Valisvara Temple, Thiruvaleeswararm, Thirunelveli
Valisvara
Temple is a Hindu
temple located in the town
of Thiruvalisvaram in the Thirunelveli district of Tamilnadu. The temple is dedicated to Shiva. The temple was constructed by the Cholas in the early
part of the 10th century AD in the land of Pandyas. This
architectural marvel is located on the banks of Tamirabarani River. The
Village was originally called as Rajaraja Chadurvedi Mangalam. The site is a
centrally protected monument under the control of Archaeological Survey of
India since 1919. The temple is being maintained by ASI.
Legends
In the
Ghatana Nadhi Mahatmiyam it is mentioned that the Swayambu Lingams of
Sivasailam, Thiruvaleeswararm and Brahmmadesam emerged at the same time and
those who take bath in the River Ghatana and worship the above lingams get
freed from the sins.
The
Temple
The
Valisvara Temple is considered to be one of the best examples of Chola architecture. The main deity is Shiva and he is depicted
in sukhasana pose. There is also an idol of Shiva as
Chandesanugrahamurthi. There are also idols of Parvathi and a Shiva devotee. The vimana has an idol of Shiva in the form of Ardhanarishvara. The artistic style resembles those of Pallava temples in Panamalai and Kanchipuram. K. A. Nilakanta Sastri remarks that the
"workmanship of the entire composition is unsurpassed for beauty by any
other example of its kind".
The east
facing temple does not have tower. It has two sanctums; the main one is
dedicated to Vaalinathar aka Valeeswarar - a big Shiva
Linga; the other sanctum is dedicated to the Goddess Soundarya
Nayaki. The sanctum of Shiva Linga has two tiered vimana. Both the
sanctums face the east direction. Both of them have Nandi statues, flag staffs
and Bali peetha in front of them.
The
idols of Ganesha and Subramanya are found alongside the Dvarapalas at the
entrance of Shiva shrine. The prakara of Shiva shrine has the idols of Surya,
Adhikara Nandi, Sapta Matas, Sura Deva and two Subramanya. Bhairavar is found
is a separate small shrine. The maha mandapa inside the shrine of Shiva has
many circular shaped pillars and Yazhi pillars.
There
are two small separate shrines of Ganesha, Shasta with his consorts and
Shanmukha with his consorts. Dhakshinamoorthi is also found in the outer
prakara. The vimana has a lot of beautiful sculptures such as Bhoota ganas,
Rishaba Vahana, Gaja Samhara Murti, Dhakshinamoorthi, Ardha Nareeshwarar,
Nataraja, etc.
The Temple
exhibits various artistic forms Brahminical themes, noteworthy being the
earliest Parvati in Panchagnitapas. The sanctum sanctorum is completely a stone
structure. There are no niche images (koshta) around the sanctum - similar to
that of Pandya style. Theertham of this Temple are Tamirabarani and Ghatana
rivers. A beautiful garden with so many plants and trees is found at the
backside of the temple.
There
are number of Chola, Chola-Pandya, Pandya inscriptions on the walls of the
temple. On the north wall of the central shrine is a record of Rajaraja I, dated
in his eleventh year (996 A.D) relating to a gift of land. On the same wall
a Vatteluthu inscription
dated in the eighteen-year of a king whose name is not specified, mentions an
agreement among the villagers of Rajaraja Chaturvedimangalam.
Another
inscription refers to Rajarajakesarivarman of Kandalur Salai fame i.e.
Rajaraja I. The village is referred to as Rajaraja-Chaturvedimangalam, a brahmadeyam in Mulli
Nadu, a sub- division of Rajaraja valanadu. On a pillar near
the bali-pitha,
inscription recording the victories gained by a corps of the Chola army
called Munru kai mahasenai.
It further mentions that the temple of Thiruvalisvaram, its treasury and the
temple servants were placed under the protection of this unit of the army.
Connectivity
The
Valisvara temple at Thiruvalisvaram lies at about 51 Kms west of Thirunelveli,
3 Kms from Brahmmadesam, 20 Kms from Veeravanallur, 5 Kms from Ambasamudram, 35
Kms from Tenkasi, 194 Kms from Madurai and 141 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram.
Nearest Railway Stations are located at Ambasamudram and Veeravanallur. Nearest
Airport is located at Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.
References
