Thirupporur - சமர மாபுரி மேவிய பெருமாளே

 

Thirupporur –

சகல லோகமு மாசறு சகல வேதமு மேதொழு

சமர மாபுரி மேவிய பெருமாளே

- அருணகிரி நாதர் திருப்புகழ்

 

Arunagirinathar’s verses encapsulate the soul of this holy town that had seen a great war when Arulmighu Kandaswami decimated evil forces and is revered by the Vedas and the Universe.  

Thirupporur with its Kandaswami temple, water laden Thirukkulams around, Kailasanathar Temple close by, atop a small hill, many more temples, சத்திரங்கள் and திருமடங்கள் dedicated for every community, had been the Cultural and Religious Hub in the Coastal area of Chengalpattu.

There are numerous inscriptions in the temple to establish its antiquity.

 The British East India Company era Survey of 1764 CE from the native Palm leaf documents, records about 249 localities between the Coovum River in the north to Thirukkazhukkundram in the South, contributing to this temple.  The localities of Kovalam Seemai closer to the temple had contributed about 1 % of their Produce and other localities in the Poonamalle Seemai further away had contributed about 0.75 %.  

In addition to the share in the Produce, there were revenue assignments made in the name of  Arulmighu Kandaswami Peruman. Shrotriyam was the term employed to denote a place from which all the revenues, both Agricultural and Non Agricultural were assigned to the temple.

This temple has been a unifying force both Culturally and Spiritually.  There were Chathrams for various jati groups and Thirumadams for various spiritual denominations enabling the village communities to retain their unique identities yet come to celebrate urchavams together.

Sri Chidambara Swamigal in the 1600s had revitalised Tirupporur and Kandaswami temple that fallen into difficult times. The saint has sung deeply meaningful verses in beautiful Tamizh. His Thirumadam is situated in Tiupporur.

"நோயுற்று அடராமல் நொந்து மனம் வாடாமல் 

பாயிற் கிடவாமல் பாவியன் காயத்தை 

ஓர் நொடிக்குள்  நீக்கியெனை  என் போரூரா 

நின் சீரடிக்கீழ் வைப்பாய் தெரிந்தே"

As a deliberate policy, the British did not want Indic Institutions having direct dealings with various localities in the region. To sever the ties, an arbitrarily undervalued revenue assessment of 646 varagans was fixed in 1799.***

Thereby, the temple’s rights of the share in the Produce were taken over by the British Administration and the assessed value of these shares was converted into a claim on the government revenues to be paid to the temple from the Treasury.

A nominal amount totally disproportionate to the value original contributions seem to be remitted to the Temple by the Administration, thereby severing the intimate and sacred link between the people and the temple as an institution.

** Link to Centre for Policy Studies Website for a more detailed account of this transition and its consequences.

 https://cpsindia.org/articles/series-of-articles-on-chengalpattu-in-the-sunday-magazine-of-the-hindu/thirupporur-a-great-cultural-centre-the-hindu-sunday-october-27-1991/

 

 This is a Pillar in the temple with inscription in Pallava Grantham script, that displays Two titles of the king, describing his qualities, most likely chosen by the king himself.  They are:

1. Guna Vineetha (meaning -The Modest one, though possessing many virtues )

 2. Bharani Thilaka (The Ornament of the World)

Ancient Thirupporur temple has seen a Pallava contribution to its building in the 8^th century.

Seen from the inscriptions, Thirupporur had been a special place with donations from some of the places we see around us even today and grants received from them.

-  During the reign of Vikrama Chola (1118 – 1136 CE) - Inscription Registers gift of land free of tax by the assembly of Sembakkam alias ParakesariNallur in Sirukunra Nadu to provide for the celebrations in the temple of Subramanya deva (ARIE No 121 / 1933-34)

- Gift of paddy by certain residents to the village of Kaayaaru alias Kamalanarayana Chaturvedhimangalam in Kumizhi nadu subdivision of Amoor Kottam in Jayamkonda Chola mandalam to provide for offerings and lamps and other requirements in the temple of Pillayaar Subramanya Deva at Thirupporiyur. Era of a chola king with the title Rajakesarivarman (ARIE No 122 / 1933-34)

- Registers the grant of a veli of land as tax - free devadaana to the temple of Subramanyadeva. Era Vikrama Chola deva (ARIE No 123 / 1933-34)

- Seems to register gift of land made after purchase by a resident of Ilanallur for conducting the Ardha Jaama Poojai - Midnight service in the temple. (ARIE No 124 / 1933-34)

 -Agreement given by a Sivabrahmana at the temple of Subramanyadeva at Thirupporur in Kumuzhi Nadu, subdivision of Amoor Kottam, district of JayamkondaChola Mandalam to burn 5 twilight lamps in return of the cows received from 2 persons in the Era of Vijaya Ganda Gopala Deva. He was the Telugu Choda ruler of Thondaimandalam after the fall of the Chola Empire and the subsequent foray of the Pandyas . (ARIE No 121 / 1933-34)

 

The Palm Leaf Account of 1772 gives a description of  Thirupporur  of  Kovalam Seemai, Thaiyur Thaluka .  Apparently, these localities had been bigger and had held more importance in those times!!

Nine temples have been detailed in the manuscript -

1.      Kandasamiyar Kovil

2.     MuthuVinayakar Kovil

3.     Sellavinayakar Kovil

4.    ShanmugaPillayar Kovil

5.     Thiruvenkitam Saavadi Pillayar Kovil

6.     Vembadi Pillayar Kovil

7.     Pidariyar Mullai Ammai Kovil

8.     Vanaravasiyammai Kovil

9.     Kailasanathar Kovil

 

It also enlists the water bodies.

Five Kulams measuring 11 Kaanis of land in all.

1      Tirukkulam in the Southwest of the Oor

2       Chidambara Pandaram Kulam

3       Tiruvenkita Mudaliyar Kulam

4        Silambayi Kulam

5       Matam Pandaram Kulam

 

Four Thaangals in the Northeast, Southeast, East and South of the Oor,  measuring 30 kaanis of land in all

 

Four Poonthottams – Flower Gardens

Kiruparama Pillai Thottam, Kovil Pandaram Thottam, Chettigal Thottam, Sembadavar Thottam.

 

Fourteen Thoppus (Groves with Trees) measuring 50 Kaanis of land.

1.      In the centre of the Oor, Kovil Pandaram Thottam had the following trees –

Vaazhai, Palaa, Shenbagam, Kamugu ( Paakku ) Trees

 

The rest of the Groves in all the directions of Thirupporur had lot of iluppai (Mahua ) trees perhaps for the oil required to light the lamps, Coconut trees and some lemon trees.

 

  The Megalithic Cairn circles at Thirupporur attest to human presence in the place for thousands of years.

We have proof from the 1700s that it had been beautiful place with numerous temples, with celebrations, water bodies, Gardens and Groves well cared for by its residents.

One can almost imagine the fragrances of the flowers, hear the instruments playing music, Prasadhams and people gathering to celebrate urchavams for Lord Kandasami with Devotion and Love.