Yathothkari Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram – Connectivity

Yathothkari Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram – Connectivity

The temple is located at about 1 Km from Kanchipuram Varadaraja Perumal Temple, 2 Kms from Kanchipuram Bus Stand, 2.5 Kms from Kanchipuram East Railway Station and 4 Kms from Kanchipuram Railway Station. This temple is located close to Ashtabuja Perumal Temple and situated near Rangaswamy Tank in Chinna Kanchipuram. This temple is located on the way to Varadharaja Perumal Temple from Kanchipuram Bus Stand. Kanchipuram is located at about 18 Kms from Walajabad, 31 Kms from Sriperumbudur, 40 Kms from Chengalpattu, 60 Kms from Chennai Airport, 67 Kms from Mahabalipuram and 72 Kms from Chennai.

By Road:

Kanchipuram is most easily accessible by road. The Chennai – Bangalore National Highway, NH 4 passes the outskirts of the city. Daily bus services are provided by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation to and from Chennai, Bangalore, Villupuram, Salem, Tirupati, Thiruthani, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Coimbatore, Tindivanam and Pondicherry. There are two major bus routes to Chennai, one connecting via Poonamallee and the other via Tambaram.

The Tamil Nadu state government operated transport corporation runs buses from Kanchipuram to most major towns in Tamil Nadu. Buses from Chennai leave for Kanchipuram every fifteen minutes from the Koyambedu interstate bus terminal. There is also an air-conditioned bus service numbered Z576 from 5.00 AM to 6.00 PM, which departs from the T-Nagar bus terminal every hour. Buses from Bangalore leave for Kanchipuram seven times a day.

By Train:

The city is also connected to the railway network through the Kanchipuram railway station. The Chengalpattu – Arakkonam railway line passes through Kanchipuram and travellers can access services to those destinations. Daily trains are provided to Pondicherry and Tirupati, and there is a weekly express train to Madurai and a bi-weekly express train to Nagercoil. Two passenger trains from both sides of Chengalpattu and Arakkonam pass via Kanchipuram.

By Air:

Nearest domestic as well as international airport is Chennai International Airport.

 

Parvatagirisvarar Cave Temple, Kunnandarkoil – History

Parvatagirisvarar Cave Temple, Kunnandarkoil – History

The cave temple was originally built by Mutharaiyar Chieftain, feudatory of Pallava King Nandivarman II Pallava Malla (731 – 796 CE). The temple received extensive patronage from the Cholas, Pandyas, Vijayanagara Empire and Nayakas. The earliest inscription in this temple are dated to the reigns of Nandivarman II and his son Dantivarman indicating generous gifts to learned brahmins during Thiruvadhirai festival. There are about 37 inscriptions found in this temple.

Inscriptions dating back to Pallava Kings Nandivarman II Pallava Malla, Dantivarman & Nandivarman III, Chola Kings Rajadhiraja I, Kulothunga I, Rajaraja II, Rajadhiraja II & Kulothunga III, Pandya Kings Jadavarman Sundara Pandya I, Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I & Parakrama Pandya, Vijayanagara Kings Kumara Viruppanna Udaiyar & Krishnadevaraya Raya and Nayak Chief Kunnai Nayakkar are found in this temple.

These inscriptions records the gifts & grants made to this temple, renovation activities carried out in the temple, conducting festivals, administration activities and feeding poor people. During the 14^th century CE, the village had two divisions for the Kallar community. It is said that the northern part of the village belongs to the Kallar of the Vadamalai Naadu and the southern part belongs to the Kallar of the Thenmalai Naadu.

The joint meetings of the panchayats of the two naadus were held in this temple. The fighting between the two divisions of Kallars used to result in damage of various properties. An inscription dating back to 1394 CE mentions an agreement to provide protection to common people from Kallar fights. As per the agreement, the Kallars were asked to make the temple an annual payment and an offering of a ring for every marriage celebrated.

Also, it reveal that there were strict punishments levied to people robbing in Kunnandarkoil. Kunnandarkoil derives its name from Kundru Andan Koil meaning the temple of the Lord of the Hill. Lord Shiva was called as Thiru Kundra Kudi Mahadevar, Thiru Kundra Kudi Nayanar & Thiru Kundra Kudi Udaiyar and the place was called as Thiru Kundra Kudi as per the inscriptions. This temple complex is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

Parvatagirisvarar Cave Temple, Kunnandarkoil – The Temple Complex

Parvatagirisvarar Cave Temple, Kunnandarkoil – The Temple Complex

This cave temple is facing towards east and has been excavated on a low rising hill on its eastern façade. The main entrance has four massive pillars reminding long lost rajagopuram. The temple has two prakarams enclosed within a brick compound wall. The brick compound wall extends on both the sides and turns towards west. It ends near the second prakara compound wall on the northern side whereas it runs up to the south of Nritta mandapa on the southern side.

There is an idol of Ganesha enshrined inside a niche in the outer side of the compound wall on the right side of the main entrance. Balipeedam, Dhwaja Sthambam and Nandi can be found immediately after the main entrance in the outer prakaram, facing towards the sanctum. There is four pillared mandapam situated to the left side of the Nandi mandapam. The temple consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. The sanctum is guarded by dvarapalas on either sides.

There are inscriptions on the base of the dvarapalas. Presiding deity is called as Parvatagirisvarar / Thiru Kundrakudi Mahadevar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the rock cut cylindrical placed inside an octagonal pitha. The walls of the sanctum are plain. The ardha mandapam has two pillars and two pilasters. The niche on the northern lateral side wall of the ardha mandapa is carved with an image of Umasahitamurthi. Both of them shown seated in maharajalilasana.

Lord Shiva is four armed. His upper left hand holds axe and upper right hand holds his tresses. Goddess Uma is two armed. A lady attendant carrying a basket in her hands can be seen next to her on the left side. The niche on the southern lateral side wall of the ardha mandapa is carved with an image of Valampuri Ganesha (his trunk turned to his right). He is seated cross legged and is four armed. He holds broken tusk and lotus bud in his upper hands.

His lower right hand holds modaka and his lower left hand is resting on his thigh. The structural maha mandapa was added at later stage in front of the cave temple. Balipeedam and Nandi can be found in the maha mandapa facing towards the sanctum. The maha mandapa is enclosed within a wall enclosing the cave. The maha mandapa is accessed through a two-tiered gopuram on the eastern side. The maha mandapa is further enclosed within a wall.

There are two monuments present in this second enclosure. Images of Sapta Matrikas flanked by Veerabhadra and Ganesha can be seen on southern side of the maha mandapa. Navagrahas can be seen in a raised platform on the norther eastern side of the maha mandapa. The maha mandapa contains a number of portrait sculptures. There are two portrait images, one of which is identified as the Mutharaiyar chief who built the temple and other being his assistant.

The image of a Pattavan here represents a man who lost his life fighting some robbers, while watching the temple property, and offerings are occasionally made to him. There is an unfinished rock cut shrine excavated on the northern side of the main cave with images of Thandavar, Subrahmanya and Ayyanar inside it. An image of Chandikeswarar is carved on its northern side and it faces towards south. There is another unfinished rock cut shrine excavated on the southern side of the main cave.

This cave is bigger than northern cave. It has a facade with two pillars in the middle and two pilasters each one on either side. The rear wall of the cave is engraved with inscriptions. The individual images retrieved from the place are maintained in the Pudukottai Government Museum. The bronze images in the temple are earliest specimen of exquisite sculpted images in South Indian art. The Somaskanda bronze with Shiva and Parvathi, with their child Skanda is the most prominent among the bronzes in the temple.

Umayambigai Shrine:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2023/04/parvatagirisvarar-cave-temple-kunnandarkoil-umayambigai-shrine.html

Nritta Mandapam:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2023/04/parvatagirisvarar-cave-temple-kunnandarkoil-nritta-mandapam.html

Murugan Shrine:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2023/04/parvatagirisvarar-cave-temple-kunnandarkoil-murugan-shrine.html

Parvatagirisvarar Cave Temple, Kunnandarkoil – Umayambigai Shrine

Parvatagirisvarar Cave Temple, Kunnandarkoil – Umayambigai Shrine

The goddess Umayambigai shrine is situated on the northern side of  the outer prakaram of the temple premises adjoining the Nandi mandapa. Her shrine is facing towards south. Her shrine consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam, mukha mandapam and a tile roofed frontal porch. The vimana over the sanctum is of two tiers. The sanctum houses an image of Umayambigai / Manjal Nayaki. She is depicted in standing posture on a circular pedestal. Her upper hands holds lotus and Neelotpala and her lower hands shows abhaya and varada hastha.

Parvatagirisvarar Cave Temple, Kunnandarkoil – Murugan Shrine

Parvatagirisvarar Cave Temple, Kunnandarkoil – Murugan Shrine

There is a Murugan shrine on top of this hill. This shrine is situated to the south west of the Parvatagirisvarar shrine. This shrine is of recent origin. The shrine consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. Only the base of the mukha mandapam remains. The walls, pillars and roof the mukha mandapam is lost completely.

The ardha mandapam can be accessed through flight of seven steps. The sanctum enshrines an image of six faced Lord Murugan seated in sukhasana on a peacock. His hands hold several weapons like vajra, shield, sword, sula, sakthi and shows abhaya & varada hastha. Thiruvasi can be seen behind the image. The peacock is shown standing on a pedestal with a snake on its bill.

Parvatagirisvarar Cave Temple, Kunnandarkoil – Nritta Mandapam

Parvatagirisvarar Cave Temple, Kunnandarkoil – Nritta Mandapam

Nritta Mandapam is situated on the southern side of the outer prakaram of the temple premises and is facing towards east. This Mandapam is also called as Ratha Mandapam. The mandapa consists of three parts namely frontal porch, pillared hall and stage. This mandapa can be accessed through flight of seven steps on northern and southern side of the frontal porch. The frontal porch is depicted like a chariot with horses and wheels on either side.

There are twenty-four spokes in both the wheels. The spokes are in form of a shankha (conch) and a deva gana arranged in alternate fashion. The base of the porch on the front side is supported by eight bhuta ganas. Out of the eight ganas, seven are male and one is female. The roof of the porch is flat and supported by eight pillars. There is a small platform on the north west corner meant for the musicians.

The mandapa is in dilapidated condition and the roof of the mandapa is in ruined state causing seepage of rainwater. The middle part of the mandapam is the pillared hall for audiences. The hall has six rows of pillars with three rows on both side with a spacious pathway in the middle. The pillars are intricately carved. The elevation of the roof is little higher than the frontal porch. The walls of the pillared hall had been fallen. The rear portion of the mandapa is stage meant for performing artists.

The stage is constructed on the edges of the hillock. The stage can be accessed through flight of five steps on either sides. The roof of the stage is supported by twenty pillars arranged in four rows. There is a private entrance for the artists on the northern side of the stage. Ratha (chariot) mandapam is of the Vijayanagara style. On an elevation stands a big hall with hundred and one pillars in six rows. To the basement are added stone wheels to simulate a running chariot.

Masilamani Nathar Temple, Tharangampadi – The Temple Complex

Masilamani Nathar Temple, Tharangampadi – The Temple Complex

The temple complex consists of two separate temples namely the earlier temple and the present temple.

The present temple:

The present temple is a newly constructed temple situated in front of the old temple. This temple is facing towards east, but the entrance is from the western side. The temple covers an area of about one acre. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam and mukha mandapam. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found in front of the mukha mandapam facing towards the sanctum.

Dvarapalas can be guarding the entrance of the ardha mandapam on neither side. Presiding deity is called as Masilamani Nathar / Masilamaneeswarar / Masila Nathar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Dakshinamoorthy, Lingothbhava and Brahma are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls.

Chandikeswarar shrine can be seen in his usual location. Mother is called as Aram Valartha Nayagi. She is housed in separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in the mukha mandapam to the left side of the sanctum. Shrines of Vinayaka, Subramanya with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Balamurugan, Gajalakshmi, Akhilandeshwari, Navagrahas, Chandra, Surya and Bairavar can be seen in the temple premises.

The earlier temple:

The earlier temple is situated very close to the sea. The rock boulders are kept around the temple to protect the temple from rising sea levels. The waves of the sea touches the temple during high tide. The front portion of the temple was completely lost to the sea. The sanctum sanctorum and Vinayaga shrine are intact rest all the other structures were lost.

This temple is facing towards east. This sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam and entrance porch. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found in front of the entrance porch, facing towards the sanctum. The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity, Aadhi Masilamani Nathar / Aadhi Masilamaneeswarar / Aadhi Masila Nathar in the form of Shiva Lingam.

Dakshinamoorthy and Lingothbhava are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. There is a shrine for Vinayaga in the temple premises. Idols of Goddess Akhilandeshwari, Bala Subramanya, Chandikeswarar, Durga, Maha Lakshmi, Navagrahas are kept in a safe place near to the temple.

Masilamani Nathar Temple, Tharangampadi – Literary Mention

Masilamani Nathar Temple, Tharangampadi – Literary Mention

The temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar and Sundarar had a mention about this temple. The temple is mentioned in 6^th Thirumurai in 51^st Patikam in 3^rd Song, 6^th Thirumurai in 70^th Patikam in 4^th Song & 6^th Thirumurai in 71^st Patikam in 4^th Song by Appar and 7^th Thirumurai in 47^th Patikam in 4^rd Song by Sundarar.

Appar (6-51-3):

அண்ணா மலையமர்ந்தார் ஆரூ ருள்ளார்

அளப்பூரார் அந்தணர்கள் மாடக் கோயில்

உண்ணாழி கையார் உமையா ளோடும்

இமையோர் பெருமானார் ஒற்றி யூரார்

பெண்ணா கடத்துப் பெருந்தூங் கானை

மாடத்தார் கூடத்தார் பேரா வூரார்

விண்ணோர்க ளெல்லாம் விரும்பி யேத்த

வீழி மிழலையே மேவி னாரே.

Appar (6-70-4):

எச்சில் இளமர் ஏம நல்லூர்

இலம்பையங் கோட்டூர் இறையான் சேரி

அச்சிறு பாக்க மளப்பூர் அம்பர்

ஆவடு தண்டுறை அழுந்தூர் ஆறை

கச்சினங் கற்குடி கச்சூர் ஆலக்

கோயில் கரவீரங் காட்டுப் பள்ளி

கச்சிப் பலதளியும் ஏகம் பத்துங்

கயிலாய நாதனையே காண லாமே.

Appar (6-71-4):

பிறையூருஞ் சடைமுடியெம் பெருமா னாரூர்

பெரும்பற்றப் புலியூரும் பேரா வூரும்

நறையூரும் நல்லூரும் நல்லாற் றூரும்

நாலூருஞ் சேற்றூரும் நாரை யூரும்

உறையூரும் ஓத்தூரும் ஊற்றத் தூரும்

அளப்பூரோ மாம்புலியூர் ஒற்றி யூருந்

துறையூருந் துவையூருந் தோழூர் தானுந்

துடையூருந் தொழவிடர்கள் தொடரா வன்றே.

Sundarar (7-47-4):

ஆரூர் அத்தா ஐயாற் றமுதே

அளப்பூர் அம்மானே

காரூர் பொழில்கள் புடைசூழ் புறவிற்

கருகா வூரானே

பேரூர் உறைவாய் பட்டிப் பெருமான்

பிறவா நெறியானே

பாரூர் பலரும் பரவப் படுவாய்

பாசூ ரம்மானே.