Skip to main content

NARTHAMALAI SHIVA TEMPLES PART 3 - VIJAYALACHOLEESHVARAM





NARTHAMALAI – VIJAYALA CHOLEESHVARAM TEMPLE.


Vijayalaya Choleeswaram was built by a king called Sattan Puthi Ilankovathi araiyan of the Muthraiyar Dyansty, who were vassals of the early Pallavas and Pandyas, post the revival of the Medieval Cholas by the founder Vijayala Chola (850 to 871 CE) the Temples of Narthamalai came under the influence of the Chola’s


Vijayala Choleeshvaram Temple

The temple would be one of the earliest rock cut structural temple built by the Medieval Cholas and resembles the inspiration from Kailasanatha Temple of the Pallavas in Kanchipuram. The Vijayala Choleeshvaram Temple is the main attraction of Narthamalai and is facing west. Built in a Parivara shrine Style popular with the Cholas, it had eight sub shrines surrounding the central Temple structure, out of which six survive till date. The Parivara temple structure are generally built to accommodate the family of Bhagwan Shiva or local gods.


Ashthaparihara Temple of Shiva


The main Shrine consists of a Mukhamandapa, Ardhamandapa and a circular Garbhagriha with space for circumambulation. The Vimana of the temple is built in a Tri-Tala or three storied structure with the bottom two layers being square and the top layer with the Shikhara being circular (Vesara). An image of Shiva with Parvati on east, Shiva as Veenadhara on south are placed under these maha-nasikas. Four Nandi statues are placed at four corners facing either east or west. The temple has both the Nagara and Dravida features to it.


Three storied round & square Vimana.

The entrance to the temple is scripted with two Dwarapalakas, exquisitely chiseled. The right one is intrinsically crafted with Simha (Lion) arm bands. The left one seems to be incomplete. 



Left Dwarapalaka
Right Dwarapalaka















The round Garbhagriha contains a Shiva linga with a pedestal (Avudayar, Pindika) facing to the right of the Lingam, being a western facing entrance. The mandapam consists of Paintings of which Bhairava & Vishnu painting have survived time. The paintings themselves are of a later origin.


The entrance to the mukhamandapam.
The eight sub shrines around the temple are in the Astha-Parivara pattern. The arrangement of these eight sub shrines is as follows: Chandra in east, Surya in south-east, Sapta-matrika in south, Ganesha in south-west, Subramanya in west, Jyestha in north-west, Chandesha in north and Bhairava in north-east.























































































There is an inscription at the base of the dwarapalaka statue which clearly states that the original temple was built by Ilangovathi Mutharayar (alias) Chathambuthi which was damaged by rain and the same was rebuilt with granite stones by Mallan Vithuman Mutharaya king in 886 CE. This is a clear evidence that the temple was in existence prior to Vijayalaya chola, though at present the temple is called Vijayalaya Choleeswaram. 















v  The temple would be one of the earliest rock cut structural temple built by the Medieval Cholas and resembles the inspiration from Kailasanatha Temple of the Pallavas in Kanchipuram. The Vijayala Choleeshvaram Temple is the main attraction of Narthamalai and is facing west. Built in a Parivara shrine Style popular with the Cholas, it had eight sub shrines surrounding the central Temple structure, out of which six survive till date. The Parivara temple structure are generally built to accommodate the family of Bhagwan Shiva or local gods.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bt9rLbh1gqHMs7GS9





Labels:
Location: Narthamalai, Tamil Nadu 622101, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DHARBHARANYESHWARAR TEMPLE - SHANI ( SATURN) - TIRUNALLAR

Dharbharanyeswarar Temple,Tirunallar –Shani(Saturn) Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple  or  Dharbharanyeswarar Temple  is a Shiva temple dedicated to Lord Dharbharanyeswar. There is a shrine dedicated to Shani (saturn) located in the Temple in Tirunallar town in Karaikal district of Pondicherry. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva, ( Dharbaranyeswar)  and the place Tirunallar  was historically called Dharbaranyam. The presiding deity, Lord Shiva in the form of   a swayambhu lingam coming out of Darbha grass hence known as Dharbaranyeswarar. His consort is Praneshwari. The worship is also centered around the icon of planet saturn, called Shani, originally treated as the door keeper of the shrine. According to Hinduism, saturn resides in each  rasi (zodiac) for two and half years. The tradition is to worship Shani before entering the inner sanctum of Lord Siva. Kings in the past had donated milch cows for the upkeep of the temple. From the cowherd community a cowherd(Idayan) was selected
Post a Comment
Read more

KAMAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE - THE NAVEL OF GODDESS SHAKTHI - KANCHIPURAM

  Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple - The Navel of Goddess Shakthi. Bhandasura the evil Asura was tormenting Indra and the devas. The devas prayed to Shakti in the form of a Parrot, residing on a Champaka Vriksha (Magnolia Champaka) at Kanchi. Hearing the plea of the devas, the goddess Kamakshi appeared from the Bila Dwara and destroyed the evil asura in this place. The bila dvara leading to bilakasha or Mahameru can be seen today in front of the tapomagna kamakshI sannidhi inside the garbhagriha of the Kamkshi Temple. The Kamakshi AmmanTemple is an ancient Temple dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi, the ultimate form of Shakthi. It is located in the historic city of Kanchipuram The Temple in all probability was built by the Pallava Kings, whose capital was Kanchipuram. The temple is one of the 51 Shakthi Peetham and is associated with the Navel of the Goddess, the Goddess was prayed to by Adi Shankara. Kamakshi, Meenakshi & Akilandeswari from Kanchipuram, Madurai & Thiruvanaikoil re
Post a Comment
Read more

ELEPHANTA CAVES PART 3 - THE CELESTIAL MARRIAGE - SHIVA - GHARAPURI -

GHARAPURI  - ELEPHANTA CAVES 3 THE MARRIAGE OF SHIVA AND PARVATHI - attended by relatives, Gana’s, Rishi’s and Deva’s. SHIVA's marriage to PARVATHI, who is standing to his right. SATI who is reborn as PARVATHI to a father who  adores her, does penance to LORD SHIVA to attain him, SHIVA is pleased with the Penance of Parvathi and decides to marry her King HIMAVAN the father, who loves UMA or PARVATHI his daughter, gives her in marriage to SHIVA as SUNDARA. Parvathi Stands on the right hand side of Shiva before marriage. HIMAVAN along with his wife MENA ( MAINA)  placing Uma’s hand in the hands of the LORD SUNDARA.  PARVATHI’s brother MT. MAINAK   with a Kalash (Pot) in his hand and CHANDRA (MOON) behind him. Parvathi is bedecked in Jewels and even Shiva  is crowned and jeweled with necklace and he is holding the sash of his garment which is flowing up to his ankle. A coy PARVATHI bedecked with jewels,SHIVA with a beautiful crown,necklace and yagyopavitham. Sitt
Post a Comment
Read more