ULAGAPURAM

KAILASANADHAR TEMPLE

Distance: 23kms from Dindivanam and 30kms from Marakkanam

Shiva: Kailasanadhar

Amman:

Speciality:

The Shiva temple was called Kailasamudaiyar or Arikulakesari Eswaramudaiyar.

This Eka Thala Vimana temple faces east.

The Garpagriha is built of stone and the super structure is made of bricks.

The Dhakshinamurthy Sannidhi is old and Bikshadanar is the later insertion.

There are Sannidhis for Ganapathy, Durga, Chandikeswarar, Suryan, Chandran and Bhairavar.

In front of the Garpagriha there is a broken Mukamandapam.

There are remains of Jyeshta Devi, Chandikeswarar and Suriyan.

There must have been 8 Parivara deities in the Chola period.

There is no compound wall and the Nandhikeswarar and the Palipeetam are found.

There is no flagstaff.

Inscriptions:

There are many inscriptions found in the temple. The earliest of those inscriptions is in the south wall of the central shrine. During the period of Rajakesari Varman Raja Raja Chola I the inscription mentions about endowment of 96 Sheep for buring lamps in the temple made by Ambalavanan Kandaradhithanar, a noble man of Rajaraja Chola I days. Another inscription in the south west wall of the central shrine during the reign of Rajaraja Chola I mentions about the donation of a flower garden by Ambalavanan Kandaradhithanar. It also records sale of land by Magarathar of Ulagamadhevipuram to Gangan Ambalavanan Kandaradhitha Chola Villuparaiyan of Kuvalalam (Kolar of Karnataka) who in-turned endowed a flower garden. From the inscription of Anandheeswarar temple of Udaiyarkudi there are references about this man who has endowed 19 Velies of Land for feeding 56 Brahmins in the said temple. Another inscription is that Rajaraja Chola I got the title of Rajaraja Pallavarayan. According to the inscriptions of the middle Cholas Lord Shiva of this temple was called Arikula Kesari Eswaramudaiyar of Ulagamadhevipuram. This inscription is in the southern wall of the temple.

About the place:

The name of the Village derives the name from Rajaraja Chola I wife. Her name was Ulagamadhevi. During the days of the Cholas this place was called Ulagamadhevipuram. Queen Ulagamadhevi was also called Dhandi Shakthi Vidangi. The temple is now in ruins.

KOVALAM

KAILASANADHAR TEMPLE

Distance: 35kms from Chennai and 19kms from Mahabalipuram on East Coast Road

Shiva: Kailasanadhar

Amman: Kanagavalli

Sthala Viruksham: Vilva, Maa and Pala

Speciality:

The Cholas have contributed largely to the Kailasanadhar temple.

Rajaraja Chola I called this place as Veera Chola Pattinam.

The inscriptions in the Thiruvidandhai Perumal temple (Thiruvidandhai now was a part of  Early Kovalam) refer this place as Veera Rajendhra Cholanin Aamoor Kottathu Paduvoor Naattu Kovalamana Veera Chola Pattinam.

The first thirupani was made by the Pallavas. Later a lot of Renovations, insertions and contributions were made by the Cholas.

Inscriptions have recorded the Dhakshinamurthy of the temple belongs to the 13th Century. Dhakshinamurthy has been installed by a merchant from Naavaloor named Agastheesamudaiyan.

From another inscription in the temple, the temple was built with all Sannidhis before 900 years.

There is no Rajagopuram.

In the inside wall we can find Om Shakthi Vinayaka worshipping Amman.

There are Sannidhis of Valampuri Vinayaka and Valli Devasena Subramaniya facing east.

The Mulavar Kailasanadhar is east facing with a square Aavudaiyar. It is amazing to find inscriptions engraved on the Aavudaiyar.

The Amman faces south.

In the Prahara we find Ottraikombu Vinayaka, Dhakshinamurthy, Sathya Narayana, Brahma, Durga and Chandikeswarar Sannidhis. Nearby we find Naagakanni mandapam with sculptures such as Hanuman carrying mountain, Hanuman carrying Shiva and some Rama Sculptures.

In the northern side of the temple there is a 28 pillared long stone mandapam. In this Mandapam there are Sannidhis of Surya Narayanan, Srinivasa Perumal, Alamel Mangai, Shiva, Kaali, Bhairavar and Nagendhran. This shows the unity between Shiva and Vishnu devotees who worship here together.

To the south east of the temple there is a temple tank.

About the Place:

'Ko' means King and 'Alam' means salt. Salt preparation was done in Large levels during the Chola period. Therefore this place have obtained the name Kovalam. Kovalam was a sea port which dealth small imports and exports.

PARAMESWARAMANGALAM

KAILASANADHAR TEMPLE

Distance: 12kms from Kalpakkam.

Shiva: Kailasanadhar

Amman: Kanagambigai

This temple is situated on the river Paalaru opposite to Vayiloor (Voyalur). Voyalur was the place of Pallava celebrity. The nearby place called Vasavasamuthiram contained Roman Relics which were discovered recently.

Two inscriptions are found in this temple on the slab near the Ganesha outside the Kailasanadhar temple. This temple was constructed during the period of Nirpadhunga Pallava. The construction of Ganapathy and the consecration of Saileswarar (old name of Kailasanadhar) was done by a Brahmin lady who made gift of Paddy for lamps and the worship of the temple during the period of Nirpadhunga Pallava. This detail is mentioned in one inscription in the temple. The second inscription records a gift of 11 Kalanju of Gold for the offerings to the Lord.

The Adhishtanam of the temple is made of Stone and the super strucure is built of bricks. This type of structure is called the misra type of structure. Later the temple was renovated by the Cholas and the Pandyas.
This temple is one of the 7 Shiva temples of Parameswaramangalam.

History: Click here

RASIPURAM

KAILASANADHAR TEMPLE

Distance: 28kms from Salem and 28kms from Namakkal

Shiva: Kailasanadhar

Amman: Aramvalartha Nayaki.

Sthala Viruksham: Vilva tree

In early days Rasipuram was very fertile and rich and many rich people were living here.

The idol of Valvil Ori is seen in this temple.

Ori created an underground passage from his palace to the temple. Now only the entrance can be seen and the whole passage has been blocked.

Invisible sidhdhars who are believed to live in Kollimalai come here to worship Kailasanadhar. People in this village say that they had felt the movement of the sidhdhars in the temple. 

The Kailasanadhar Linga has been existing for 4 Yugas.

The place Rasipuram had also different name in the 4 Yugas. 

• In the Kritha Yuga Indiran worshipped the Linga which was called Neelakanta Murthy and the place was called Indhirapuram.
• In the Dwapara Yuga the linga was worshipped by Sidhdhars and the place was called Vichithrapuram and Shiva Sidhdheeswarar.
• In the Thretha Yuga the linga was worshipped by Navagrahas and the place was called Dhevapuram and the Linga Chandrasekarar.
• In the Kali Yuga the Linga was worshipped by Ori and the place was called Rajamapuram (Rasipuram) and the Linga Kailasanadhar.

The Ambaal of this temple is called Aramvalarthanayaki in tamil and Dharmasamvarthini in Sanskrit.

The Amman holds 'Sengol' in one hand and flowers in the other. In the other 2 hands she shows the pose of Abayavaradham. 

The Rajagopuram is 5 tired.

The Dakshinamurthy of this temple is in the pose of Preaching the Sanagadhi Munivars - Sanagar, Sanandhar, Sanaadhanar and Sanathkumarar. This is a very rare feature 

The Arumugar of this temple is Large in size. 

Arunagirinathar has sung about this Muruga in his Thirupugazh as "Kongu Raja Pura Thurai Perumanae". This Muruga is present with his consort. 

There is a Bala Dhandayudhapani Sannidhi in this temple which is considered equal to Pazhani. 

The Nandhi of this temple is carved with Garlands, Jewels and the figures of flowers and wearing a Rathna Kambalam (a scarf studded with Garnet stones) and with his ears lifted. This sculpture in very unique.

All the Sannidhis in this temple are very special. There are Sidhi Vinayaka, Gaja Lakshmi, Ekambaranathar and Kamakshi, Viswanadhar and Visalakshi and Sarvalingaeswarar sannidhis in the temple.

In early days the temple was inside a fort. In the north east portion of the temple we can see the remains of the fort entrance. There is an inscription in a pillar that Veera Ragavayyan has built the fort entrance. Another inscription in the entrance of the Artha mnadapam states Raasapurathu Thalaivasal. There is a nearby temple called Kottai Muniyappa Temple. The fort must have existed upto the 16th century. The inscriptions found in the temple state this.

All the other Sannidhis found in other temples are also found here.

In the northern side of the Deepa Sthambam there is a sculpture of a staunch Shiva devotee Kaalamugar.

In the eastern side of the Deepa Sthambam a Shiva devotee is seen carrying a Shiva Linga on his head.

In the western side of the Deepa Sthambam an image of a cow showering milk on a linga is seen.

In the Southern side of the Deepa Sthambam there is a soldier with a sword and shield in his hand.

There is a 16 pillared Mandapam in front of the Gopuram.

In 1443AD, Vera Prathapadevan has done renovations and Moroor Kangeyan has built the Gopuram.

The carpentry skill is seen in the doors of the temple.

The Raja Ganapathy sannidhi of this temple was built by a rich person called Kumaravel Gounder.

The Mandapam before the Arumugar Sannidhi was built by Chinappa Gounder.

The Mahamandapam was built by Thulukkathirumalai Seeyalanadhar.

The other specialities in the temple are Kilimandapam, Three small musical pillars and four deers with 1 face. All these are full of Artistic touch.

A Shiva Devotee Kariyaperumal gave his large property in Athanur village for the temple.

There are inscriptions of Raja Raja Chola III, Vikrama Pandiya Thondaiman has been found.

Colonel Mckenzie has written in his records that Seeyala Chetti Mudhaliyar hid in this temple when the Mysore King attacked this place.

Vidankazhanai Amarakon has given his lands opposite to the temple for the temple.

The 63 Nayanmar Mandapam of this temple is a special feature. Normally the Nayanmars are in a straight line but here they stand in the shape of half a rectangle.

In the western corner of the temple we find the Vanni and the Aathi trees growing together. Under the tree is the idol of Valvil Ori. He stands in a position of praying to the Lord Kailasanadhar. He is seen with a Kondai, many ornaments all over his body, a Katari on both sides of his hip, a Metti on his toes and Veera Kazhal (anklet) on his left leg (Metti and Veera Kazhal was a symbol worn by a warrior). He is wearing slippers on his feet which shows the workmanship of cobblers.

King Ori was a great bestower. He was one of the Bestowers of Kadaichangam. Since he was an expert in archery he was called as Valvil Ori. He was also called as Aadhan Ori. He had the habit of hunting. 

One day when he started for hunting to the forest he saw an white pig but it was not like normal pigs. He wanted to hunt the pig and so he went chasing behind it. After a long travel the pig hid somewhere. He was tired. He sat on a big stone. At that time he saw the pig hiding in a bush near the stone. Immediately he beat the pig with his arrow. Suddenly the pig disappeared and in the place where the pig was standing he saw a Shiva Lingam. The Shiva Linga was bleeding. He did not know how to stop the flowing blood. He was astonished and he repented for his deed. The blood stopped bleeding. He immediately brought some water from nearby pond and performed abhisheka; he brought some flowers from the forest and made a garland for the Lord and pleaded the Lord to forgive him. The Lord appeared before him and told him not to worry and this incident happened to declare his bakthi to the world. He could not believe his eyes. He built a temple for the Shiva Linga and named the lord as Kailasanadhar. He sent his men to clean the whole place and called it Rajamapuram which is now called Rasipuram. Even now we can see the mark of the arrow which king Ori beat the pig on the Shiva Linga. The mark is about 2 feet in a curved form. The mark can be seen during Abhisheka on the Suyambhu Linga Murthy. The idol of Valvil Ori is seen in this temple. 

KUNANCHERI

KAILASANADHAR TEMPLE

Distance: 16kms from Kumbakonam and 6kms from Swami Malai

Shiva: Kailasanadhar

Amman: Parvathi and Jada Makuda Sowndaryanayaki

Any deformation in the body can be completely cured by worshipping the Kailasanadhar of this temple.

Saint Thanavar lived in this village. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He did not have a child. He prayed to Shiva to bestow him with a child. Shiva responded to his prayer saying that he would be blessed with a child if he takes up the task of teaching Vedas to Children. Sage Thanavar performed his job sincerely. His wife became pregnant. One day when he was uttering the Vedic Mantra a student began to sleep. The saint got angry and he punished him severely. The boy could not bear the intensity of the punishment. He started crying. The infant in his wife's womb heard the cry. It spoke out saying that the boy was very tired and he slept without his knowledge. He did not do it intensionally. Thanavar got very angry with the infant in the womb for supporting the student and cursed that he would be born with 8 Vakrams (crooks or dimensions) in his body (in tamil it is Ashta Vikram means Ashta Konal). The infant in the womb was very intelligent it learned all the Vedas in the womb itself. When the Child was born with 8 crooks in the body he was called Ashta Vakran. He grew up in that form and when he attained a certain age he was advised to install 8 lingas and perform poojas to get relieved from his Vakras. He worshipped Lord Shiva (Kailasanadhar) and  installed 8 lingas and performed Poojas as he was instructed. He got relieved from his Vakras and he became a sage and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He spent his years in preaching about Vedas and Vedic scriptures and the greatness of Lord Shiva. He preached Ashta Vakra Geetha to Janaka (the father of Seetha). So one who visits this temple will get relieved from the Vakras (crooks) of body, brain and soul. Koonan in tamil means Deformation. So this village is known as Koonachery in Tamil and Ashta Vakra Sthala in sanskrit.

Janaka, Sita's father, proposed to perform Yaaga. A little boy was waiting to enter to the place where the Yaaga was conducted. He was Ashta Vakran with 8 disabilities of the body - hunch back, twisted hands, bent body, crossed head and lame legs. Nobody noticed him. He wanted to meet the head of the Pandits named Vandhi. The gate keepers did not send him in. When Janaka came to know about this he met the boy and asked him the purpose of meeting the Pandit Vandhi. He said that he wanted to conquer him in the Vedic debate. Janaka told him that nobody can conquer Vandhi and there is still a person yet to be born to do that. He also added that people who challenged him were defeated and drowned in Ganga as that was the condition of the debate. He adviced him to go back. The boy replied that Vandhi would have debated with people who did not have full knowledge and are not fully learned moreover he said that Vandhi was proud and this pride would put him down. Vandhi has drowned his father and he had come to pay him back. Uthalagar the teacher of Vedas had many disciples. Kaholar also called Thanavar was dull but simple and very disciplined. The other disciples mocked him. But Uthalagar gave his daughter Sujatha in marriage to Kaholar because of his character and discipline. Ashta Vakran was their child. In his mother's womb he followed Uthalagar's teachings. When Kaholar was learning his lessons the baby in the womb found that he was wrong. This created dissatisfaction of his father's learnings. He was cursed by his father when he tried to state that his father was wrong. This made him twist and turn in the womb which created 8 disabilities. Before the age of 12 he became a scholar and came to know about his father's end that he was made to drown in the Ganga as Kahola lost the debate with Vandhi through his mother. Ashta Vakran and Vandhi debated with one another for many days. Everyone were amazed to find such a scholarship in the boy in Vedic philosophy. Finally Vandhi could not answer to a question asked by Ashta Vakra and therefore he had to lose the debate. He had to be ready to be drowned.

Vandhi was the son of Varuna. Varunan was conducting a Yaaga in Varuna Loga. He needed pandits for the Yaga. So Vandhi planned to conduct debates with Pandits made them lose and made them drown in Ganga so that they could reach the Varuna Loga as Varuna was the King of water. Vandhi begged Ashta Vakran for his life. Ashta Vakran asked him to promise to bring back all the Pandits including his father back to the world. He did so and he saved his life. All the sages cursed Varunan for his tricks. Ashta Vakran took his father back to his native place and later attained a handsome figure after the Shiva pooja by establishing 8 lingas.