| Description:
Known as Aalanturai (VaTaranyam in Sanskrit) this is one of the 'Turai's in the 275
Shivastalams sung by the Tevara Mudalvar. This Shivastalam is in the vicinity of Chakrapalli and is located at a distance of about 15 km from
Thanjavur. Architecturally this temple is considered to be one of the finest of the early
Chola temples. Tiruppullamangai is considered to be the 16th in the
series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the
river Kaveri. Legends: Shiva is said to have consumed the poison that
emanated from the churning of the milky ocean here (hence the name Aalanturai). Shiva here
is also known as Bhramapureeswarar.Parvati is said to have taken the form of a Chakravaha
bird & worshipped Shiva here, hence the name Pullamangai. Some sources say that the
name Pullamangai is sourced from the Kites that live in the Temple Tower.
The Temple: Inscriptions from the period of Parantaka Chola I (early
10th century) testify to the patronage extended by the Cholas. The stone structure in the
temple is generally assigned to Parantaka I's period, based on the inscriptions seen here.
The niches in the garbagriham and the ardhamandapam contain images of Lingodbhavar,
Bhramma, Durga, Vinayakar and Dakshinamurthy. Several features in this temple
display a profound sense of aesthetics. The decorative layers on the garbagriham are
of great workmanship and the miniature panels above and below the niche images, the
friezes of yaalis, the scroll work and several othe features here are of delicate
workmanship. The images of yalis with riders, giving the semblance of flight in mid air,
are remniscent of the toranas in Sanchi, per 'Early Chola Temples' by S. R.
Balasubramaniam.
Festivals: Four worship services are offered each day in this small
temple. The Saptastanam festival is celebrated in the Tamil month of Pankuni. Kartikai
Deepam, Arudra Darisanam, Navaratri are also celebrated here. |
