5 KM from Kunnathur.
Town bus route no 10 from Tiruppur to Kunnathur passes through this village.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE.CLICK HERE

 Garudathoon
 Vinayagar sannidhi
 Ant hill
 Shivagana with Rishabam on the wall

  Balipeedam with Rishabam
 Vinayagar  Sannadhi 
 Moolavar vimanam – built during 1991
 Temple complex view
 Temple complex view
 Temple complex view
 Naalvar with Thiruneelakandar
 Vinayagar – an old murti 
 Ambal Sri Annapoorani 
 Vinayagar in koshtam
 Brahma in koshtam
 Durgai in koshatam
 Monkey – Vaali worshiping Lord Shiva
 Ambal in the form of Peacock worshiping Lord Shiva 


SRI ADHI NARAYANA PERUMAL


Moolavar    : Adhi Narayana Perumal.

Some of the important features of this temple are….
A Deepasthambham / Garuda thoon is in front of a hand made tile roof mandapam. ( A typical village home style). Balipeedam, Thulasi madam and Garudalwar are in front of moolavar sannadhi. Sri Anjaneyar sannidhi is on the left believed that munivar Vyasar installed. Moolavar is with Thayar and there is no separate sannadhi for Thayar.  

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Even though the temple was built same period of Shiva temple there are no inscriptions.

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS :
Since oru kala pooja is conducted, the will be kept open during morning hours. Battachariyar lives in front of the temple and he is the in-charge of the local Post office.

CONTACT DETAILS :
Mr Selvaraj 9994069194 may be contacted for darshan and other details.

HOW TO REACH :
The temple is about 0.5 Km, off Aathiyur Bus stop and Aathiyur is about 5 KM from Kunnathur.
Town bus route no 10 from Tiruppur to Kunnathur passes through this village.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE. CLICK HERE 

 Garudathoon
 Entrance hand made tiles mandapam 
 Thulasimadam with balipeedam and Garudalvar Sannadhi
 Garudalvar sannadhi
 Moolavar Vimanam
 Moolavar Vimanam - with Anjaneyar sannadhi 

 Perumal in sitting Posture – may be an old moortham 


 Moolavar Vimanam
Moolavar Vimanam
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Friday 6 November 2015

Sri Pidari Chelliamman / Selliamman Temple at Dhandeeswaram, Velachery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

O6, November 2015.
Last Sunday on  1st November 2015, I had a chance to worship Sri Pidari Chelliamman of the newly renovated temple at Dhandeeswaram, Velachery.  Many occasions I tried worship, but could not do so due the closure of the temple. Even though this temple is dedicated to Saptamatrikas, generally called as Selliamman Temple.


Moolavar     : Sri Selliamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are.... 
The temple is facing North with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. In the sanctum along with Sri Pidari Chelliamman, Vinayagar and Saptamatrikas are installed. Old Saptamatrikas or Saptha Kannis in the form of stone bricks are kept in the west wall and new navagraha shrine was added during renovation. Dakshinamurthy is in the niche behind the sanctum.


HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple belongs to 10th Century Chozha period. The same Pidari Temple was renovated during recent years. The old inscription stones are kept on the east side wall. As per the leaflet issued by Dhandeeswarar Shiva temple, this temple was built before Paranthaka Chozhan and Dhandeeswarar Shiva  temple was built before Sundara Chozhan. 

As per the inscriptions ( தமிழ்நாடு கல்வெட்டுகள் தொகுதி - IX, காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டக் கல்வெட்டுகள் தொகுதி - 5, 768 / 2017 ) This place was called as Puliyur Kottathu Velicheri ( வெளிச்சேரி ). The name Velicheri was changed to Velachery from 13th Century. During Kulohunga Chozha period Velachery was called as Thina Chinthamani Chathurvedi mangalam. The goddess was called as Kala Pidari.

The Chozha king Koparakesari's ( may be Uthama Chozha ) 4th reign year inscription records the endowment of buring 2 perpetual lamps and naivedyam by the Velicheri Village Sabha, for the same a land was gifted. The Periphery limits of the land was given, in the inscription mentions that the land was near the lands of Thirupalli Bhattan and Kulakiramavithan.

Ko Parthivendra varman's 10th reign year inscription records the endowment of naivedyam by Chozha nattu Mazha Nattu Thiruvetpurudayan Thevadigal Nambi, an official. For the same a land was purchased from a person and gifted to this Saptamatrikas after exempting the taxes.

 Parantaka Chozha’s Tamil inscriptions

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple is kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 09.00 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS :
The following landline or mobile numbers +91 44 22264337 and +91 98419 41819

HOW TO REACH :
All The Town buses to Velachery,  Vijaya nagar  Bus stand  passes through this temple. Get down at Gandhi Road Bus stop or Dhandeeswaram bus stop.
From Velachery  to Koyambedu D 70  and M 70 Passes through Dhandeeswaram.
Town buses are also available  from T Nagar and  Broad way bus stands.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE 

 Temple view from east side  

 The three tier Rajagopuram
 The three tier Rajagopuram
 Dwarapalaki
  Front Mandapam
 Front Mandapam
 Rajagopuram entrance with thirisoolam 
 The east side view of Vimanam  
 The east side view with Navagraha Sannidhi
 Vimanam view  from west side 
 Dakshinamurthy 
Dhandeeswarar temple Rajagopuram with newly constructed  entrance arch 
 --- OM SHIVAYA NAMA : ---