Rare Temples around Villupuram – 1 by G.M. Lakshminarayanan

1. Lokambika sametha Mashapureeswarar (Ulundhaandaar koil) temple, Ulundurpet

• A 1000-year-old temple, built during the latter Chozha period and expanded by Vijayanagara kings.
• As per the legend, a pepper merchant happened to pass through this place, saw this swayambhu Linga and worshipped. Since it was getting dark, he decided to stay in the temple itself. On that night, Lord Shiva wanted to test his Bhakti. He came in the form of an old man and asked the merchant for some pepper for his headache. The merchant lied and said the bag contained only “Ulundu” (chickpeas) and not pepper. The next day when he opened his bag at the U.Keeranur Mariamman temple market area, he found the bag contained only Ulundu. He heard the Lord’s voice say that this was changed by Him. The merchant begged for pardon. Lord Shiva asked him to come back to the place where he stayed the previous night. After worship, the merchant found that the Ulundu changed to pepper again. Hence this place is called Ulundurpet and Still, we can see the Mariamman temple bears the name of Ulundu Mariamman. The place is also called Ulundandar Koil. Masha in Sanskrit means Ulundhu (Urad dal)
• Surya and Agasthya worshipped Lord Shiva of this temple.

2. Brahannayaki sametha Grama Ardhanaareeswarar temple,

Elavanasur Kottai

• The temple is believed to be 1500 years old and is large in size, with a 150-foot-high six-tiered Rajagopuram and five Prakarams.
• The temple is one of the Mada Kovil style temples in Villupuram District.
• To reach the sanctum, devotees must ascend 18 steps.
• The legend goes that Deivigan, a Malaiyaman Chief, killed an asura named Karundan in his past life. To rid himself of the Brahmahatti Dosha (sin of killing a brahmana), he performs a sacrifice and establishes villages for 400 brahmanas. When faced with  shortage of housing, Lord Shiva, disguised as a brahmana, instructs the chief to divide the village and gift one half to the brahmanas and the other to Shiva. After doing so, the Lord reveals Himself as the deity of the temple, earning the title Oor Bhagam Kondaruliya Nayanar, meaning “The Lord who accepted half the village.”
• According to another legend, when Rajaraja Chola was passing through the area on his way to the battlefield, his sword accidentally struck a Shiva Lingam hidden in the bushes. Blood began to flow from the Lingam and the king, realizing his mistake, sought the Lord’s forgiveness. Shiva instructed him to build a temple, which Rajaraja Chola did in accordance with divine guidance.
• Both Indra and Sage Mrukandu are said to have worshipped Lord Shiva at this temple, further adding to its significance.
• The place was originally called as Iraivasanallur. The area was ruled by Mir Hussain Khan under the Arcot Nawab, and a fort was located here, giving rise to the name Elavanasur Kottai.

3. Akhilandeswari sametha Jambulingeswarar temple, Jambai

• Built by the Cholas in the 10th century.
• Features Tamil Vattezhuttu inscriptions by the Cholas.
• Under Rashtrakuta rule in the mid-10th century, statues of Lord Muruga, Jyestha Devi, Kalabairavar, and Durga in Rashtrakuta architectural style found in the temple.
• The temple is believed to have originally been a pond where the self-manifested (Svayambhu) Shiva Linga was discovered.
• A sage, taking the form of a fish, is said to have worshipped the Linga, earning the title “Valaimamani” and giving the village the name “Valaiyur,” later becoming “Jambai” during the Chalukya Chola period.
• The principal deity is referred to as Thantonriswarar in inscriptions, while locals call the deity Jambuskewarar (likely derived from Sambukeswarar).
• The temple is significant for its epigraphical value, with inscriptions from various Tamil dynasties.
• Five inscriptions from King Kopperunsingan (1253-1258 CE) record gifts and endowments to the temple.
• Key inscriptions include:

1. • A damaged record of a gift of land for worshiping Goddess Jyeshta.
   • An inscription about a Mandapa construction by Viranaraniyar, consort of Prince Gandaraditya, with an endowment for its upkeep.
   • A record of land gifted by Sri Pondaiyudaiyan for the daily temple worship.
   • A fragment recording a 50 Kalanju gold gift for perpetual lamps.
   • A record of a gift for a perpetual lamp from Sadaiyan Eluvan, likely deposited with the Nagarattar of Valaiyur.

4. Kamakshi Ambal sametha Kakkaneswarar temple, Manalurpettai

• A 1000-year-old temple built in the latter Chozha period.
• According to the legend the Lord gave darshan answering the prayers of Sage Kakabhujandar.
• A temple which was totally in ruins has been wonderfully renovated, without compromising on the stone structures.

5. Gnanananda Swamigal Tapovanam, Thirukkovilur

• “Sri Gnanananda Thapovanam” is a quiet place, situated on the northern banks of Pennar river, near Thirukovilur in Tamil Nadu. Thapovanam meaning “forest of penance” is today a place of pilgrimage.
• It is situated within a couple of miles from a sacred town called Tirukovilur.
• Sri Gnananandagiri Swamigal established his modest ashram at Thapovanam, a place which was identified by Swami himself for its spiritual potency.
• It is believed that Mrikandu Maharishi, centuries ago, undertook penance at this holy place, having cluster of five old mango trees.
• In the year 1951, an ardent devotee of Swamiji, Sri P.R.Subramania Ayyar dedicated the land – where the present Thapovanam is situated – to Swamiji, who decided to establish the Thapovanam in a place where five mango trees stood and called it “Adhyathma Vidyalayam” in the same year.

6. Neela Visalakshi sametha Vyagrapadheeswarar temple, Sidhalingamadam

• This place was called Sitringur – சிற்றிங்கூர்- during Chozha period and how it changed to Sidhalingamadam is not known.
• This temple is one of the Thevara Vaippu sthalam.
• Vinayaka argued with Sundarar and made him sing a hymn at this temple hence Vinayaka is called “Vathadum Vinayakar”.
• Vyaghrapada got Lord Shiva’s darshan in this temple, hence Lord Shiva is called Vyagrapadheswarar. There’s a stone image of Sage Vyaghrapadha performing penance on a lotus peetam.
• Sri Gnanananda Swamigal, before settling in Thirukovilur Tapovanam, stayed here for quite some time.
• A magnificent temple containing more than 80 inscriptions belonging to various periods dating from as early as Madurai Konda Parakesari Varman Parantaka-I (907 – 985 CE)
• The other inscriptions belong to Rajaraja-I, II & III, Rajendran-I, RajadhiRajan-II (1173-74 CE), Kannaradeva also called as Krishna-III, Kulothunga-I & III, Vikrama Chozha (Parakesarivarman), Pandya Kings Vikrama Pandydeva-II (1274 CE), Maravarman Vira Pandian (1347 CE), Konerimaikondan Sundara Pandyan, Sundara Pandyan –I (1263 CE), Vijayanagar Kings Virupaksha Maharaya (1485 CE), Krishna Raya Maharaya (1513 CE) and Rajanarayana Sambuvarayar.
• The inscriptions are mainly in Tamil.
• Kulothunga-I period Sanskrit inscription is also available.

7. Brihannayaki sametha Kailasanathar temple, Villupuram

• The original temple belongs to the 11^thto 12^th Century Chozha Period. The mandapas are expanded during the Vijayanagara period. An underground room was found in this temple in recent years.
• During the Nrupathunga Pallava period, this place was called Vijaya Nrupathonga Cheyathangi Chaturvedi Mangalam, and during the Rajaraja Chozha period, Jananatha Chaturvedi Mangalam, and Jayangonda Chozha Mandalam.
• Also called Vizhuparaiyapuram, which has been corrupted to the present name of Viluppuram. Maravarman Sundara Pandyan period (1265 CE) inscription records this place was called Viluppuram.
• Vaikuntavasa Perumal Temple Dwajasthambam inscription records as Viluppuram alias Janakapuri.
• The recorded inscriptions belong to Koperunchingan, Kulothunga Chozha, Rajanarayana Sambhuvaraiyar, Sadaiyavarman, Viruppanna udaiyar, Saluva Narasinga udaiyar, Narasinga Nayaka, Krishna Devaraya, Achuthadeva Maharaya, and Sadasiva Devaraya.
• The temple was damaged during 15^thCentury Vijayanagara period due to flood and the same was reconstructed.
• Ambal Periya Nayagi Temple renovation was started in the Tamil year – Prajotpatti, Karthikai Month (Salivahana sakapdam 6790) and completed in Thai month of Angirasa Year, (Two years) by Somanatha Saravana Mudaliar. Mudaliar belonged to Thondai mandalam. In this inscription, Ambal was called Sakala Bhuvaneswari alias Periyanayaki.

8. Thaiyal Nayaki sametha Vaidhyanathar temple, Chinthamani

• The temple was built during Vikrama Chozha period and named after his father, as “Kulothunga Chozheeswaramudaiya Mahadevar” Temple and now called as “Vaideeswaran Temple”.
• This place was called in the name of Kulothunga Chozha’s wife’s name “Madhuranthaki “also called as “Dheena Chintamani” and now called as Chinthamani and locally as “Chinthamani nallur”.
• There are inscriptions in the temple referring to grants and donations to the temple in general, and in particular to the maintenance of the Urdhva Tandava Nataraja in the koshtam.
• As this is a shrine for Vaidyanathar, it is regarded as a Angaraka sthalam, and there is a separate shrine for Angaraka in the temple. However, this temple is not part of any Navagraha temples group.

(to be continued)