THIRISOOLAM SHIVA TEMPLES
1. THIRISOOLANADHAR TEMPLE
Distance: 19kms from Egmore Railway station
Shiva: Thirisoolanadhar
Amman: Thiripurasundhari
Brahma was very proud that he was the creator of the whole universe. He treated the Devas with disrespect.When Lord Shiva came to know about this he showed his powers and therefore Brahma's powers were blocked. He was not able to create anything. Brahma understood that he had lost his powers due to Shiva's anger and therefore he went to the Boologa to perform Shiva pooja as a remedy for his mistake. He visited many Shiva temples on his journey. One of such temples visited by Brahma is Thirisoolanadhar temple. The Shiva in Thirisoolam is called Thirisoolanadhar. The small hill on which this temple is situated is called Thirisoolamalai. Since Brahma worshipped this Shiva he is also called Brahmapureeswarar. This small hill was full of trees like a forest (Suram is a place which is a mixture of hill and forest). Therefore Shiva was also called as Thiruchuramudaiyar. The temple faces east. The temple was built by Kulothunga Cholan. It was well maintained by the Pallavas. The Pallavas namedthis place as Nayathra Mangala Thiruchuram. There are 4 mountains around the temple. It is belived that the 4 mountains denote the 4 faces of Lord Brahma each face uttering one Vedha always. There is an Amman Sannidhi inside the Shiva sannidhi. This is the old amman which was damaged by invasions. Devotees did not want to keep away this idol and therefore have installed it beside Shiva. The present Amman Thiripurasundhari is very much similar to the old one. The name of Ganapathy in the Prahara is named as Naaga Yagnobaveedha Ganapathy. He sits on the lotus peetam in a different form. In the prahara there is Kaasi Viswanadhar and Visalakshi sannidhi. Markandaeswarar is in the form of a Shodasa Linga. All the parivara and Prahara deities are present in other temples are also present her. The Sarabaeswarar in the pillar is a special feature of this temple.Special poojas are performed on Sundays on the Rahu Kaala for the Sarabaeswarar.
The Dhakshinamurthy of this temple is seated with his right leg on Apasmara. The Sages are on the either sides. He carries Aksharamala and fire in 2 hands and Abhaya Mudhra in his front right hand and his front left hand resting on his thigh. This is a special feature in this temple. The Thorana figures show Vaali Sugreeva fight and Somaskandhar. The Deva Koshta figures of Ganesha is seen with Chathra and Chumra. In the Lingothabava idol of the Deva Koshta we can find Vishnu in the boar form with Changu and Chakra at the bottom. Brahma is depicted as a swan at the top with the Ketaka flower. The other thorana figures are Rishabhanthikar with Uma. Brahma with 4 arms and 3 heads (4th head unseen) with Aksharamala and Kandika help in 2 arms in a standing posture. The other Thorana figures are Arthanareeswarar, Durga standing with 4 arms on a pedestal holding Choangu Chakram and flames. There is another figure of Kaliyakrishnar in the Thorana.
Inscriptions:
The old name of this temple Thiruchuramudaiyanayanar has been mentioned in the inscription on the Lintel of the entrance. This inscription has been engraved during the reign of Maravarman Kulasekara Chola of the 13th Century. The early name of Thirisoolanadhar was Dharmapureeswarar is stated in another inscription. There are inscriptions of later Cholas such as Kulothunga Chola I and Raja Raja Chola III. It concerns a Thirumukam meaning Royal Order of Sungam Thvirtha Kulothunga Chola Dhevar. The temple was called Udayar Thiruchuramudaiyanayanar at Mallapuram and Vaanavan Mahadevi Chadhurvedhimangalam in Churathur Naadu of Puliyur Kottam and Kulothunga Chola Valanaadu of Jayamkonda Chola Mandalam. The devotees and priests prayed for the revival of the temple festival. A person called Vanarajan requested the King to conduct the temple festivals. The King made a gift of 41 Velis of Land in Munnalur Village which was renamed as Thiruneetrucholanallur after the surname of Kulothunga Chola I. Another inscription mentions the gift of 2 twilight lamps and a gift of Land by the Local Mahasabha for the midnight service of the Lord. An inscription during the reign of Vikrama Chola mentions a gift of Land called Manarpakkam also called Thiruchuravilagam for the food offerings to the Palliyarai Nambiratiyar, the consort of the Lord. The inscriptions of Thirubhuvana Veera Dhevar Kulothunga Chola III days states the gift of various temple utensils to the Lord. All the other inscriptions relate the gift for lamps.
2. PASUPATHEESWARAR TEMPLE
This temple was a small stone temple in early days. This temple was worshipped by Kamadhenu. Later the temple was destroyed. The Linga was found under a tree. This Linga is placed inside the Thirisoolanadhar temple now.
The Dhakshinamurthy of this temple is seated with his right leg on Apasmara. The Sages are on the either sides. He carries Aksharamala and fire in 2 hands and Abhaya Mudhra in his front right hand and his front left hand resting on his thigh. This is a special feature in this temple. The Thorana figures show Vaali Sugreeva fight and Somaskandhar. The Deva Koshta figures of Ganesha is seen with Chathra and Chumra. In the Lingothabava idol of the Deva Koshta we can find Vishnu in the boar form with Changu and Chakra at the bottom. Brahma is depicted as a swan at the top with the Ketaka flower. The other thorana figures are Rishabhanthikar with Uma. Brahma with 4 arms and 3 heads (4th head unseen) with Aksharamala and Kandika help in 2 arms in a standing posture. The other Thorana figures are Arthanareeswarar, Durga standing with 4 arms on a pedestal holding Choangu Chakram and flames. There is another figure of Kaliyakrishnar in the Thorana.
Inscriptions:
The old name of this temple Thiruchuramudaiyanayanar has been mentioned in the inscription on the Lintel of the entrance. This inscription has been engraved during the reign of Maravarman Kulasekara Chola of the 13th Century. The early name of Thirisoolanadhar was Dharmapureeswarar is stated in another inscription. There are inscriptions of later Cholas such as Kulothunga Chola I and Raja Raja Chola III. It concerns a Thirumukam meaning Royal Order of Sungam Thvirtha Kulothunga Chola Dhevar. The temple was called Udayar Thiruchuramudaiyanayanar at Mallapuram and Vaanavan Mahadevi Chadhurvedhimangalam in Churathur Naadu of Puliyur Kottam and Kulothunga Chola Valanaadu of Jayamkonda Chola Mandalam. The devotees and priests prayed for the revival of the temple festival. A person called Vanarajan requested the King to conduct the temple festivals. The King made a gift of 41 Velis of Land in Munnalur Village which was renamed as Thiruneetrucholanallur after the surname of Kulothunga Chola I. Another inscription mentions the gift of 2 twilight lamps and a gift of Land by the Local Mahasabha for the midnight service of the Lord. An inscription during the reign of Vikrama Chola mentions a gift of Land called Manarpakkam also called Thiruchuravilagam for the food offerings to the Palliyarai Nambiratiyar, the consort of the Lord. The inscriptions of Thirubhuvana Veera Dhevar Kulothunga Chola III days states the gift of various temple utensils to the Lord. All the other inscriptions relate the gift for lamps.
2. PASUPATHEESWARAR TEMPLE
This temple was a small stone temple in early days. This temple was worshipped by Kamadhenu. Later the temple was destroyed. The Linga was found under a tree. This Linga is placed inside the Thirisoolanadhar temple now.
Comments
Post a Comment