Periyanayagi Amman Temple, Devikapuram
The Periyanayagi
Amman Temple situated in the center of Devikapuram village.
This temple is built by the Vijayanagara Emperor in the 14th century. This is the second largest
temple after Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar Temple. The consort of Sri
Kanakagiriswarar installed at the hill temple is Sri Periyanayagi Amman, found
at the bottom. She is also otherwise known as Sri Brihannayaki and Sri Brahadambal.
There is no Sivalingam here.
This is
a second biggest temple in Thiruvannamalai district. This village is located
south of Arni. Devikapuram comes under Arni Taluk. Periyanayaki Amman temple
has lot of excellent sculptures. Compound of this temple was carved with
phrases of Purana stories, warriors and animals like elephants and horses. These
kinds of phrases are seen only at Hampi.
On the
walls of the Periyanayagi Amman Temple about 50 inscriptions incised recording
donations mostly from Padaiveedu Nayaks. Mandapams are main attraction of the
tourists. On the hill top Malaikkozhundu Nayakar is housed a temple. One can
easily reach the top with well laid steps. Periyanayagi Amman Temple is
landmark in this area. It is regarded as second in importance only to
Thiruvannamalai, and attracts a large number of worshippers.
The
goddess is one of the four brought into existence by Brahma. Devikapuram,
otherwise known as the city of goddess', is noted for its temples. Generally people
call this village as Devikapuram, Devakipuram, Devakkapuram, Kanagagiri,
Narayanavanam, Kanagathiri, and Kanagachalam, are the other names found in the
history of this sthalam.
Legends
According
to the Sthalapuranam of this temple, there is also a legend that Devaki, sister
of Kamsan, came to this place, worshipped the Lord here and gave birth to
Krishna, hence the name" Devikapuram" This place is further known as
"Kanakagiri and Kanagachalam " after the name of the hillock here and
also as "Narayanavanam" in view of the temple of Sri Srinivasamurthy
found here. The name "Devikapuram" is found in the stone inscriptions
of the Sri Devi Temple.
History
Devikapuram
is located at around 40 km from Thiruvannamalai. The temples in Devikapuram
were constructed by the Chola King Thondaiman Chakravarthy while the more
ancient Kanakagiriswarar Temple on the hill is said to date back to the Pallava
period. The current structure dates back to the Vijayanagar period as testified
by the inscriptions seen in the Periyanayaki Temple.
The
Temple
The
consort of Kanakagiriswarar installed at the hill temple is Periyanayagi Amman,
found at the bottom. She is also otherwise known as Brihannayaki and Brahadambal.
There is no Sivalingam here. Here the temple is 475 feet east to west and
250 feet south to north, with a fortress o 30 feet in height.
The
temple covers an area of 3 acres and has a big seven tiered pagoda. The
fortress of the temple is beautifully fashioned out of artistically carved
granite stones. On the outer walls, there are several carvings, a separate line
for Horse, Bull and pig all around the wall.
The
images of the pigs might have been intended to create sentimental feelings
among Muslim invaders and to avoid their destroying the temples. There are
there entrances leading to the temple in the north, south and east. The north
and south entrances are closed for the devotees.
There
are big Dwarapalakas on either side of the Rajagopuram entrance and after
entering Rajagopuram there are beautiful sculptures on either side of the inner
walls of the Rajagopuram. There are sculptures of Lingothbhavar, Narasimhar,
Kaala Bairavar, Dancing girls etc., and the most beautiful one of them is the
huge and stunningly beautiful Adhikara Nandhi. Ironically, some of the
sculptures have been vandalized also. It is said that this vandalisation was
done by the foreign invasions.
There
were plenty of honeycombs (about 20) in the ceiling. It is said that sages live
as birds, bees and snakes in the temple to protect the temple treasures and
worship. In the Kalyana mandapam there are sculptures explaining the story of
Manuneedhi Chola who killed his son under the wheels of his chariot just to
keep up the justice as a King. Dhwajasthambham, Balipeetham and Nandhi Devars
are present here.
In front
of the eastern entrance, there is a high four pillared mandapam. Adjacent to
it, is the "Thermutti Mandapam" Unlike other mandapams, which
will have only a single flight of steps on one side, here there are two flights
of steps on both sides.
In the
entrance of the temple, beautiful sculptures like Lingothbhavar, Narasimha
Avatar etc., can be found. Some of the sculptures were destroyed by the Muslim
invaders. After the entrance, there are three prakarams in the temple.
Immediately
after entering the temple, one would find Sri Veerabhadrar on the south and Sri
Bairavar on the north. The Brahma Theertham is on the southern side of the
temple with beautiful footsteps and a circular platform.
On
entering Third Prakaram, on the left side there is a temple tank and a 4
pillared mandapam and on the right side there is an Open air Auditorium called
Variyar Mandapam and a Kalyana mandapam in the form of a Chariot being pulled
by the horses. The Kalyana Mandapam is found in the north facing south.
This is designed in the shape of the two wheeled car drawn by houses which is
very impressive and attractive. There are several architectural carvings on the
pillars of this mandapam depicting the history of the King Sri Manu Neethi
Cholan.
There is
a thirty six pillared front mandapam beyond the Bali Peedam, Kodimaram and Nandhi.
This mandapam is an encyclopedia of Sculptures because 432 sculptures are
sculpted in this mandapam depicting the Puranams of Siva, Vishnu and Devi. One
Nandhi is present at an elevated height and just below another one is sitting
on the ground.
To the
south of this mandapam is the Vinayagar Sannidhi and to the north of it, is the
Sannidhi of Sri Arumugar. Crossing this mandapam, and the entrance of a three
tiered pagoda, on has to reach the next prakaram. The Sannidhis of Sri Kasi
Viswanathar, Sri Pillaiyar and the Navarathri mandapam are found in this
prakaram.
The Utsava
vigrahams of Sri Vinayagar, Natarajar and Somaskandar are found in the Maha
Mandapam. Next to the Maha Mandapam is the inner prakaram of the temple. After
crossing the Maha mandapam we enter the 2nd praharam which houses
Navarathri kolu Mandapam and Artha Mandapam which again houses plenty of
sculptures. There is about 55 inscriptions, most of which belong to the
Vijayanagara Empire and are in the 2ndpraharam. As we go further the
Dwarapalagis are present on either side of the entrance and you will enter the
1st praharam and the sanctum sanctorum. Periyanayagi Amman is present
majestically in standing posture with Pasa Angusam in her upper hands and
Abhaya and Varadha mudras in the lower hands.
The
beautiful Dharshan of Devi Sri Periyanayagi Ambal, the embodiment of love and
affection can be seen in the sanctum sanctorum. Large number of devotees used
to have Dharshan and worship the Devi on all Fridays.
Theerthams
There
are several sacred theerthas in this shrine. The brahma theertham is inside the
temple while the Navagraha Theertham is located at the foot of the hill which
is now known as Periayappan kulam. To the south east of this sthalam is
the Agni Theertham with Neerazhi Mandapam at its center. People call the
Agni Theertham as Kaatan kulam. There is a Murugar Temple at the top of a hill
lock on the bank of this Agni Theertham and to the west corner is the Devaradiyar
Theertham and to the west the seyyyan kulam or seeyan kulam.
There
are also several other small Theerthams here all round the hill. On all
Tuesday it is customary for the devotees to come around the hill and
offer worship to Sri Kanakagiriswarar. By doing so, it is believed that the
devotees who are suffering from incurable diseases are easily cured.
Inscriptions
There
are about 56 stone inscriptions in this sthalam of which 55 are found in
the Periya Nayagi Amman temple and one in the Kanakagiriswarar Temple at
the top of the hill. It is surmised that both these shrines should have been
built during the reigns of the Vijayanagar kings.
One of
the oldest stone inscriptions relates to the Maharashtra king another
belongs to the Jagirthar of Arni and the remaining 53 stone inscriptions relate
to the period of the Vijayanagar Kings.
Two of
the inscriptions are found in Sanskrit, one in Marathi and the rest in
Tamil.
Temple
Opening Time
The hill
temple is open from 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. only. The Amman temple at the foot
hills is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Prayers
Prayer
in the temple brings total mental peace. People also pray for
wedding, child boons, besides employment opportunities, promotions and progress
in business.
Devotees
fulfill their prayer commitments with Pongal nivedhana, offering wedding garlands,
tonsuring, lighting ghee lamps and abishek to Lord with oil, curd, milk, green
coconut and offering vastras. They offer Sari to Mother. They make prasadams
for Lord and Mother and distribute to other devotees.
Connectivity
Devikapuram
is part Thiruvannamalai district, Arni
taluk, located in
Polur-to-Chetpet Road (SH-115). It is part of Thondai Mandalam. It is a quiet & calm village without any industry.
People lead a pleasant life by doing agriculture and weaving.
Devikapuram
is to the West of Vandavasi; to the East of Polur; to the South of Arani and to
the North-East of Thiruvannamalai. While going from Vandavasi after Nedungunam
comes Chetpet and in the same road towards Polur comes Devikapuram. The temple
is located by the right side of the main road.
By Road:
Devikapuram
is located on State Highway 115.
This
village can be easily reached by bus from:
·
Chennai (150 km)
·
Thiruvannamalai(50 km)
·
Arni (21 km)
·
Polur (14 km) and
·
Vellore (60 km)
From
Vandavasi: Chennai to Vandavasi (via
Uthiramerur/Thennangur) – 128 approx. km Vandavasi to Chetpet – 27 km
Chetpet to Devikapuram – 12 km
From
Arani: 21 km
From
Polur: 15 km
Buses
are plying to Devikapuram from Chennai (CMBT) round the clock with Bus No.148
(Direct Bus) and Bus No. 131(Via Kanchipuram). Town & mofussil buses from
Arni, Chetpet and Polur are available.
By Train:
Polur is
the nearby Railway station. Services have been resumed after the conversion of the
tracks. Trains arrives/depart to/from Katpadi, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai,
Villupuram, Madurai, Nagercoil and Mumbai, there are daily two trains to Tirupati.
By Air:
·
Chennai (Domestic & International) (150 km)
·
Bangalore
(Domestic & International) (350 km)