Kailasanathar Temple, Rasipuram – The Temple

Kailasanathar Temple, Rasipuram – The Temple

This temple is facing towards west with five tiered rajagopuram. There is a mukha mandapam in front of the rajagopuram. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam and mukha mandapam. Dwaja Sthambam, Balipeedam and Nandi can be found immediately after the rajagopuram in the mukha mandapam, facing towards the sanctum. Presiding deity is called as Kailasanathar and is facing west. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.

Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). The Lingam is said to have a scar mark caused by an arrow. Dakshinamoorthy, Lingodbhava and Shiva Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar shrine can be seen in his usual location. The temple has a procession deity for Lord Dakshinamurthy with four disciples. Mother is called as Aram Valartha Nayaki / Dharma Samvardhini. She is housed in a separate west facing shrine.

There is a Maha Meru Chakra in front of her shrine. There is a shrine for Vinayaga called Vikata Chakra Vinayaka in the temple premises. He has a rudraksha chain in his hand, made of a single stone. There are two shrines for Murugan in this temple. They are Bala Dhandayuthapani and Kalyana Subramanya shrines. He is gracing the devotees with his consorts Valli & Devasena in the Kalyana Subramanya shrine.

Lord Murugan of this temple is praised in the Thirupugazh hymns of 15^th century saint Arunagirinathar. Both the shrines are located close to the Aram Valartha Nayaki shrine. There is a separate shrine for Veerabhadra with Nandhi before him in the temple premises. There is a separate shrine for Valvil Ori under the Vanni tree in the prakaram. He is in a worshipping form with a sword in the hip.

Shrines of Gajalakshmi, Saraswathi, Ayyappan, 63 Nayanmars, Santhana Kuravars, Kasi Viswanathar with his consort Visalakshi, Ramanatha Swamy with his consort Parvata Vardhini, Panchalingas, Kala Bhairava, Saneeswarar and Nagas can be seen in the temple premises. Sthala Vriksham is Nelli Tree. Theertham associated with this temple is Sivaganga theertham. It is situated in the prakaram. It is believed that there is a secret path to the Arapaleeswarar Temple, situated at top of Kolli hills from this temple.

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Ambal – The Temple

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Ambal – The Temple

This temple is facing towards east with three tiered rajagopuram. The temple is completely enclosed within the compound walls and has two prakarams. Dwaja Sthambam, Balipeedam, Stone Nandi and Stucco Nandi can be found immediately after the rajagopuram, facing towards sanctum. It is believed that King Kochengat Chola built around 70 Maadakovils. This temple is considered one among them.

The unique feature about these temples are that it is not easily approachable by an elephant. He built these temples at an elevation and there are few steps need to be climbed before seeing Lord in the sanctum. Also, the entrance to the sanctum would be so narrow that elephants cannot enter it. The Mada Kovil can be accessed through flight of twelve steps on the southern side.

The Mada Kovil consists of sanctum, ardha mandapam and maha mandapam. A small Nandi and Balipeedam can be found in the ardha mandapam facing towards the sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Brahmapureeswarar / Ambareesar / Maarapureeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambu Moorthy (self-manifested).

Image of Somaskanda can be seen behind the presiding deity. Dakshinamoorthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are the koshta idols located around the walls on the ground level below the sanctum. Chandikeswarar shrine can be seen in his usual location at ground level. Dakshinamoorthy is the only koshta idol located around the sanctum wall in the Mada Kovil.

There is an east facing shrine for Somaskanda situated to the right side of the sanctum. Sculpture of Bhairava can be seen on the wall opposite to this shrine. Navagrahas shrine can be seen on the left side of the sanctum. Nataraja Sabha can be seen on the right side of the maha mandapam. Shrines and Idols of Vinayaga, Bala Subramanya, Kochengata Chola, Sambandar, Appar, Brahma and Saraswathi in standing posture can be seen in the Mada Kovil.

Mother is called as Sugantha Kunthalambigai / Poonguzhal Ammai / Vandamar Poonguzhali / Vambavana Poonguzhali. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in the ground floor to the left side of the sanctum. Shrine of Aadi Poora Amman and Palliyarai (bed chamber) flanks her shrine. There is a shrine for Vinayaga, Padikasu Pillaiyar in the ground level of the temple premises.

The sanctum of this shrine enshrines three idols of Vinayaga. There is a shrine for Jambukeswarar in the ground level in the temple premises. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found facing towards the shrine. There are three images of Ambalavana in this temple. Shrines of Vinayaga, Subramanya, Maha Lakshmi, Pathaleswarar, Punnagavaneswarar, Suseela, Bhairava, Surya, Somasi Marar and Ayyappan can be found in the temple premises.

Sthala Vriksham is Punnai (Mast Wood Tree). Theerthams associated with this temple are Brahma Theertham, Indra Theertham, Annamam Poigai and Soola Theertham. Annamam Poigai (well) can be seen on the left side immediately after the rajagopuram. There is a Shiva Linga situated next to this well.

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Ambal – Literary Mention

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Ambal – Literary Mention

This temple is considered as one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram hymns. This temple is the 171^st Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 54^th sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Tirugnanasambandar had sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. Thirunavukkarasar had mentioned about this place in his hymns. Lord Murugan of this temple is praised by Saint Arunagirinathar in his revered Thirupugazh hymns. The temple finds mention in Periyapuranam written by Sekkizhar. Vallalar also has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. The Sthala Puranam was written by Vidwan Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai. Ambar was mentioned in Sangam texts like Purananuru, Natrinai and Thivagara Nigandu.

Sambandar (03.019):

எரிதர அனல்கையில்

ஏந்தி எல்லியில்

நரிதிரி கானிடை

நட்டம் ஆடுவர்

அரிசிலம் பொருபுனல்

அம்பர் மாநகர்க்

குரிசில்செங் கண்ணவன்

கோயில் சேர்வரே.  1

மையகண் மலைமகள்

பாக மாயிருள்

கையதோர் கனலெரி

கனல ஆடுவர்

ஐயநன் பொருபுனல்

அம்பர்ச் செம்பியர்

செய்யகண் ணிறைசெய்த

கோயில் சேர்வரே.  2

மறைபுனை பாடலர்

சுடர்கை மல்கவோர்

பிறைபுனை சடைமுடி

பெயர ஆடுவர்

அறைபுனல் நிறைவயல்

அம்பர் மாநகர்

இறைபுனை யெழில்வளர்

இடம தென்பரே.  3

இரவுமல் கிளமதி

சூடி யீடுயர்

பரவமல் கருமறை

பாடி யாடுவர்

அரவமோ டுயர்செம்மல்

அம்பர்க் கொம்பலர்

மரவமல் கெழில்நகர்

மருவி வாழ்வரே.  4

சங்கணி குழையினர்

சாமம் பாடுவர்

வெங்கனல் கனல்தர

வீசி யாடுவர்

அங்கணி விழவமர்

அம்பர் மாநகர்ச்

செங்கண்நல் இறைசெய்த

கோயில் சேர்வரே  5

கழல்வளர் காலினர்

சுடர்கை மல்கவோர்

சுழல்வளர் குளிர்புனல்

சூடி யாடுவர்

அழல்வளர் மறையவர்

அம்பர்ப் பைம்பொழில்

நிழல்வளர் நெடுநகர்

இடம தென்பரே.  6

இகலுறு சுடரெரி

இலங்க வீசியே

பகலிடம் பலிகொளப்

பாடி யாடுவர்

அகலிடம் மலிபுகழ்

அம்பர் வம்பவிழ்

புகலிடம் நெடுநகர்

புகுவர் போலுமே  7

எரியன மணிமுடி

இலங்கைக் கோன்றன

கரியன தடக்கைகள்

அடர்த்த காலினர்

அரியவர் வளநகர்

அம்பர் இன்பொடு

புரியவர் பிரிவிலாப்

பூதஞ் சூழவே.  8

வெறிகிளர் மலர்மிசை

யவனும் வெந்தொழிற்

பொறிகிளர் அரவணைப்

புல்கு செல்வனும்

அறிகில அரியவர்

அம்பர்ச் செம்பியர்

செறிகழல் இறைசெய்த

கோயில் சேர்வரே.  9

வழிதலை பறிதலை

யவர்கள் கட்டிய

மொழிதலைப் பயனென

மொழியல் வம்மினோ

அழிதலை பொருபுனல்

அம்பர் மாநகர்

உழிதலை யொழிந்துளர்

உமையுந் தாமுமே.  10

அழகரை யடிகளை

அம்பர் மேவிய

நிழல்திகழ் சடைமுடி

நீல கண்டரை

உமிழ்திரை யுலகினில்

ஓதுவீர் கொண்மின்

தமிழ்கெழு விரகினன்

தமிழ்செய் மாலையே.