Moolavar: Sri Aabathsahayeswarar
Amman:Sri Anandavalli
A beautiful old temple which was built in the year 1090 CE by Kulothunga Chola I as per the stone inscriptions found here.
In ancient times the lord is believed to have come to the rescue of a king was in crisis and hence his name here is Abathsahayeswarar (one who came to the rescue). It is also said that in a distant Karnataka Village called Elavetti people were perishing every day for some unknown reason. Upon advise by a traveler they came here and worshiped the Lord with Vibhuti and took it back and sprayed the Vibhuti Prasadam across their village by chanting the name of lord shiva and their sufferings ended.
As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called as Thiruvananthecharamudaya Mahadevar and the place was called as Kulothunga chaturvedi mangalam.
During Uthama Chozha Period this place was called as Utama Chozha Chaturvedi Mangalam and during Kulothunga-I ( 1090 CE ) period, this place was called as Thirayanur alias Kulothunga Chozha Chaturvedi Mangalam. It is believed that this temple was originally built during Uthama Chozha’s mother Chembian Maha devi and latter reconstructed with stone by Kulothunga Chozha. The inscriptions of Kulothunga Chozha-I, Sambuvarayas, Sundara Pandyan and Vijayanagara inscriptions are found in this temple. The temple was latter extended and re-constructed during Vijayanagara Nayak Period. This inscriptions records the Gift of land, money towards poojas and lighting of perpetual Lamps / Santhi lamps.
The Kulothunga Chozha’s inscription starts with his meikeerthi records the gift of Two cows with a calf towards lighting of one sandhi lamp by Malaikudaiyan Padampakka Nayakan and the same was received by Amarakan Sundara Bhattan and his brother.
The Sundara Pandyan’s 14th year rule inscription records the gift of Land with periphery Soola Stone towards celebration of festival on Aadi month, Monday. Another inscription records the gift towards naivedyam.
The Rajadhi Raja with title records the gift of land by a merchant called Mangalangilan of Puliyur Kottathu Poonthanmali / Poonamallee a part of Chennai towards Thirupalli Nachiyar’s 5th day Naivedyam.
Another Kulothunga Chozha’s inscription starts with his mei keerthi records the gift of 12 Goats to give 12 nazhi ghee towards lighting of Lamp.
Veera Rajendran’s period inscription records the gift of land to this temple, which is incomplete and eroded/ damaged in many places.
Another Kulothunga Chozha-I’s inscription with his full meikeerthi / Title records the gift of Land to this temple. The inscription elaborately describes the income from the land to be used for Naivedyam (Salt rice, Vegetable rice, Curd Rice etc) and the materials like Paddy / rice to be offered, paddy to be offered for Abhishekam, lighting of perpetual lamp, etc,.
The temple was recently renovated by Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ) and is under their control
A large and beautiful outer courtyard leads into the temple which has a single Prakaram. The outer walls of the sanctum sanctorum have a lot of stone inscriptions detailing all those information given above. In the front there are a few miniature carvings below eye level. The idols are all magnificent works of art. The main deity is a large lingam. There is a large and disused temple tank north of the temple.
The Temple is 9 kilometers south of Sunguvarchathiram (in the Chennai to Bangalore highway before Kancheepuram) and in the northern fringes of Thenneri village.
Contact: It is under the oru kala poojai scheme and the temple kurukal Dhandapani can be reached on his mobile number 9444661365
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