Temples

Temples of Devikapuram

Sri Periyanayagi Amman Temple

Devikapuram Periyanayagi amman Temple, (Inner Gopuram)

Devikapuram, otherwise known as the city of goddess', is noted for its temples. The most important of these is dedicated to the goddess Brihadhamba alias Perianayagi  is situated in the town. while  that of her spouse, Kanakagireeswarar alias Ponmalai nathar crowns the adjacent hill. The former temple was built by the Chola Raja Tondaiman Chakaravarthi, who is said to have begun his mission of temple building at this place. It is regarded as second in importance only to Tiruvannamalai, and attracts a large number of worshippers. The goddess is one of the four brought into existence by Brahma.

Generally people call this village as "Devikapuram", "Devakipuram","Devakkapuram", "Kanagagiri", "Narayanavanam", "Kanagathiri", "Kanakachalam", are the other names found in the history of this sthalam and in other  names found in the history of this place is known as "Kanagagiri".

According to the sthalapuranam of this temple, there is also a legend that Devaki, sister of Kamsan, came to this place, worshipped the Lord here and gave birth to Krishna, hence the name" Devakipuram" This place is further known as "Kanakagiri and Kanakachalam " after the name of the hillock here and also as "Narayanavanam" in view of the temple of Sri Srinivasamurthy found here. The name "Devakkapuram" is found in the stone inscriptions of the Sri Devi Temple.

Sri Periyanayagi Amman Temple

The consort of Sri Kanakagiriswarar installed at the hill temple is Sri Periyanayagi Amman, found at the bottom. She  is also otherwise known as Sri Brahanayagi and Sri Brahadhambal. There is no Sivalingam here.  Here the temple is 475 feet east to west and 250 feet south to north, with a fortrees o 30 feet in height. The temple covers an area of 3 acres and has a big seven tiered pagado. The fortress of the temple is beautifully fashioned out of artistically carved granite stones. On the outer walls, there are several carvings , a separate line for Horse, Bull and pig all around the wall. The images of the pigs might have been intended to create sentimental feelings among Muslim invaders and to avoid their destroying the temples. There are there entrances leading to the temple in the north, south and east. The north and south  entrances are closed for the devotees. The eastern in front of it, there is a high four pillared mandapam. Adjacent to it, is the "Thermutti Mandapam" Unlike other  mandapams, which will have only a single flight of steps on one side, here there are tow flights of steps on both sides.

In the entrance of the temple, beautiful sculpture like  lingothbavar,  Narasimha Avatar etc., Some of the sculpture were destroyed by the muslim invaders. After the entrance, there are three prakarams in the temple. Immediately after entering the temple, one would find Sri Veerabadrar on the south and Sri Bairavar on the north. The Brahma  Theertham is on the southern side of the temple with beautiful  foot steps and a circular platform. The Kalyana Mandapam is found in the north  facing south. This is designed in the shape of the two wheeled car drawn by houses which is very impressive and attractive. There are several architectural carvings on the pillars of this mandapam depicting the history of the King Sri Manu Needhi Cholan.

There is a thirty six pillared front mandapam beyond the Bali Peedam, Kodimaram and Nadhi. This mandapam is a encyclopedia of Sculptures because 432 sculpture describes the puranams of Siva, Vishnu and devi.  To the south of this mandapam is the Vinayagar Sannidhi and to the north of it, the Sannidhi of Sri Arumugar. Corssing this mandapam, and the entrance of a three tiered pagoda, on has to reach the next prakaram. The Sanidhis of Sri Kasi Viswanathar, Sri Pillaiyar and the Navarathir mandapam are found in this prakaram. The ustsava vigrahams of Sri Vinayagar, Natarajar and Samaskandhar are foundin the Maha Mandapam. Next ot the Maha Mandapam is the inner prakaram of the temple. The beautiful dharshan of Devik Sri Perianayagi ambal, the embodiment of love and affection can be seen in the sanctum sanctorum. Large number of devotees used to have dharashan and worship the Devi on all Fridays.

There are several sacred theerthas in this shrine. The brahma theertham is inside the temple while the Navagraha Theertham is located at the foot of the hill which is now known  as Periayappan kulam. To the south east of this sthalam is the Agni Theertham with  Neerazhi Mandapam at its centre. People call thei Agni Theertham as Kaatan kulam. There is a Murugar Temple at the top of a hill lock on the bank of theis Agni Theertham and to the west corner is the Devaraidyar Theertham and  to the west the seyyyan kulam or seeyan kulam. There are also several other  small Theerthams here all round the hill. On all Tuesday  it is customary for the devotees to come around the hill  and offer worship to Sri Kanakagiriswarar. By doing so, it is believed that  the devotees who  are suffering from  incurable diseases are easily cured.

There are about 56 stone inscriptions in this sthalam of which 55 are found  in the Periya nayagi amman temple and one in the  Kanakagiriswarar Temple at the top of the hill. It is surmised that both tese shirines should have been built during the regins of the Vijayanagar kings. One of the oldest  stone inscriptions relates to the Maharastra king  another belongs to the Jagirdhar of Arni and the remaining 53 stone inscriptions relate to the period  of the Vijayanagar Kings. Two of the inscriptions are found in Sanskrit, one in Marathi and the rest in Tamil. 

Sri Kanagagiiswarar (or ) Ponmalai Nathar Temple

Sri Kanagagiiswarar temple is at a height of about 500 feet, from the mean sea level, uphills. It is said to have been built some 1000 years ago during the reign of Chola King.  Later the temple was expanded by the Vijayanagara Period in 15^th century.

There is an episode which says that when a villager by name Irula was digging the forest and collecting roots, his axe hit the Lingam underneath. As a result of this sinful act, he fell down and swooned. On account of his deep devotional  to the Lord, the God appeared in his  dream and told him that he is present inside the pit. At once, he found the Lingam, installed it on the top of the hillock and worshipped it. Subsequently, when a Pallava king, who was marching with his army through this place, on a war with an enemy, came to know about this Deity, he worshipped  it and took a vow to build a grand temple at this place, if he returned victorious. Thus the temple came into existence.

There are several foot steps leading to the top of the hill. After a few steps, one would find the Veerabadrar's shrine, which is a thing of architectural beauty. Sri Aladi Viniayagar is installed mid-way to the flight of steps leading to uphill. On a rock, to the north of the hill top, are found two beautiful foot prints of the Ambal. It is believed to be those of the Ambal , who did a severe penance for Sri Ponmalainathar, in a standing posture. Just in fornt of the temple there is a thirty six pillared mandapam bearing several beautiful sculptures in all its pillars. In the inner prakaram the famous "Navanarikunjaram'  sculpture is found. The temple is 140 feet long and 70 feet wide. In the southern prakaram of the temple are found the Sannidhis of Sri Visalakshiamman, Sptah Kanniars and Sri Dhakshnamoorthy, while the Sannadhis of Sri Vinayagar and Sri Murugar are located in the western prakaram.

Two lingam  are installed in the sanctum sanctorum. The Lingam at the rear is  Sri Kanakagiriswarar alias Ponmalainathar, who is a 2' high Swayambu Lingam. The first dharsan in this temple is that of Sri Viswanadhar. The notable features of the temple  are, unlike  other shrines, abishegam is done to the deity here  with hot water only instead of cold water;

Saint Arunagirinathar appears to have visited this shirine and sung songs in praise of the deity, through  his famous" Thiruppugazh" in which he has described this sthalam as Kanakagiri.

There is a small temple at the bottom of the hill to the north. People call the deity installed here as Sri Thiukameswarar, who is also known as Sri Kanaswarar. Sri Kokilambal is his consort. To the north west, is her sannidhi, The temple of Sri Thirukaneswarar is 2o feet long and 11 feet wide. It is designed  with nine granite stones.

Two lingams are installed in the sanctum sanctorum. The Lingam at the rear is Sri Kanakagiriswarar alias Ponmalainathar, who is a 2 feet high Swaymbu Lingam. The first dharsan in this temple is that of Sri Viswanathar. The notable features of the temple are, unlike other shrines, abishegam is done to the deity here with hot water only instead of cold water; and the number of images of pigs in the ourter walls of the temple. The images of the pigs might have been intended to create sentimental feelings among Muslim invaders and to avoid destroying the temple.

Saint Arunagirinathar appears to have visited this shirne and sun songs in praise of the deity, through his  famous " Thiruppugazh", in which he has described this sthalam as Kanakagiri.

Sri Tirukameswarar Temple

There is small temple at the bottom of the hill to the north. People call the deity installed here as, Sri Tirukameswarar, who is also known as Sri Kameswarar. Sri Kokilambal is his consort. To the north west, is her sannadhi, The temple of Sri Thirukameswarar is 20 feet log and 11 feet wide. It is designed with nine granite stones, which indicates the extraordinary skill of the sculptor. It is said that this shrine was build in a great  hurry before the King, who went uphills, finished his worship and returned back.