Chandramouleeswarar Temple, Natteri
Brahmmadesam, Thiruvannamalai
Chandramouleeswarar Temple is a
Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Natteri Brahmmadesam in Cheyyar
Taluk in Thiruvannamalai District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as
Chandramouleeswarar / Tiruppondai Perumanadigal / Kuzhandhai Mahadevar /
Pondhai Azhwar / Pondhai Eswarar. The Temple is also believed to be the
Pallipadai Temple (Burial Shrine) of Emperor Rajendra Chola I of Chola Dynasty.
This temple is under the control of Archaeological Survey of India.
Legends
It is believed that Chandra
worshipped Lord Shiva of this Temple in Treta Yuga. Hence, the Lord came to be
called as Chandramouleeswarar. It is also believed that Agni and Sage Romesa
worshipped Lord Shiva of this Temple in Kirutha and Dwara Yugas respectively.
History
Brahmmadesam Village has a great
historical value because it is considered to be the burial place of Emperor
Rajendra Chola I of Chola Dynasty. The Place Brahmmadesam was called as
Rajamalla Chathuvedhi Mangalam and got changed to Parakrama
Chathurvedhimangalam during Rajaraja Chola I. Rajendra Chola after his historic
expedition up to Ganges paid a visit to Kanchipuram and Thondaimandalam.
Rajendra Chola directly observed
the administrative efficiency of his deputies in this northern area of his
empire. His wife Veeramaadevi also accompanied him during this visit. They came
to Brahmmadesam and supposed to have stayed here for some time. But suddenly he
fell ill and died in this village. He was cremated, and his mortal remains were
buried inside this temple. Hence this is known as a Pallippadai Kovil (memorial
temple).
It was told that his
brother-in-law had established charities in many places for distributing water
(Thanneer Pandal) to the people in memory of Rajendra Chola and his wife and an
inscription in this temple records this charity. Originally, this temple was
built in sand stone by the Pallava King Vijaya Kampa Varman, son of Nandi
Varman III Pallava during 9th Century AD as per the inscriptions. But
later it was converted to memorial temple during the Chola period.
This temple got dilapidated in
ravages of time and the temple was reconstructed by the Archaeological Survey
of India (ASI) in 1996. Now this temple is well protected by the Archaeological
Survey of India. But local people do not come here for religious purposes and
there are no festivities. Unable to bear the loss of her husband, Queen
Veeramaadevi too gave up her life in the crematory fires of his husband. There
is also a memorial for Veeramaadevi in another corner of this village.
The
Temple
The Temple is facing east with
an incomplete Rajagopuram on the northern side of the Temple. The sanctum
sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, Arthamandapam and an open Mukamandapam.
Nandhi can be found in the Arthamandapam. Presiding Deity is called as
Chandramouleeswarar / Tiruppondai Perumanadigal / Kuzhandhai Mahadevar /
Pondhai Azhwar / Pondhai Eswarar and is facing east. Pondhai means Palm Tree.
Hance, Palm Tree might be the Sthala Vriksham of this Temple.
He is housed in the sanctum in
the form of Lingam. It is believed that sun rays fall daily on the presiding
deity. The 3 tier Vimana over the sanctum is a mixture of Pallava and Ganga
architecture. The Vimana over the sanctum is of three tiers. Koshta Idols
around the sanctum walls cannot be found now. Bhooda Gana friezes can be seen
above the Koshta. There are shrines for Vinayagar, Murugan and Nataraja in the
Temple premises. The sanctum walls has the Pallava & Chola period
inscriptions.
Inscriptions
There are about 77 inscriptions
in this temple belongs to Pallavas & Cholas. The earliest inscription belongs
to 20th regnal year of Pallava King Kampavarman. Other inscriptions
belongs to Chola Kings Parantaka I, Rajaraja I, Rajendra I, Kulothunga Chola I
and Rashtrakuta King Krishna III.
Few inscriptions belonged to Parthibendra
Pallava, a vassal of Later Cholas. His inscriptions starts with the epithet “Vira
Pandiyan Thalai Konda” (the one who severed head of Vira Pandya). He was
eulogized in Ponniyin Selvan, a historical novel, as a friend of Aditya
Karikalan, who comes from the lineage of Pallavas.
He fought along with Aditya in his battles.
There is an inscription on the
northern side of the sanctum wall. It mentions about Trirajya Kadikaamatyastha
Moovayiravar and Kadigai Ezhayiravar. It is clear from the above inscription
that a university was present in this Village with a strength of 3000 to 7000
students.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 1.5
Kms Brahmmadesam Bus Stop, 9 Kms from Ocheri, 15 Kms from Kaveripakkam, 24 Kms
from Kanchipuram, 25 Kms from Kanchipuram Railway Station, 26 Kms from Cheyyar,
29 Kms from Arcot, 30 Kms from Walajah Road Junction Railway Station, 89 Kms
from Chennai Airport and 107 Kms from Thiruvannamalai. The Temple is situated
on Arcot to Kanchipuram Route. Take a right turn at Ocheri and cross the Palar
River to reach this Temple. Take Town Bus No 4 from Kanchipuram and Bus No 36
from Arcot to reach this Temple.
