Monday 2 May 2016

Ponmar Perumal Temple, Ponmar, Thiruporur, Aamoor and Perumbakkam Iron age Burial sites and Durgai, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

PART – 1, PONMAR PERUMAL TEMPLE.
In Continuation to my previous  visit to Ponmar Perumal Temple,  On 1st May 2016, had been to Ponmar, once again along with Mr Udhay and Vimal as a part of Heritage visit. This time climbed in to sanctum and could see more details of construction. The artha mandapam and sanctum walls are built with stone  in three parts. The outer and inner walls are of stone and middle part is of  brick masonry. Inside the sanctum there is an anthill started growing. The temple was reconstructed latter  with tamil number  markings on the stones. Even though the temple was built  equal period of Sri Sakthipureeswarar temple there is no inscription was found. Recorded many details.

LOCATION : CLICK HERE










PART -2, PONMAR IRON AGE BURIAL SITES.
There are a ASI caution boards  in Ponmar Village. One is near the lake and the other is on the way to Thalambur Village. On both places, the sites are highly disturbed. Stones were moved, and  dug using JCB for construction of houses. Very much disappointed. I am a regular visitor to Ponmar and Ottiambakkam. During my earlier visits about few years before I had seen the ASI fence around the small hill, but now the fence disappeared and houses are constructed on the hill disturbing the burial sites.

LOCATION : CLICK HERE





PART – 3, THIRUPORUR  IRON AGE BURIAL SITES.
During our earlier visit to this site we had seen many on the southern part of the Thiruporur hill, where a Shiva Temple is there.  This temple self and friends went extensively covered almost 70% of the hill area. We could see Burial sites on the northern part of the hill also. Why do they selected this hill  as burial site, the reason is not known. Some of the sites might have been damaged  while constructing the Shiva Temple on the top of the hill. Another sad thing we noticed was survey stones are erected  to issue free patta for construction of  houses for the landless. Hence any body desirous of seeing these sites may visit soon other wise it may disappear and a building may sprung on the  sites.

LOCATION : CLICK HERE

















PART – 4, AMOOR IRON AGE BURIAL SITES.
This site is about 7 KM from Thiruporur on Thiruporur to Thirukazhukundram road and spelled as Ammor by google maps.  The Burial site is in the reserve forest and not on the hill like burial sites. In these site we could clearly see the centre part of the site where stones are erected in rectangular shape. These sites spreads in a large area of reserve forest.

LOCATION :CLICK HERE











PART – 5, PERUMBAKKAM IRON AGE BURIAL SITES.
On the way to home  we had visited the burial site on the hill of Perumbakkam. We could see only one site, that too middle portion clearly. We could not venture further, due to the bushes grown heavily. Returned back via Medavakkam.

LOCATION : CLICK HERE





BONUS DURING THE ABOVE VISIT : THIRUPORUR SHIVA TEMPLE PILLAR RELIEFS





PERUMBAKKAM DURGAI 


I extend my thanks to Mr Udhaya Shankar  and Mr Vimal for  allowing me to join with them for this wonderful heritage trip to Iron age Burial sites. 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

Tuesday 26 April 2016

Sri Thiyaga Vinotha Perumal Temple / ஸ்ரீ தியாக வினோத பெருமாள் கோயில், Ponmar, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Thiyaga Vinotha Perumal Temple at Ponmar was a part of “Shiva & Vishnu Temples, Hero Stones and Heritage Sites Visit”, from Ponmar to Karunilam, near Guduvanchery, in Chengalpattu District on 24th October 2023. This temple was once in dilapidated condition.  
 
 
The old post dated 26th April 2016, of my blog on this temple was up dated after reconstruction and Maha samprokshanam.  This Perumal temple is on Ponmar to Navalur road.

Moolavar : Sri Thiyaga Vinaotha Perumal
Consorts : Sridevi & Bhudevi

 

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with balipeedam and Garudan. The sanctum sanctorum is on a elevated level with steps to claim up. In sanctum Sanctorum Moolavar Sri Thiyaga Vinotha Perumal  is with Sridevi and Bhudevi, about 5.5 feet tall. Perumal is with 4 hands. The upper hands holds sankha and prayoga chakra ( straight ) and lower hands are in varada and kadi hastam. .  Utsavars are in the ardha mandapam.
 
ARCHITECTURE
The temple is on a raised upanam. The  Upana pilasters has the bas-reliefs of the epic Ramayan scenes. The adhistanam is of kapota bandha adhistanam with jagathy, vrutha kumudam and Kapotam with nasi kudus. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The koshtas are of Sala style and pilasters are with Vishnukantha pilasters with square base & Naga bandham, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veerakandam and poomottu pothyal. The Kumbha panjaras are between koshtas and karnapathi.
 
The Prastaram  consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus and Viyyalavari. The nasikudus has the images of bhuta ganas and Epic Ramayan scenes.
 
 
The Bricks Vimanam is above the bhumidesam. The Vimanam is of  two tiers ( totally 3 tiers with adhi tala ). The Tala and greeva Kostas has the stucco images of Narasimhar, Lakshmi Narayana, Lakshmi Hyagreeva, Lakshmi Varaha etc,.
 


 
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple belongs to Chozha period and reconstructed during Vijayanagara period ( the present structure ). The temple was in dilapidated condition till few years before, either due lack of maintenance or may be destroyed during Muslim rulers invasion.
 
This place Ponmar was called as Jayamkonda Chozhamandalathu Puliyur kottathu Kalvoy nattu Thiyaga Vinotha Nallur alias Ponmaru Thiyaga Vinotha nallur - ஜெயங்கொண்ட சோழமண்டலத்து புலியூர் கோட்டத்து கால்வாய் நாட்டு தியாகவினோத நல்லூரான பொன்மாறு, during Vijayanagara period ( as per Kanchipura Mavatta kalvettukkal Volume – 2, Sri Sakthipureeswarar Temple’s inscription, which is about 500 meters away from this temple ). When the temple was in dilapidated condition, this temple was identified as a Maha Vishnu temple based on the Garuda’s image on the entrance lintel. Except this Garuda’s bas-relief no other idol was found in this temple. So Maha Vishnu was named after the village name as Thiyaga Vinotha Perumal.
 
As per AR No 125 of 1912, the Chozha King Rajaraja-III ( 1219 CE ) incomplete inscription at Thiruvitriyur Temple, records the order of transferring  this village from one person to the other  inscribe at Thiruvotriyur Adhipurisvara Temple. This inscription starts with his meikeerthi as Sir manni iru nangum thisai vilangka thirumadanthaiyum...... சிர்ம(ன்)னி இருநான்கும்  திசை விளங்க திருமடந்தையும்.... In the ARE report the king is called  Ulagudaiya-Perumal. The title Parakesarivarman is wrongly engraved for Rajakesarivarman. The King is addressed as one who would take the country  he sees and will not give back, as kanda nadu kondu konda nadu kudatha – கண்டநாடு  கொண்டு கொண்டநாடு குடாத உலகுய்யவந்த பெருமாளு..., a title / meilkeerthi which find in the Vijayanagara inscriptions of the latter period.
 
The inscription records that when the King was pleased to appear at Karuvili in Milalai kuRRam in Pandi nadu, he issued and order  conferring  the proprietorship of the Village Ponmarumaligai in Kalvay nadu in Puliyur Kottam, in Jayankondachozha mandalam ( a sub-division ) of Thondai mandalam on a certain Pugalvanayan of Karuvili. It appears that the previous holder Sengadavayan betrayed the Royal Command - ராஜ துரோகம். ( hence it was now given to Pugalvaniyan ).
 
The temple was reconstructed and Samprokshanam was conducted on 05th June 2023.
 
It is planned to install 12 alwars and Udayavar Sri Ramanujar idols sculptured out of Green stone at a cost of Rs 57000/ each. Sponsors are requested to participate and their fame will last long till the sun and moon exists.
 
LEGENDS
This legend is associated with the Prayoga Chakra, which Maha Vishnu holds. The Amparisa Story, the Thirty third sthagam / chapter in the Narayaniyam praises the Prayoga Chakra’s glory. When Maha Vishnu took the Macha avatar, Sathaviratha had received upadesam from Vishnu as Guru. In the next birth he was born as Vaivastha Manu. His son was Nabagan. Amparisan was born to Nabagan and ruled this complete earth. Amparisan observed ekadasi viratham seriously. Durvasa visited Amparisan, when he was observing Ekadasi Viratham, he didn’t noticed Durvasa. Thinking that Amparisan was ignoring him, Durvasa Rishi’s has become angry.
 
Durvasa  had sent a Bhoota to destroy Amparisan. On seeing this Maha Vishnu had sent the Chakra as prayoka Chakra on the Bhoota. The Chakra killed the Bhoota and chased Durvasa.  Fearing the Chakra Durvasar surrendered to Maha Vishnu. But Maha Vishnu advised Durvasar to surrender to Amparisan. Since there was no choice to escape from Chankra, Durvasar surrendered to Amparisan. Overwhelmed Maha Vishnu’s, kindness and blessings Amparisan, requested Chakra, not to harm Durvasa. The Chakra reduced its speed and returned back to Maha Vishnu. On seeing all these happenings Durvasar, praised Amparisan’s Bhakthi on Maha Vishnu and the importance of ekadasi viratham. Durvasa blessed Amparisan with lot of boons.
 
Amparisan worshipped many Maha Vishnu temples across India, where Maha Vishnu Holds Prayoga chakra and this is one of the temple. Some of the other temples are Madurai Azhagar Temple, Aduthurai Vaiyangatha Perumal temple and Arumbakkam sathya Varadharaja Perumal temple. As per the sthala purana, Perumal was blessing his devotees from this temple in 4 yugas.
 
Maha Vishnu also saved the Gajendra an elephant from Crockadile, when it called loudly cried as “Adhimoolame”, Maha Vishnu throw the Prayoga chakra and blessed both Gajendran and the Crocadile to attain mukthi.
 
  
POOJAS & CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikunta ekadasi, monthly ekadasi, Purattasi Saturdays, Markazhi months all days, Hanuman Jayanthi, Krishnar Jaynathi, Pushpangi Seva, etc.
 
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 08.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
 
CONTACT DETAILS
Bhattar Murali may be contacted on his mobile +91 9791157243 for pooja details.
 
The trustees may be contacted on their mobile number +91 8056274746, +918778693401 and +917010216023  for details and developments of the temple.
 
HOW TO REACH
All the buses from T Nagar, ( 51J, J51 and 51T )  via Medavakkam passes through the Village Ponmar
The temple is about a KM off main road on Malai Street ( Ponmar to Navalur Road ).
19 KM from Velachery, 10 KM from Medavakkam, 40 KM from Chennai Central.
Nearest MRTS Railway Station is Velachery.  
 
LOCATION  OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE 






--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
26th April 2016.
இன்று  24, ஏப்ரல், 2016, பொன்மார் சென்று இருந்தேன்..மலை வீதியிலுள்ள ஸ்ரீ சக்தி புரீஸ்வரர் கோவில் செல்வதற்கு முன்பு கண்டது மனதை என்னவோ செய்தது....ஒரு பெருமாள் கோயில்.. கீழே விழும் நிலையில்.. பல்லவர்கள் காலத்தில் வெளிப்புறம் கற்றளியாகவும் உள்ளே செங்கற்களாலும் கட்டப்பட்டது...அதே காலகட்டத்தில் கட்டப்பட்டது தான் சிவன் கோவிலும்.. பெருமாள் யாருக்காக காத்துக்கொண்டு இருக்கின்றார் என்று தெரியவில்லை.

பெருமாள் பக்த்தர்கள் யாராவது முன் வருவார்களா.. பெருமாள் பக்தர்கள் மிகவும் நல்ல மனம் படைத்தவர்கள்.. கண்டிப்பாக கூடிய விரைவில் ஒரு புதிய விடியலை எதிர்பார்போம்... வலைத்தள அன்பர்களுக்கு ஒரு வேண்டுகோள்..இதை அதிகமாக பகிர்ந்தால் ஒரு நல்ல பெருமாள் பக்த்தரை சென்று அடையாதா....

I happened to visit this Ponmar, Chennai Perumal Temple on 24th April 2016. Really I felt very sorry to see the condition of this temple. May collapse at any time. A tamarind tree was grown from top to bottom. Some of the outer side carved stones had fallen down. By seeing the structure the temple might have constructed during Pallava period, out side with stone and inside with bricks.

I do not know why the Perumal is waiting so long to ask any one of his devotee to reconstruct the temple. Hope we will expect a change. Request Perumal devotees to spread this message and help for reconstruction of this temple.  

HOW TO REACH :
All the buses from T Nagar, ( 51J, J51 and 51T )  via Medavakkam passes through the Village Ponmar
The temple is about a KM off main road on Malai Street 

LOCATION : CLICK HERE 









--- OM SHIVAYA NAMAHA---