Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 121st Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - South |
Chola Naadu - South | 4th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)
and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) |
HISTORY:
Uyyakondan
is a village located near Trichy city of South India. It has an important Hindu
temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Uyyakondan
Thirumalai is a hilltop temple located on top of a small 30 feet high hill. At
the foothills, the shrines of Lord Ganesha and Subramanya-Valli-Devasena are
located. After the fleet of few steps, you can enter into the temple through a
small temple tower. The entire temple complex is surrounded by fortress walls.
The
east facing temple has flag post, Nandi idol and bali peeth, all facing the
direction of main shrine, as usual as in any other Dravidian temple
architecture. However, the entrance to the inner temple is not found opposite
to the flag post. It is unusual; the entrance is located on the right side in
the south direction.
It
is a maada kovil architecture; the entire temple excluding the outer prakara
area is located on a raised platform. The sanctum sanctorum has a small Shiv
Linga idol named as Ujjeevanatha Swamy. On the left side of this east facing
main shrine, there is another shrine facing the same direction with almost of
similar size which is dedicated to the Goddess Anjanakshi; she is found in the
standing posture with four arms; the idol looks very attractive. It is unusual
to find two Goddesses in the temple; there is another shrine facing western direction
dedicated to Goddess Balambikai. All the three main shrines have separate Nandi
idol facing them.
The
prakara surrounding the Shiva shrine has the sub-shrines of Ganesha, Lakshmi,
Saraswati and Subramanya with his consorts. The idols of Bhairava, Surya and
Saneeswara are also found in the same prakara. The wall has the Koshta idols -
Dakshinamurthy, Ardhanareeswarar, Brahma, Durga and Chandikeshwarar. The
prakara surrounding the shrine of Anjanakshi has the sub-shrines of Ganesha and
Subramanya. The idol of Chandikeshwari is also found here. The temple also
houses the shrine of Nataraja-Sivakami and Jyeshta Devi. It should be noted
that Jyeshta is still worshiped in this region. There is a theory that Jyeshta
Devi worship has been stopped which is not correct.
Mother Jeshtadevi:
The
idol of Mother Jeshtadevi appears different in this temple. There is a
misconception that Jeshtadevi, usually said to be the elder sister of Sri
Mahalakshmi is considered an inauspicious Goddess causing poverty and no endeavor
would be successful if She comes on our way. But She protects all from all
hardships and dangers. She makes people always awake. She was the family deity
of Pallava king Nandi Varman.
Those
who worship Sakthi with Meru Mount – vertical form of Sri Chakra, use to
perform the pujas with nine mounts, called Navabaranas-9 jewels. Mother
Jeshtadevi is the second Meru-Jewel. There is a place of for Jeshtadevi in
Mother Akhilandeswari Temple in Tiruvanaikaval. She has her place in this
Uyyakondon Tirumalai temple also. Mother Jeshtadevi in this temple is holding
two children in Her hands, one appearing as Nandi the bull vehicle of Lord
Shiva. This child is called Madan as it looks like a Madu-bull. The other is a
beautiful girl baby called Chedi, the maid of Mother Shakti and also the deity
of words. Mother Adi Parasakthi is in the form of Mother Jeshtadevi who has
brought the Chedi the deity of words – Vak Devatha.
Karpaganathar:
The
temple is on a 50 feet tall hill. There are five sacred springs around the
temple – Ponnoli Odai, Kudamurutti, Gnanavavi, Enkonakinaru and Narkonakinaru.
Mother graces in the temple with Gajal around Her eyes named Anjanakshi. Other
Ambika in the temple is praised as Balambika. Pujas are performed to both
separately. As Lord Shiva gave a re-birth to Markandeya Rishi, He is revered as
Ujjevanathar. As He grants all the wishes of the devotees, He is praised as
Karpaganathar. Lord is a swyambu.
Karan:
The
temple is aesthetically constructed on this 50 feet tall hill. Karan, one of
the brothers of Ravana had worshiped the Lord Shiva in this temple. There are 3
entrances to the temple, two facing south and one east.
Sage Mrukandu:
Sage
Mrukandu prayed to Lord Shiva seeking child boon. Lord asked him what type of
son he would like to have – a fool, a handicapped with a longevity of 100 years
or the one known for his wisdom and handsomeness but with a short life of just
16 years. The sage chose the latter. The boy was born and named Markandeya. The
time came. Markandeya was chased by the Lord of Death Yama when he was 16. The
boy ran to many Shiva Kshetras, finally hid at this temple and fell at the feet
of Lord. Lord Shiva protected the young boy in the Uyyakondon Hill and granted
him ‘Chiranjeevi’ – deathless life – at Tiruverkadu.
SALIENT
FEATURE:
·
Appar, Sundarar
and Sambandhar have revered the temple in their verses in Tevaram.
·
The site was
originally called as 'Karkudi' which means an adobe on rocks (it should be
noted that the temple is a hillock temple).
·
The temple was
built by Nandivarma Pallava in the 7th century CE.
·
It acted as an
infantry for the French army and British army during the battle in the period
1753-54 CE.
·
The main deity
is in the form of Shiv Linga on a square 'aavudai'.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Ujjeewanathaswamy, Sri Uchinathar, Sri
Muktheesar |
|
Ambal |
Sri Balambikai (facing East), Sri Anjanaakshi
Amman (facing West) |
|
Theertham |
Ponnolir Odai, Kudamurutti, Gnanavavi, Enkona
Kinaru and Narkona Kinaru |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Vilwa Tree |
BELIEF:
Devotees
may protect themselves from accidents in life by worshiping Mother Jeshtadevi.
Devotees
pray to Mother Jeshtadevi in the temple for safety during travelling. Those who
worship here are blessed with longevity.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Navarathri |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Thirukarthikai |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
HOW
TO REACH:
Located
at 5 Kms west of Trichy atop a small hill, now known as Uyyakondan Malai. Town
buses from Trichy Chatram bus stand to Vayaloor passes through this place and
Temple is on road side. From Central bus stand one has to get down at Govt
Hospital to catch bus to Vayaloor. The distance from Central bus-stand is 5 Km
on the south west direction.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Ujjeevanathar
Temple,
Tirukarkudi,
Uyyakondon Malai,
Trichy,
Tamil Nadu – 620102.
LOCATION:
No comments:
Post a Comment