Sathya Vageeswarar Temple, Kalakkad

Coordinates: 8°30′59″N 77°33′00″E / 8.51639°N 77.55000°E / 8.51639; 77.55000
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Sathya Vageeswarar Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictTirunelveli
DeitySathya Vageeswarar(Shiva) Gomathi (
Parvathi)
Location
LocationKalakkad
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Sathya Vageeswarar Temple, Kalakkad is located in Tamil Nadu
Sathya Vageeswarar Temple, Kalakkad
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates8°30′59″N 77°33′00″E / 8.51639°N 77.55000°E / 8.51639; 77.55000
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture

Sathya Vageeswarar Temple in

Parvathi
as Gomathi.

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a 135 ft (41 m) gateway tower containing 1,500 stucco images. The temple was originally built by

Nayak kings
commissioned pillared halls and major shrines of the temple during the 15-16th century. The temple has artistic sculptures representative of Nayak art. The temple has close to 200 paintings in the temple depicting Indian epic tales. The temple also has a granary made of masonry, which is believed to be commissioned during the 13th century. There is a hall of musical pillars, commissioned by the king of Travancore, Boothala Veera Udaya Marthanda Varman during the 16th century.

The temple is open from 6 am - 12 pm and 4-8 pm on all days except during festival days when it is open the full day. Four daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the Vaikasi Visakam festival during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May - June) being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Vaippu Sthalam

It is one of the shrines of the Vaippu Sthalams sung by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Appar.[1][2][3]

History

Sculpted pillared halls inside the temple

Inscriptions from the temple from the 15th century indicate that the place was called Cholanadu Vallipuram and Vanavan Naadu. The inscriptions also indicate that the temple worship services and gifts to the temple were endowed by Marthanda Varman, while he was residing at Virapandiyan Palace.

Vijayanagar Empire and Nayak kings commissioned pillared halls and major shrines of the temple during the 15-16th century. The temple has artistic sculptures representative of Nayak art. There are lot of paintings in the temple depicting Indian epic tales. There is also an image of the king of Travancore, Boothala Veera Udaya Marthanda Varman from the 16th century. He is believed to have commissioned the musical pillared halls in the front portion of the temple. In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.[5] A plaque in front the temple installed on 12 December 1911 indicates the coronation of king George V, when India was ruled by the British.[6]

Architecture

Sculpted pillars

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines and bodies of water. The temple has a nine-tiered 135 ft (41 m) gateway tower containing 1,500 stucco images in the outside, while there are 200 murals from the inside. The nine tiers can be climbed through a flight of steps inside the tower. The image of Sathya Vageeswarar in the form of

Navagrahas. The flagstaff hall has a flagstaff, an altar and an image of Nandi, all axial to the sanctum and the gateway tower. There are also halls in the temple having yali pillared halls, atypical of Nayak art. The temple also has a granary made of masonry, which is believed to be commissioned during the 13th century. It is unique that usually temple granaries are made of wood.[5]

The stucco images depict various mythical themes related to Shiva. The murals depict stories from epics like

Saivite saints and wedding of Sundarar. The paintings and stucco images were restored during 2008 when non-governmental organizations rebuilt the plasters with vegetable colours and natural ingredients. Historians believe that the paintings have a modern look and depicts the contemporary style of dress and ornaments worn during the period.[7][8]

Festival

Halls inside the temple

The temple follows Saivite tradition. The temple priests perform the

Sivarathri, Thirukalyanam (sacred marriage) and Kanthasasthi are also celebrated.[9]

References

  1. ^ பு.மா.ஜெயசெந்தில்நாதன், தேவார வைப்புத்தலங்கள், வர்த்தமானன் பதிப்பகம், சென்னை, 2009
  2. ^ மூவர் தேவார வைப்புத் தலங்கள், Muvar Thevara Vaippu Thalangal, தென்களக்குடி (களக்காடு) Thenkalakkudi (Kalakadu), 6-71-3
  3. ^ தேவார வைப்புத் தலங்கள், தென்களக்குடி, 6-71-3
  4. ^ Sewell, Robert (1882). Lists of the Antiquarian Remains in the Presidency of Madras, Volume 1. E. Keys. p. 314. kalakad temple.
  5. ^ a b T.S., Subramanian (7 July 2011). "Ancient temple gets a facelift". Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  6. ^ T.S., Subramanian (30 December 2009). "King-Emperors, now dumped in a corner". Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  7. ^ T.S., Subramanian (23 May 2008). "New look for Kalakkad murals". Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  8. JSTOR 3250266
    .
  9. ^ "Festival at Kalakkad". Dinakaran. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.

External links

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