CHAPTER V TEMPLES IN KOVILPATTI

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1 CHAPTER V TEMPLES IN KOVILPATTI As Religion is an inseperable force in Indian cultural Kovilpatti has one famous temple dedicated to Lord sri poovana Natha swamy and Goddess shenbagavalli Amman. It is interesting note that this temple stand for different sect of Hinduism namely saivism, vaishnavism, ganpathiyam, Kaumaram and saktham. The presence of this temple in the Kovilpatti stands as testimony for the religious unity which is the charactraisticfeature of Hinduism in India. Kovilpatti is one of the oldest holy centres in Tamil nadu. The temples of Kovilpatti has made a unique contribution in constructing the religious, social and political life of the past and present people. These temples of Kovilpatti also supply the various valuable inscriptions which serve as authentic evidences to construct the history of the Early pandyas, Cholas, Later pandyas and the Nayaks who were the ruling class of ancient and medival period of south India. 170

2 ORIGION OF THE SRI POVOVANA NATHASWAMY AND SHENBAGAVALLI AMMAN TEMPLE As per legand, As the balnce of equilibrium of the earth was greatly affected on the occasion of the wedding of Lord Shiva with parvathi due to gathering of heavey crowed of devotees in the kailash Lord Shiva directed sage Agasthiya to go the south and correct the land level equally. During his Journey to the south, sage Agasthia had to kill demons as vadhabi and vivalan in the interest of mankind he acquired the Brahmahathi Dosha for murdering the demons which he washed off only in this temple town. He also created the Agasthiya Thirtha here responding to the wishes of the sages of ponmalai. As per another legand two serpents sangan and padhman worshipped the lord here with flowers of the poovana plant and there fore the name of the deity is poovana Natha. Sri Rama Offered his worship in this temple. Also one vamanan belonging to a siva group was born as the king of vembakottai near sattur in viruthunagar district due to the curse of Nandhi and had his curse relived byu the poojas to poovananathar. The temple was built by king shenbagamaman whose name the Gaddes Shenbagavalli bears. 1 1 Director of census operations. Tamil Nadu (pub) Census of India Temples of Tamil Nadu Thoothukudi district p

3 LOCATION OF TEMPLE Poovana nathar and shenbagavalli Amman temple situated the backside of Gandhi stadium is the famous in Kovilpatti. The town was developed around this temple. Poovananatha swamy a form of lord Shiva is also an important deity along with shenbagavalli Amman. Goddess shenbagavallis royal standing and promising posture adds more grace to the temple. This temple has the distance of ninty six kms from Madurai and fiftynine kms from Tirunelveli and sixty kms from Thoothukudi. Kovilpatti Tirunelveli and Illuppaiyurani are the nearest railway station and the air ports Madurai and Vagaikulam. REFERENCE This temple is referred to in copper plate found in sankara Bharathi Mutt of Manthithappu situated five kms south of Kovilpatti, which was issued by Kulasekhara pandya to the mutt in Kali 4131 (1030 A.D.) This plate indicates the name of Kovilpatti as Kovilpuri. There fore we can definitely confirmed that shenbagavalliamman temple was built before the regin of kulasekhara pandian. Later Kovilpuri also was called as Thirumangai nagar. This temple is also referred to in Kovirpuri purenam. 2 2 Sethu Ramalingam, Poovanathar thirukkoil Thalavaralaru. Kovilpatti P

4 CONSTRUCTION DURING VARIOUS STAGES Due to various dynasty sway this temple was built step by step by the various ruler of Tamil Nadu, who was the pandyas cholas and Nayaks. Those rulers were the donars who donated the immense valus of Jewels, ornaments, precious stones, diamonds, emeralds, wetlands, cash and kind to this temple. Still now the ornaments are user to decorate the deity on important festivals. Poovananathaswamy and Shenbagavalli Amman Temple was built during the period of early pandyas. The ground plans of the structure togather with their measurement are given and the same are illustracted in general ground plan of the Temple. Shanbagaraja the pandya chieftain of vembakottai is soid to have built the Temple. The temple inscriptions mention on, the date of construction and the person responsible for the same. The earliest inscription belongs to the ninth century A.D. ios found on the north wall of first prakara of the puvanathaswamy temple states that During the 14 th regnal year of pandya Maranjadaiyan, Nakkan ganapati of iraiperadi consecreated some images. 3 Another inscription found on the South wall of the first prakara states that in the sixteenth regnal year of Jatavarma veera pandya I (1269 A.D) a resident of irambaram all as Raja Puradaranallur granted some endowment for the worship of Puvanatharswamy. 4 In the sixth regnal year inscription of pandya Jatavarman aliaskundyadeva found on the 3 A.R.E., , No A.R.E., , No

5 south wall of first prakara states that Ammaiyavanuyyavan of Tirukkadauur granted the lampstand to puravari sura mudaiya Nayanar. 5 In 1178A.D. Ullamudiyen of Dindugal renovated this temple. The statue of Ullamudiyan engraved on the one pillar of Mahamandapa. 6 In Kollamera 995 (1782 A.D) Dalavay Alagappa mudaliar conducted Ashtabanthana mahokumbabisangam to this temple. 7 In 1933 and 1934 Altar, Dwujasthambam and nandhistatue are installed by the Zamindars of Elairampannai. Mahakumbabisagam was performed on , under the head ship of sri K.S.V.Venkatasubbu chettiar. Another Kumbabisagam was performed on Under the head ship of sri S.S.D.Chellakani. STRUCTURE OF THE TEMPLE Sri Poovananathar and shenbagavalli Amman Temple is a vast and impressive complex of structures enclosed by eighteen feet hight and massive compound walls all around occupying a rectangular plot of land. The temple measures 228 feet east to west and 152 feet south to north roughly occupying on are of 34,656 square feet. The Rajagopuram with seven storeys and the main entrance face the eastern direction. Its height is 93 feet. 8 The first and seventh storeys of Rajagopuram constructed by the K.Ramasamy secretary of National Enginering college, second storey constructed by the kummavar Association. 5 A.R.E., , No Field study Inscription engraved in front of the Shenbagavalli Amman Shrine. 8 Thina Thanthi p

6 Third storey constructed by Mr.Chellapandiyan Madurai High court AdvacateGeneral Fourth storey constructed by Nadar uravinmurai sangam. Fifth storey was constructed by Ramaiyakonar and sith storey was constructed by S.S.D.Sell a kani. The Rajagopuram was erected with the cost of one crore and fourtytwo Lakhes rupees. This Rajagopuram dedicated to this temple on by Honourable Finance Minister of Tamil nadu. Thiru O.Pannerselvam. A small salagopuram erected infront of the entrance of shenbagavalli Amman with the financial assistance of Mr.K.Ramasamy, founder of Nation Enginering of college Kovilpatti. 9 One court yard is situated in the temple and local saivaits add the madavithi around the temple is the second one. The temples has a 28 pillarea mandapa, and 43 pillared kadimara mandapa and a fourpillared Mahamandapa in the shrine of Gaddess shenbagavalli, a Thiru Kalyana Mandapa, 35 pillared kodimara mandapa and a four pill ared maha mandapa in the main shrine of poovananather. There is also a GoluMandapa having six pillars in the shrine. The pillars are adorned with exquisite sculpture. There is a separate shrine in the temple for the builder of the temple shenbagaraja. The sthalaviruksham of the temple is Kila. The theertham in this temple is belived to have been created by saint Agasthiyar and hence called Agasthyar theertham or kindi Theertham. 9 Thalavaralaru. P.5, 175

7 The main deity of the temple is sri poovananathar is in linga form. The Gaddess shenbagavalli Amman is in a standing pose seven feet in height. The other deities in the temple area, Sri Vinayagar, Balasubramaniar and Natarajar with his consort sivagami, Dakshinamoorthy, Shenbagaraja, Panchamugha vinayagar, Shanmugha sixty three Nayanmars, Juradevar, Panchalingam, Navareetha krishnan.agasthiyar, Durgai Amman, Lakshmi and Saraswathi. THE TEMPLE CAR TANK OR THEPPAKULAM The huge temple tank situates on the south of temple et distance of 300 feet. The term teppam means floot a wooden blank on which urchavar is placed and this raft goes around inside the tank, full of water. It is known as Terrkkulam 10 (Cartank) Tirrukkulam 11 (Holy Tank) Tirttakulam 12 (Ablution tank) Puskarni 13 (Water reservoir) Konard 14 (Square Tank) and sunai (Spring). This sacred tank is situated within area of 22,300 square feet (o.50 Acre) in the revenue survey No 421/1. 15 This tank is covered by huge walls in the three sides and southern side of the tank covered with rocks. In the middle of the southern side of the Temple tank a mondepa is situated on the eight stone pillars. Before entry to tank urchavar is placed in this mandapa. This tank is noted for architect uralvalue. The pporchavam or Float festival is celeberated in Tamil month of 10 Descriptive catalogue of Tamil M.S.S. in the M.S.S. Library Madras, No.2729.p Tirumalai Thirupathi Devasthanam Epigraphical series. No S.I.I.Vol.I No A.R.E. 1915, No I.P.S. No A Register, Kovilpatti village, Kovilpatti Taluk, Thoothukudi District.p

8 chitrai second day every year. Lord Poovananathar reaches with his spouse to this tank duly decorated with coloured lights and music follows. The temple owns two woodencars, 24 wooden vahanams and a silver Nadhi vahanan. POOJAS A Grukkal conducts poojas five times a day as per kamika Agaman. A Elevenday Brahmoths avam, in the month of panguni is the annual festival. Chithirai Theertham 10 days vasathauthsavam in vaikasi, Adi pooram, orbagle festival 10 days Navarathri, Ayppasi Thirukkalyanam are also celeberated. Regular poornima, Amavasay pradhosam. Tamil and English new years days. Pongal, Deepavali are observed in the temple. Devotees throng the temple on all special pujaday. Devotees coming to this temple carry with them benefit of healing of ailments and mental peace and family happiness and the abundant grace of mother shenbagavalli. They are also successful in their business ventures. Devotees offer Abishek in milk, sandal wood and adore the deities with sari and Dhoti, Annadhanam is important here. In poovananathar swamy temple pujas and Festivals are performed in accordance with komika Agama. Daily pujas are performed five times a day. Thiruvanathal (5.30 F.N) Vila pojai (0800 FN) midday Puja (1130 FN) Sayaratchi Puja in the evening (0630) and Artha Jamapoojai at night (0830) During the Poojas Tubha Deepa offerings of flowers and naivattika made up of rice are offered to the deities. 177

9 WEEKLY AND MONTHLY POOJAS S/NO POOJAS EVERY YEAR (Number of days) 1. Weekly Sukkairavara oil both worship Weekly worship every Sunday Bira Thasom worship Monthly Suklapatcha sathurthi Monthly Karthikai Monthly Sukkira vara Monthly Sivarathiri Monthly Boornami koothuvilaku pooja Guru Pujas to Nayanmars Guru pujas to four Nataraja Abisehkam Theerthavari 9 Chithirai - 1 Adi -1 Purattasi Ammavasai 1 Iyppasi - 1 Thai - 1 Thai Ammavasai 1 Lunar Eclip

10 Solar Ecllip 1 16 The Festival in this temple are conducted on the basis of nimittika puja (Occasional puja) The festivals and conducted in the temples are not 17 compulsory but they odd prestige wealth and attraction of devotees pious people to the temples. FESTIVALS The following festivals are celebrated in the temple in a grand manner. Tamil Month Festivals Days Chithirai Theertham 1 Bournami 1 Vaikasi Vasathaursavam 10 Ani Anivthiram 1 Adi Valaikappu 1 Karthigaio 1 Avani Vinayagar Chathurthi 1 Purattasi Navarathiri Thalavaralaru op.cit.p Srinivason P.R.Namvanenkum Theivangal Madras, 2972.p

11 Ippasi Thirukkalyanam Carfestival 12 Deepavali 1 Kanthasasti 7 Karthigai Thirukarathigai 1 Karthigai Somavaram 5 Margali Thenur Matha pujai 30 Thiruvathirai 1 Thai Pongal 1 Varusa Abishekam 1 Thai Ammavasi 1 Thai Boosam 1 Thai Karthikai 1 Masi Annabishekam 1 Mahasivarathiri 1 Panguni Theretta Thiruvila 11 In order honour and please different communities. Mandagapadi performance was sterted during Aippasi Thirukalyatha festival. Mandagapadi means, every day particular community will meat the expenses items of festival. 180

12 The Ten mandagapadi performance of Aippasi Thirukkalyanam are as follows. First day - Brahmins sange mandagapadi. Second day - Sri A. Poologapandi Thevar Mandagapadi. Third day - Illathu pillaimar mandaga padi. Fourth day - Madai Thalavai Mandaga padi. Fifth day - Visva karma Mandaga padi. Sixth day - V.S. Alagri Samy Chettiar Mandaga padi. Seventh day - Saivavellalar Mondaga padi. Eighth day - Saiva Chettiar Mandaga padi. Ninth day - Vaniga vaisiyas mandaga padi. Tenth day - Ayiravaisiya kasukkara chettiar mandaga padi. Eleventh day - Moventhar panpattu kalaga mandaga padi. Twelth day - L.Ramalingam and MS Avudaiappan Chettiar mandaga padi. 181

13 COMMON FETURES OF THE MANDAGAPADI PERFORMANCE On festival day i,e, every day in the morning cabe half of the particular community, poojas and decorations are performed in the temple. Then by paying Azhaippu charge cinvitation charge to the temple, the community gets permission of the procession. In the evening the deity is taken out of the temple and round the four car strects in procession, reached the community mandapam, Till 10, 0 Clock in the night, the deity remains in the mandapa. The community people do swamy dershan by offering poojas and decorations. After that the deity by going around the car streets reached the temple. In every Tamil year in the month of panguni car festival or terotta Thiruvila is celebarated for elevendays. The eleven Mandaga padi performance of panguni car festival area follows. First day - Brahmins sange mandagapadi. Second day - Sri A. Poologapandi Thevar Mandagapadi. Third day - Illathu pillaimar mandaga padi. Fourth day - Madai Thalavai Mandaga padi. Fifth day - Visva karma Mandaga padi. Sixth day - V.S. Alagri Samy Chettiar Mandaga padi. 182

14 Seventh day - Saivavellalar Mondaga padi. Eighth day - Saiva Chettiar Mandaga padi. Ninth day - Kammavar and voniga vaisyar Mandaga padi. Tenth day - Ayiravaisiya kasukkara chettiar mandaga padi. Eleventh day - Nadar uravin Murai mandaga padi. Before the panguini Thiruvila the executive committee of the temple conducts kjodai Thiruvila for kaval Theivam Sri Theradi Karuppasamy in the month of ponguni. Theretta Thiruvila is the very popular festival in the south districts of Tamil Nadu. More than one lakh people participated and worship sri poovana Nather and shenbagavalli. People from various parts of Tamil Nadu and people of all the adjacent villages of Kovilpatti celeberate the ninth day car pulling festival and Tenth day Thirthavari. Theepakattalai (Temple) Pathirakattalai (Temple) Thai Ammavasai pathira Theepakattalai (M.Valliammal Tenkasi) Thevara kettalai (Temple) Kanthasasti kattalai (K.Shanmuga sundara chettiar) Kathirasankoil kattalai (S.Ventata chalam chettiar and co) Ucchikala Kattalai (Shenbaga Rama Iyer, Pandavar Mangalam) Ucchikala Kattalai (Temple) Vilapoojai Artha Senekattalai (Medai Thalavai) and Ettayapuram zaminuclhi kala kattalai 183

15 (Temple) are performed to poovananather and Senbagavali. In addition to poovana nathar temple in Kovilpatti there many minur temples. 18 LORD KRISHNA KOVIL (OR) SUNDARARAJA PERUMAL TEMPLE Lord Krishna temple is very old temple in kovilpatti. This temple is located nearer to market place. Navarathri festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of Purrattsi, a month long festival during the Tamil month of Margazhi, and Tamil New Year celebrated at the start of Tamil Month Chitirai are the important festivals in this temple. SWARNAMALAI MURUGAN KJOVIL OR KATHIRASAN TEMPLE This is a murugan temple situated on a hill top. A panaromic view of the town can be seen from the top of the hill. Best time to visit: 5pmk to 8.30 pm. The temple is 82 years old, but now2 has been reconstructed. Local folklore has it that this temple was build with sand taken from kandy kathir kumar temple in Srilanka. Parking facilities are available. Aathi Vinayagar Temple in Sankaralingapuram main deity is Vinayagar Manthithoppu Arumigu kasi vishvanathar sametha Visalachi amman temple this temple car donated to senbhagavalli amman temple. Manthithoppu Arulmigu periyua kali amman, selva Vinayagar, Vetivel Murugan temple 18 Thalavaralaru. Op.cit., p

16 Arulmigu sankareshwariamman Temple at Veeravanchi Nagar, Main deity is sankareswariamman, Location of ten day Aadith Thiruvizha Kaliammanm Kovil Temple in sankaralingapuram main deity is Kali Amman. Kurumalai Sivan Temple and Ayyanar Temple 10 Km from Kovilpatti. Kurumalai is an excellent rocky hill with more flora and fauna and the Lord Shiva is located nearly 800 feet (240 m) high. There ius a place on the way to Shiva temple where you can find water originating form a rock lively and passing through shiva linga. Water will come through the year even during peak of summer. Market Murugan Kovil near the municipal daily market. Mukkarai Pillayar Kovil on Ettayapuram Road before SIDCO Industrial Estate. Murugan temple in sankaralingapuram, main deity is Murugan. Nageswariamman Kovil in M.G.R. Nagar, main deity is Goddess Nageswari. Natarajapuram Kovil Street in Illayarasanenthal Road (Centre Railway Gate Near), main deities are Madasamy, Karuppasamy & Sudalai Madasamy. Palani Andavar Kovil main deity is Lord Muruga. Pambalamman Temple in Chithirampatti, main deity is Nagar. 185

17 Pathirakali Amman & Kali Amman koil in Velayuthapuram, main deities are pathirakali Amman and kali Amman. Pathirakali Amman koil in pathira kali amman koil street, main deity is pathirakali Amman. Rajiv Nagar Vetrivinayagar Temple in nearby Nadar Higher Secondary School, main deity is Vinayaga. Ram Anumam temple in Kovilpatti Byepass road Ram Anuman Nagar, main deity is Lord Anjeneya. Santhana Mariamman Koil This temple as the name suggests is for Goddess Mariamman. It is also located in pudhugramam area. Saramariamman Kovil Temple near market, main deity is Saramari Amman. Shenbagavalliamman Temple location for the annual Car Festival and Theertha Vari. Sri Mariamman Kovil in pudhugramam, main deity is Goddess Mariamman Sri Kaliamman Kovil Mooppanpatti, East street Sri sudalaymadaswamy kovil Mooppanpatti, East street. Sri Ayyanar Temple. 186

18 CHURCHES ACA Church Bharathinagar Assembly of God Church New Road JEM Church Muthu Nagar Jesus with Us Church Maranatha Biblical Church Seventh Day Adventist Church, Chekkadi Street St.JosephChurch St.Pauls Church Tamil Baptist Church New Road. 187

SRI SELVA VINAYAKAR KOYIL (GANESHA TEMPLE) BRISBANE (South Maclean)

SRI SELVA VINAYAKAR KOYIL (GANESHA TEMPLE) BRISBANE (South Maclean) Newsletter 125 Aani/Āshāda Month (mid-june 2017 to mid-july 2017) Festivals Dear Sri Selva Vinayaka devotees, Hindu Ahlaya Sangam Qld