Sri Asthrapureeswarar Temple at Aanoor

When one of my blog friends Arun Kumar visited the Aanoor Shva temple, he called me up from there and informed about the temple. In a few days, another blog friend Mr.Mehul Davey also informed me about the temple and invited me to come along with him to the temple. In the meanwhile the trustee also came to my house and gave me some documents pertaining to the temple. I never heard of this temple before but in a short span of time I got the Lord’s calls from various quarters to visit Him. So, on a Sunday I joined Mehul and his friends to the temple where they planned a grand abhishegam on that day.

Location:
Aanur is located at around 13 kms South of Chengalpat.
While going from Chennai, we have to go through the Chenglepat town and after passing the Chengalpat court in the outskirts of the town, we have to go straight towards Pon Vilaintha Kalathur and then further go straight beyond P.V.Kalathur for another 4-5 kms to reach Aanoor which is located on the Eastern bank of Palar river.

Aanoor has 3 ancient temples. The Asthra pureeswarar Shiva temple in dilapidated condition; the Vedha Narayaa Perumal temple, also in dilapidated condition and the Kandhaswamy temple that was renovated recently.

Kootruva Nayanar and Poet Pugazhendhi lived here.

The temple was built by Vijaya Kamba Varma Pallavan during the 7th century whose son Aparajitha Varama Pallavan was defeated by Adhithya Chola I that marked the end of Pallava regime and the beginning of Chola regime. The temple was patronised by the Chola Kings Paranthaka, Rajaraja and Klothunga and the Nayakkars of the Vijayanagara period. The Rajaraja chola period inscription says that there were musical instruments of Padagam, Thimilai, Karadigai, Kalam and Sekandi.

Inscriptions belonging to the 7-8 century Pallava period, 9th century Chola period and the 16th century Vijayanagara period are all can be seen in the same wall side by side, inferring that the stones were rearranged during the last renovation during the Vijayanagara period.

• It is said that Arjunan got the Pasupatha Asthram from Lord Shiva at this place and hence the Lord is called Asthrapureeswarar. The nearby hill is also called Asthra hill.
• It is said that people will be freed from court cases and encumbrances by worshipping the Lord and Ambal here.
• Lord Shiva is facing East and Soundara valli Ambal is facing South; Ambal and Swamy can be worshipped from the artha mandapam at the same time. One time pooja is taking place daily.
• The Ambal is seen with her left leg in front as if ready to step out to the help of devotees.

The stone dwajasthambam and sculptures on it:

As we enter:

Vinayagar and Murugar idols had been stolen and the shrines are empty now:

The Vinayagar is said to belong to the 5th century

There was a grand abhishegam on that day.

The Ambal is seen with her left leg in front as if ready to step out to the help of devotees.

Bairavar and Durga

Sculptures in the Artha mandapam

Maha mandapam and the sculpture in the Maha mandapam:

Inscriptions:

The temple also has a big pond in the front.

The trustees and the village team:

Mehul and his team:

The good thing is the trust is already in place and REACH foundation that is known to rebuild the heritage structures to its original form stone by stone at a far lower cost is going to be involved in the temple construction.

Please join the trustee Mr.Devrajan (95510 66441) and his team in this noble cause.

The complete photo set of the Asthrapureeswarar temple is available here.

Kandaswamy Temple:

The team has just completed the renovation of the ancient Kandhaswamy temple where Lord Muruga is present in the form of Brahmma Sastha when he took control of Lord Brahmma’s responsibilities.

The complete set of Kandaswamy temple is here.

Vedha Narayana Perumal Temple:

This ancient temple is also in a dilapidated condition and we could not visit on that day since it became too late. I will keep this updated when I visit next time.