A deity who owns a lake,
the one comparatively smaller to the much larger lake of Maadambakkam, is how,
Dhenupuriswarar was named in the Chola Era inscriptions. The beautiful lake has
thankfully survived to this day.
The Sthala Puranam of a
cow worshipping a swambhu lingam, narrates the Origins of this ancient temple.
Its antiquity, before it became a கற்றளி, (Built by Stone) cannot be
assessed but various inscriptions in the temple speak of its importance, and
events of a 1000 years.
Records of grants by the Kings themselves, or
by their feudatories, depict the significant place Madambakkam held over
several centuries.
That many inscriptions
are fragmentary, not only show the attack and destruction it had faced; but also, the tenacity of the devotees who had
never given up their Gods, even when mutilated. The Fragments had been
reassembled for the reconstruction of the temple.
It is a pleasant
surprise to find a street still bearing the name, mentioned in the Inscription
of Sundara Pandian of the 13th century.
Changing the name to one of the Personalities
of the 20th Century would have meant erasing a precious piece of
history!! Thirumadai Vilaagam generally refers to the streets around the temple.
A quick reading of the inscriptions would reveal the
names of kings, the Feudatories and even an Agricultural Guild.
Feudatories and Generals
Panchanadhivaanan Neelagangaraiyan
Arunagiri Perumal Neelagangaraiyan
They were Feudatories of the
KOperunjingan
He claimed Pallava descent and wielded Power towards the
close of the Chola Rule.
Vittappar
He was one of the generals of Kumara Kampanna, who
defeated the Madurai Sultanate established by Ulugh Khan, liberated Srirangam
and restored worship in many temples of Tamilnadu after 50 years of oppression.
Kumara Kampanna was the son of Bukka Raya, founder of the Vijayanagar Empire.
Thani Ninru Vendra Perumaal Velaan -
Probably an Agent of Veera Pandian
More details of the feudatories are in the next blog
post.
The inscriptions have been given as a separate footnote.
It is interesting to find Neighbouring Villages and
Deities mentioned in the inscriptions.
1.
Certain lands in Maduraipakkam (village near
Ponmar), was donated as Devadhaanam to Maadampakkam. It also lists Certain Taxes and fines collected from that
village in those times were to be remitted to the temple treasury - Oorkaaval
kadamai, vetti, arimukkai, kaasu, kadamai, pattadai kutram, Karthigai Pachai
kasu, Vettikaasu etc, by the order of Arunagiri Perumal Neelagangaraiyan.
2.
The Eastern boundary of land donation done during
the times of Koeperunjinga and documented during the times of Sundara Pandya is
mentioned as Vengaivaasal.
3.
Gift of the village of Medanpakkam by
Vittappar with the permission of Kumara Kampanna. Could it be the Medavakkam of
today?
A Guild of Agriculturists
1.
AR No 202/1961-62 – Era 15th Century - Fragmentary.
Mentions the Thirukkaavanam named Chitrameli…. Another piece refers to
the grants made to the God Poyyiliieswaramudaiya Nayanar and the
Bhattas.
A காவணம் according to the Tamil
dictionary could mean a Grove or a shed with a flat roof.
சித்திரமேழி என்பது, புனிதமாக, அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்ட அழகிய ஏர்கலப்பை.
There was a Guild of Large Landowners and Agriculturists who were engaged in many Charitable work in ancient Tamilnadu.
Here the inscription refers to
a grant made to பொய்யிலீசுரமுடைய நாயனார், the deity of Ponmar.
Events
1. A Vijayanagar Inscription of Devaraya reveals that
eight house sites were lost by the people engaged in facilitating the worship
in the temple (ஸ்தானத்தார்). Alternate
house sites were given to them in another street.
2. Reduction of taxes by Veera Pandian levied on the
weavers due to their inability to pay them perhaps due to higher rates
3. Many people had come together to make a decision on a
donation at Gangaikondan Thirumandapam in the 13th century. Damaged and incomplete inscription commences with the verse Dandisvaran Olai. Seems to
record a provision for some services to the deity Virabadhra in the Temple of
Udaiyar, Sirreri Udaya Nayanar of Madambakkam by the assembly consisting of the
Virabadhras of several mandalas and certain Pillais of 79 nadu and other
divisions, having met at Gangaikondan Thirumandapam. 13th century characters.
4. One fragmentary inscription refers to some arrangement
made by an assembly of the Rudra Sri Maheswaras in connection with the lands
probably in Uttippakkam, an agaram in Irandaayiravelipparru, Kumuli nadu and
Pungeri alias Arasanarayana Chaturvedimangalam, belonging to the deities
Kayilasamudaiya Nayanar, Thiruvagattiswaramudaiya Nayanar, and
Poyyiliswaramudaiya Nayanar. Also seems to refer to an agreement by Ayyana
Pillais. Maheswaras, Taanattar and Niyayathaar. Also mentions Pottappi Marayar
of the village.
There are a quite a few inscriptions of Vijayanagara King
Mallikarjuna Maharaya, son of Devaraya II ruled till 1465.
It is interesting that the term ஆயிரம்வேலிப்பற்று, இரண்டாயிரம்வேலிப்பற்று are employed referring to large land holdings.
I am searching for references to this temple from the
British records and shall update the blog when I can find them.
Looking at the temples through the Prism of information
and data from various centuries help us appreciate the thoughts and efforts that
had been given by our ancestors.
It makes us value the temples and our deities and treat
them as the priceless heritage they are.
வேதமும் நாடி நின்றது ஓர் மாயா அதீத மனோலயம்
தரு நாதா பன்னிரு புய வேளே .....
மாடையம்பதி வாழ்வே தேவர்கள் பெருமாளே
- ----- மாடம்பாக்கம் திருத்தலத்தில் அருணகிரிநாதர்
திருப்புகழ்
2.
ARIE No 318/1911 -
Era - Chola - Vira Rajendra -
Donation of 20 veli of land Puliyur Kottathu, Nedunkunra Naattu
Maadampakkam signed by a feudatory King Panchanadhi Vaanan Neelagangairayan.
Also mentions various other lands and taxes to be used for the maintenance of
the temple
3.
ARIE No 319/1911 - Era - Vijayanagar -Virasri Kumara
Devaraya - Records that eight house
sites of the sthanathaar being lost to them, fresh sites were provided for, in
the street of Kaikkolar. Mentions Sirreri Aaludaya Nayainar at Madanpakkam
alias Ulaguyyavandha Chola Chaturvedimangalam in Nedunkundra Nadu, a district
of Aayiraveliparru, a sub- division of Puliyur Kottam alias Kulothunga Chola
Valanadu, Jayankonda Chola Mandalam.
4.
ARIE No 320/1911 – Era Vira Pratapa Sadasiva
Maharaya - Incompete and Damaged
5.
ARIE No 321/1911 – Era Raja Raja Deva - Gift
of 2 cows for providing curd to the temple of Sirreri Udaya Naayanar at
Madambakkam alias Ugaguyya vandha Chola Chaturvedi Mangalam.
6.
ARIE No 322/1911 - Era Sadayavarman SundaraPandian - As
the existing lands were insufficient, the Mahasabha pledged another 3000 kuzhi
of land. Also had affirmed that if
sometime in future, the income becomes insufficient and we need to sell the
land, the land shall be sold only to the temple. This was done during the time
of KOperunchingan but the inscription had been documented in Pandya
times. Interesting to see the Eastern boundary of the land
mentioned - Vengaivaasal
7.
ARIE No 323/1911 – Era Chola - Kulothunga III
- Certain lands in Maduraipakkam
village donated as Devadhaanam to Maadampakkam. Certain Taxes and fines collected from that village were to
be remitted to the temple treasury - Oorkaaval kadamai, vetti, arimukkai,
kaasu, kadamai, pattadai kutram, Karthigai Pachai kasu, Vettikaasu etc, by the order
of Arunagiri Perumal Neelagangaraiyan.
8.
ARIE No 324/1911 - Era Vijayanagar - Kumar
Kampanna Udayar Son of Bokkanna Udaiyar - Gift of the village of Medanpakkam
to the temple by a certain Vittappar, with the permission of the king. A
number of Obligations and limitations have been imposed on the temple.
9.
ARIE No 325/1911 – Era Sundara Pandian - Damaged.
Sale of houses in the Tirumadaivilagam to the temple servants.
10.
AR No 188/1961-62 Era 10th century - Fragmentary. Records the grant of 450 kuli
of land for food offerings to God Sirreri Mahadeva by a chief called Rajaraja
Jayadhrathan.
11.
AR No 189/1961-62 – Era 10th Century
- Fragmentary. Records the grant of 450 kuli of land for food offerings to the
deities of Umaskandasahitar and Nampiraatiyar set up in the temple of Sirreri
Mahadeva by a chief named ….Raajaryan alias Rajakarpa - Pallavaraiyan who is
said to be the father's younger brother ( Sirrappan ) of Jayadrathan
mentioned above.
12.
AR No 190/1961-62 - Era 11th Century
- Fragmentary. Seems to mention the boundaries of land. Mentions Manali
13.
AR No 191/1961-62 – Era Sundara Pandian - Damaged and incomplete.
Commences with the verse Dandisvaran Olai. Seems to record a provision
for some services to the deity Virabadhra in the Temple of Udaiyar, Sirreri
Udaya Nayanar of Madambakkam by the assembly consisting of the Virabadhras of
several mandalas and certain Pillais of 79 nadu and other divisions, having met
at Gangaikondan Thirumandapam. 13th century characters.
14.
AR No 192/1961-62 - Era Sundara Pandian - The portion at the
right end is missing. Records the acceptance of 17 cows and calves for supply
of ghee for burning 6 sandhi lamps in the temple by the Bhattas of the temple.
15.
AR No 193/1961-62 – Era Vijayanagar- Vira
Mallikarjuna Maharaya - The beginning lines are lost. Records assigment of
a tax called Idangai vari from places in Chandragiri Rajya as sarvamanya for
offerings to the deity of the village by Sanketisamayakkarar.
16.
AR No 194/1961-62 – Era Vijayanagar- Vira
Mallikarjuna Maharaya - Damaged. Records the grant of levies such as
kanikkai, mariyadai, and asuvadi from the village to God Sirreri aludaiya
naayanar for the purpose of burning a perpetual lamp and two sandhi lamps by
AnnakkalaiyaMahadeva Maharajar. Records that the kaanikkai from the Barber and
the person attending to the crematorium into the temple treasury and used for
repairs. Mentions a Vimarasa ( Bhimaraja )
17.
AR No 195/1961-62 – Era Vijayanagar –
SadasivaMaharayar - Fragmentary incomplete and broken.
18.
AR No 196/1961-62 – Era Vijayanagar –
SadasivaMaharayar - Fragmentary. Mentions Aayiravelipparru. Another
fragment in the same place contains the concluding portion of the record.
19.
AR No 197/1961-62 – Era 15th Century - Fragmentary.
Seems to record a grant for the Parivettai to God Sirreri Aaludaiyar. Three
more fragments in the same place contain the concluding portions of different
records. One of them mentions Arulaala Samayamantri.
20.
AR No 198/1961-62 – Era 15th Century - Fragmentary.
Seems to record an order of Vira Pandya refixing the rate of levy payable by
the weavers on account of their inability to pay kadamai on their looms. Tani
ninru vendra perumaal Velaan was probably the agent of the king.
21.
AR No 199/1961-62 – Era Vijayanagar - Fragmentary.
Seems to record a grant of land for festivals in a temple at …kirama
chaturvedimangalam, Puliyur Kottam. Another fragment containing the concluding
portion of the record is seen on top of the above.
22.
AR No 200/1961-62 – Era - Fragmentary. Beginning is lost. Seems to
record the reassignment of the lands at ( U) ttippakkam as agaram to the
Bhattas as hereto fore by certain authorities. Also records gift of land to the
deity, probably of the Pungeri - Agaram as Tirunaamatthukkaani. Further refers
to Thiruvidaiyaattam land of God Emperumaan Veerakkali Perumal. Another
fragment in the same place seems to be the concluding portion of the record.
23.
AR No 201/1961-62 – Era 15th Century - Fragmentary.
Refers to some arrangement made by an assembly of the Rudra Sri Maheswaras in
connection with the lands probably in Uttippakkam, an agaram in
Irandaayiravelipparru, Kumuli nadu and Pungeri alias Arasanarayana
Chaturvedimangalam, belonging to the deities Kayilasamudaiya Nayanar,
Thiruvagattiswaramudaiya Nayanar, and Poyyiliswaramudaiya Nayanar. Also
seems to refer to an agreement by Ayyana Pillais. Maheswaras, Taanattar and
Niyayathaar. Also mentions Pottappi Marayar of the village.
24. AR No 202/1961-62 – Era 15th
Century - Fragmentary. Mentions the Thirukkaavanam named
Chitrameli…. Another piece refers to the grants made to the God Poyyiliieswaramudaiya
Nayanar and the Bhattas.
25.
AR No 203/1961-62 - – Vijayanagar -Mallikarjuna
deva - Fragmentary. In two pieces ,one contains the name of the king and the
date and the other the concluding portion of the record.
26. AR No 204/1961-62 – Era - Vijayanagar
-Mallikarjuna deva - Incomplete. Stops with the date.
27. AR No 205/1961-62 – Era 15th Century - Fragmentary.
Only the latter portion of the inscription is preserved. Records the grant (
details lost) of the village including the house site etc for the purpose of
the Ani festival for the deity, golden covering and for repairs to the temple.
Some five more fragments in the same place refer to the God and the place
Ulaguyya vanda chola chaturvedimangalam in Aayiravelippaarru.
28. AR No 206/1961-62 – Era 15th
Century - Five
fragments, three contain Vijayanagara titles. One refers to Puliyur Kottam and
another to the month of Vaikasi.
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