Moolavar: Sri Kailasanathar
Amman: Sri Kanakavalli Ambal
A beautiful old temple built during the 13th century. A unique temple where the Avudayar (Avudaiyar is the base of the Shiva Lingam) of the shivalingam itself has inscriptions on it. Perhaps, the only temple with inscriptions on the avudaiyar. The inscription says 'Sri Satheruman Murthiper'. 'Sat' means trade guild and this refers that the place served as a port. According to the ASI (Archeological Survey of India) the script on the inscription is Palaeography Script which again is not very common.
The base of the maha mandapam has a 3 line inscription throughout. At certain places they have been painted red recently to enable easy reading of the inscriptions. At one spot you can spot the word 'Kovalam'. Its a 13th C inscription and this place has been called Kovalam ever since then!
The ardha mandapam has some exquisite bronzes - Shiva Parvathi with Somaskandha with a cute little Nataraja on the arch with a Standing Vinayaka, Ambal etc. The Maha Mandapam has 3 shrines of 3 Vinayakas - Kubera Vinayaka, Vijaya Vinayaka & Siva Sakthi Vinayaka.
In the external Ghomatham you can see Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, Sathya Narayana etc. The mandapam that housed Navagraha was visibly very old and almost dilapidated with roots of creepers all over them. The little shikara and stupi atop the Rishaba Mandapam and the Vimanam were so eroded, thanks to the construction made of lime-sand bricks unlike the sturdy granite, with which the huge temples are usually made of!
There are are few vigrahams in the outside mandapam like perumal, one separate shivalingam and kalikambal which all have been gotten in the sea.
Timing:
This temple is opened only by 8:30 am as they don’t have a permanent kurukal yet.
Contact: The contact person Mr.Ramesh can be reached at 7299534793 and the person next to temple Mr.Devadas can be reached at 9444225634
Location:
Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Kovalam, Kanchipuram
No comments:
Post a Comment