VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT

Wednesday 24 April 2024

Chinna Ongali Amman Temple / Ongali Amman Temple / சின்ன ஓங்காளியம்மன் திருக்கோயில், Tiruchengode, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Chinna Ongali Amman Temple, at Tiruchengode was a part of Namakkal District Temples and Heritage sites Visit on 24th February 2024. This Amman Temple is in the midst of the Tiruchengode Town and very close to Sri Kailasanathar Temple. Visited the temple a day after the Annual Kundam Thiruvizha / Theemithi Thiruviszha..

PC -Temple's FB
Moolavar  : Sri Ongaliamman

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple is facing north  with a Trishul and an almost 60 feet long Kundam. Balipeedam and a Simham is in the mandapam. Amman is in sitting posture keeping left leg on a demon and holding a trishul in the right hand, pointing towards the demon.

PC -Temple's FB
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum was built in grama style with a salakara Vimanam of two tiers. Stucco images of Amman’s various forms are on the Vimanam.

Stucco images of Amman’s various forms are on the top of the mandapam three side.




HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
This grama thevathai temple is believed to be more than 200 years old and the present structure was built during recent years.

Jeernodharana ashta bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 12th December 2018.


LEGENDS
It is believed that Amman will destroy the evil sprits, will remove marriage obstacles and grant child boon. After the wishes are fulfilled, the Devotees participates, in fire walk, some carries fire pot, etc.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, 15 days Masi month thiruvizha will be celebrated in a grand manner. Theertham will be brought from malaiyadi kuttai and abhishekam will be done. The devotees carry out the agni chatti / fire pot, 60 feet kundam / fire walk, alaku piercing, mulaipari as a nerthi kadan for their wishes are fulfilled. The conch / shankha abhishekam will be performed after kundam fire walk and Amman will be taken in procession in the evening.

PC -Temple's FB

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs. to 12.00 hrs. and 17.00 hrs. to 20.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
Hereditary Dharmakartha Shanthi Muthukumar.

HOW TO REACH
This temple is about  a KM from Central bus stand, 24 KM from Erode Junction, 10 KM from Sankaridurg railway Station and 46 KM from Salem.
Nearest Railway station is Sankaridurg.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE



--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Tuesday 23 April 2024

Kumizhi Thoombu / குமிழிதூம்பு / Sluice Gate, Chellandi Amman Temple / Sellandi Amman Temple, Pachal, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Kumizhi Thoombu / Sluice Gate in Pachal Eri and the inscription stone connected to this, at Sellandi Amman Temple at Pachal Village, was a part of Namakkal District Temples and Heritage sites Visit on 23rd February 2024. Thanks to Mrs Sakthiprakash who accompanied with me to this Visit. Thanks to Mr Srinivasan for the Photographs and more details. 

Usually these Kumizhi thoombu / Sluice Gate will be installed to regulate the out flow of water, which depends on the storage and requirement. The drawing shows, how the Kumizhi Thoombu works. The old system was abandoned and new Kumizhi thoombu was installed at the overflow side of the eri.

THOOMBU INSCRIPTION STONE
This eri Kumizhi Thoombu / Sluice Gate belongs to Chozha period. A Kumizhi Thoombu / Sluice Gate inscription stone is installed on the side of the temple. The inscription records the excavation of the Chozha chaturvedi mangalathu Eri and the stopping of breach was done by the Moonru karai nadan ( a head of the person ). Then this has to be maintained by Moonru karai nattar. The text of the inscription goes as….  
பிரமதேயம் பாச்சிலான உலகளந்த சோழச்சருப்பேதி மங்கலத்து ஏரியை வெட்டுவித்து உடைப்பை அடைத்தவன் மூன்றுகரைநாடன் என்ற தலைவர் என்று பொருள் படலாம். இனிப் பாதுகாப்பது மூன்றுகரைநாட்டார் பொறுப்பு எனலாம்.

1. ….
2. து…………………………..
3. ணைவ………….
4. யாநாட்டுபிரம்மதே
5. யையம்பாச்சில
6. ாநஉலகளந்தசோழ
7. சருபேதிமங்க
8. லத்துஏரியும்இ
9. வ்வுடைப்பும்மூன்று
10. கரைநாடன்இவ்வூ
11. ர்மூன்றுகரைநாட்
12. டார்ரக்ஷை


HOW TO REACH
This temple is on the south banks of Pachal eri about a KM from the Village. The Village Pachal is 8.7 KM from Rasipuram, 24 KM from Namakkal, 35 KM from Tiruchengode and Salem.
Nearest Railway station is Rasipuram. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE WITH HORSE : CLICK HERE

PC - Srinivasan, Omalur
PC - Srinivasan, Omalur

The old arrangement was replaced with modern screw type. 
The old arrangement was replaced with modern screw type.
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sunday 21 April 2024

Rock Horse / Stone Horse / Kalkuthirai / கல் குதிரை, Chellandi Amman Temple / Sellandi Amman Temple, Pachal, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Sellandi Amman and the Stone Horse  at Pachal Village, was a part of Namakkal District Temples and Heritage sites Visit on 23rd February 2024. Thanks to Mrs Sakthiprakash who accompanied with me to this Visit. 


This Sellandi Amman temple on the banks of Pachal lake facing North. Dwarapalaka and Dwarapalaki are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum.

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. A salakara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. The temple belongs to 11th to 12th Century Chozha period and the same was reconstructed during Vijayanagara period. Some of the inscription stones are misplaced.




STONE HORSE / ROCK HORSE
The Horses was sculpted out of a single stone, in standing posture facing east. The rock horse looks similar to the real horse. The horse head with protruding tongue, the teeths, the nose holes, Small bells on the neck, the simha medallion on the neck, mala with human faces is around the neck. The saddle with step & Kunjaras, the centre supporting pillar reliefs, its tail, the pedestal dwarf are beautifully carved out of a single stone.    








HOW TO REACH
This temple is on the south banks of Pachal eri about a KM from the Village. The Village Pachal is about 2 KM off from Salem - Namakkal- Thuraiyur road, 8.7 KM from Rasipuram, 24 KM from Namakkal, 35 KM from Tiruchengode and Salem.
Nearest Railway station is Rasipuram. 

LOCATION OF THE ROCK HORSE : CLICK HERE







--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Saturday 20 April 2024

Nedungal / நெடுங்கல் / Menhir/ Seerapalli and Pachal Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.


The Visit to these Menhirs at Seerapalli and Pachal in Namakkal District was a part of Namakkal District Temples and Heritage sites Visit on 23rd February 2024. Thanks to Mrs Sakthiprakash who accompanied with me to this Visit. As per the historians these burial monuments belongs to stone age ie 3000 to 1800 BCE and practiced till the Sangam age ie 300 BCE to 200 CE. Mostly these menhirs are erected for a Group Leader along with Cairn Circles with Cist at the centre.

Both these Menhis are called as nattangkal – நட்டாங்கல். Any functions in any of the temple will start after doing a pooja to these Menhirs.

NEDUNGAL / நெடுங்கல் / MENHIR at Seerapalli, Namakkal District.
This menhir at Seerapalli a residential colony after Muthayammal Polytechnic College. The Menhir is about 10 feet height above the platform and about 4 feet width. The platform is constructed during recent years. This Menhir is under worship.

LOCATION OF MENHIR  : CLICK HERE




NEDUNGAL / நெடுங்கல் / MENHIR at Pachal, Namakkal District.
This menhir at Pachal is on the west side of the Pachal Junction ( Kullamanickampatti to Pachal road ). The Menhir is about 6 feet high above the Ground level and about 3 feet width. This Menhir is under worship. As per the locals, any functions in the Village will start after doing a Pooja to this Menhir.  

LOCATION OF MENHIR  : CLICK HERE



--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Hero Stone, Sowdapuram/ Southapuram / சௌதாபுரம், Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Hero stone at Sowdapuram / Sowthapuram  in Namakkal District was a part of “Namakkal District Temples and Heritage sites Visit”- on 23rd February 2024. Thanks to Mrs Sakthi Prakash who accompanied with me to this Visit. This Hero stone is little different from other hero stones erected for a Lady. This Hero stone is on the west banks of the Semoor Periya Lake. Locals calls this Hero stone as “Kuravan- Kurathi kal- குறவன் குறத்திகல்“. During Rainy season it be difficult to approach this Hero Stone.


In this hero Stone A lady and a man with a sword pointing her chest. Inscriptions are found on the top of the Hero Stone. As per the inscriptions the man Semoor Ilayappan’s Son Sangan, killed the lady ie Gunamayan’s Devi. The actual reason is not known. The inscription reads as… 
   
"சேமூர் இளையப்பன் மகன் சங்கன் என்பவன் குணம்மயனின் தேவியை கொன்றான் "



Since the actual reasons are known, there are some legends circulates among the local people.

As per the legend, the lady tried to raise the banks of the Semoor Periya eri, for the benefit of the people, which was objected by 6 families of this Village. So the 6 family members, instigate her husband by spreading rumours, which made the Husband to kill the lady.

In another legend, 6 families instigate her husband, spreading rumours and tortured her. Unable to tolerate the torture, She cursed the 6 families, jumped in to the lake and died. Due to the curse except one or two families, the others died and that two families do not have children.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA --- 

Friday 19 April 2024

Sri Annapooraneshwarar & Sirkazhi Nathar Temple / ஸ்ரீ அன்னபூரனீஸ்வர்ர் கோவில் / ஸ்ரீ சீர்காழிநாதர் கோவில், Paruthipalli, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Sri Annapooraneshwarar Temple at Paruthipalli was a part of Namakkal District Temples and Heritage sites Visit on 23rd February 2024. Thanks to Mrs Sakthiprakash who accompanied with me to this Visit. This temple is on the banks of Paruthipalli Lake. This post covers only the details of the Shiva Temples of this Village. 


Moolavar  : Sri Annapooraneshwarar
Consort    : Sri Annapoorani

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple is facing west on the open area, adjacent to the Paruthipalli lake. A Deepa sthamabam with small mandapam is in front of the temple. Balipeedam and Rishabam are  in front of the temple. Vinayagar with a Rishabam and a soolakal are on both sides of the entrance to the ardha mandapam.  Moolavar is on a round avudayar. There is no images in the koshtams.

In Ardha mandapam, Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, 2 Chanikeswarar, Suriyan, Bairavar, A Nadukal ( may be a thai Theivam ), etc, are as loose sculptures.

Ambal is in a separate sannidhi without vimanam, facing east. A Rishabam is in front of the temple.   A Vinayagar with a nagars are under a meta colour sheet mandapa, opposite to the temple.






ARCHITECTURE
Sri Annapooraneshwarar Temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, pattika. The Bhitti starts with vedika. The pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters  with square base with naga bandham, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai and pothyal. The koshtas are of sala style. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus and viyyalavari. An eka tala brick dravida vimanam is on the bhumidesam with a tall greevam.




HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The original temple may belongs to 11th to 12th Century CE. Pillars has the Chozha and Pandya period inscription and mandapa walls has the 16th to 17th century Nayaka period inscriptions. As per the inscriptions this temple was called as Sri Bhuvaneswarar Temple.

The Pandya King Sadyavarman Sundaran –I’s 1274 CE inscription records the gift of a Mandapa pillar by Paruthipalli alias Rajasimha Chathurvedi mangalam Thillaiyazhaga Nambi.

The Pandya King Sadyavarman Sundaran –I’s 1274 CE inscription records the gift of a Mandapa pillar, Pothyal, two beam, Side columns by Paruthipalli Nattu Minnamozhi  Village Periyapillaiyandai Karumpillai.

The Pandya King Sadyavarman Sundaran –I’s 1274 CE inscription records the gift of a Mandapa pillar, by  Kannuvan Appan of Mudali Kollars.

The Pandya King Sadyavarman Sundaran –I’s 1274 CE inscription records the gift of a Mandapa pillar, by Perumaruthur Kasiba Gothra Nayan Thiruchitrambala nambi Uttama Nambi, of Paruthipalli Village.

Vijayanagara King Chaluva Dharmaraya’s 10th April 1498 CE inscription records the gift of Suvathapuram Village ( Sowthapuram ), by the Kings representative Narasanayakka Udaiyar.  

Vijayanagara Nayakas Thirumalai Nayaka’s 06th February 1653 inscription records the Gift of Avinasi Goundan Kulam  for the benefit of Kaonappaiyan, Gopalaiyyan and Kasthuriyappan. The Kulam, 2 part for the Valeeswarar Temple and a part for the Adi Narayana Perumal Temple. 

பருத்திப்பள்ளிக் கல்வெட்டுகள் :
பருத்திப்பள்ளி என்னும் ஊரிலுள்ள கோயில்களில் 15 கல்வெட்டுக்கள் ( 262- 276 ) பொறிக்கப் பெற்றுள்ளன. இக்கல்வெட்டுக்களில் மூன்றாம் குலோதுங்க சோழன் காலத்துக் கல்வெட்டொன்றும், விசயநகர ஆட்சிக்காலத்தில் நான்கு கல்வெட்டுக்களும், பாண்டியர் ஆட்சியின் போது பொறிக்கப்பெற்ற ஆறு கல்வெட்டுக்களும் அடங்கும். பாண்டிய அரசன் மூன்றாம் சடையவர்மன் வீரபாண்டியனின் ஒரு கல்வெட்டும் கோச்சடையவர்மன் சுந்தரபாண்டியன் பெயரில் ஒருகல்வெட்டும்,  பட்டமும் சிறப்புப்பெயருமின்றிஸ்ரீ சுந்தர பாண்டியதேவர்கு..” எனத்தொடங்கும் நான்கு கல்வெட்டுக்களும் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளன. இந்த ஐந்துகல்வெட்டுக்களும் முதலாம் சடையவர்மன் சுந்தரபாண்டியன் காலத்தைச் சார்ந்தவை எனக் கொள்ளுதல் பொருந்தும். சேலத்தில் உள்ள கிளிவண்ணமுடையார் கோவில் கல்வெட்டுக்களைப் போலவே இவையும் கருத்தமைப்பில் ஒத்துள்ளன.

இச்சடையவர்மன் சுந்தரபாண்டியனின் பருத்திப்பள்ளி கல்வெட்டுக்கலைக் கருத்தில் கொண்டு சி எம் இராமச்சந்திரன் செட்டியார் இவன் ஒரு கொங்கு பாண்டியனோ அல்லது மதுரைப் பேரரசனோ என்று கூற இயலாது என்று ஆராச்சியாளர்கள் கருதுகின்றார்கள். இவன் இருபத்தெட்டு ஆண்டுகள் வரை  ஆட்சி செலுத்தி இருக்கின்றபடியால்  மதுரைப்பேர்ரசனாக இருக்க முடியாது. கொங்கு பாண்டியனாகவே இருக்க்க்கூடும் என்று கூறலாம் எனக் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார். இவ் ஆசிரியர் முதலாம் சடையவர்மன் சுந்தரபாண்டியனின் ஆட்சிக்காலம் பொயு 1251-1272 என்று இருபது ஆண்டுகளாக எண்ணி இவ்வாறு கூறியுள்ளார். ஆனால் மதுரை பாண்டியப் பேரரசில் முதலாம் சடையவர்மன் சுந்தர பாண்டியன் பொயு 1250 முதல் 1284 வரை முப்பத்து நான்கு ஆண்டுகள் ஆட்சிபுரிந்துள்ள செய்தியைக் கல்வெட்டுக்களின் அடிப்படையில் ஆய்ந்து  என் சேதுராமன் விளக்கியுள்ளார் இவர் கூறியுள்ளகாலவரை ஏற்புடையதாகும்.

பருத்திப்பட்டிலுள்ள ஏரியின் கரையில் புவனேசுவரர் கோயிலில் உள்ள கல்வெட்டு (  273 )  சாளுவ அரசர் தர்மராயர் காலத்தைச் ( பொயு 1498 ) சார்ந்தது. அக்கல்வெட்டு சுவாதபுரம் என்னும் ஊரில்  கோவிலுக்குக் கொடை அளித்த செய்தியை விளக்குகின்றது.

Ref
Salem - Namakal Mavatta kalvettukkal by Dr A Krishnan and published by Thanjavur Tamil University.



Sadyavarman Sundaran –I’s 1274 CE inscription
Sadyavarman Sundaran –I’s 1274 CE inscription

Sri Sirkazhi Nathar Temple
Moolavar : Sri Sirkazhinathar
Consort    : Sri Sivakami.
This temple is just opposite to Sri Annapooraneshwarar Temple. A Rishabam with a balipeedam are in front of the temple. Barahma and Dakshinamurthy as loose sculptures near to the respective koshtams.

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and a ardha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam. An ekatala vesara Vimanam is above the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS
As per the inscriptions, this temple was called as Kailasa Nathar Temple.
Kongu Chozha King Rajendran’s 13th Century inscription records the Gift of land for the benefit of Chozhanga Devar and his Nambi

Ref
Salem - Namakal Mavatta kalvettukkal by Dr A Krishnan and published by Thanjavur Tamil University.

Sri Sirkazhi Nathar Temple
Sri Sirkazhi Nathar Temple
Sri Sirkazhi Nathar Temple
Sri Sirkazhi Nathar Temple
Sri Sirkazhi Nathar Temple

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from oru kala pooja no special poojas are conducted.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
Since oru kala pooja is conducted, opening and closing times are un predictable.

CONTACT DETAILS
The priest Karunamurthy a retired VAO, mobile number +919942679621 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH
Paruthipallai is on the midway between Mallasamudram and Vaiyappamalai.
The temple is about 8 KM from Mallasamudram, 19 KM Thiruchengode, 20.3 KM from Sankaridurg, 33 KM from Salem and 42 KM from Erode.
Nearest Railway Station is Sankaridurg

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE



Pranala

Soolakal


Thai Theivam



This Village has the connection with Jainism. A Parshvanath sculpture was found in this Village, which was shifted to Salem Museum. Other than this there is no details available with the Jainism connection. 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---