Saturday, April 5, 2008

Somangalam Sri Somanaadheeswarar

Somangalam lies at about 35 kms south west of Chennai city. One can take the route from Tambaram via Kishkinta to reach Somangalam. The better alternative is to take the road from Pallavaram going to Kunrathur. After reaching Kunrathur junction, one has to take left (towards south) to reach Somangalam. Somangalam is about 10 kms from Kunrathur. Also plenty of busses ply from Porur directly to Somangalam.

Somangalam is an ancient, beautiful village having a temple for Lord Shiva. The main deity here is Sri Somanaadheeswarar and Goddess Sri Kamakshi Amman.

This temple is one of the Navagraha temples of Chennai (or Thondai Mandalam) devoted to Sri Chandra Bhagavan (Moon God). According to legend, once, Sri Chandra Bhagavan (also called Soman) is said to have got cursed by Dhakshan. As a result, he lost his divine charm and forgot all 16 form of arts he acquired. To come out of this, He is said to have created a pond here called Soma Theertham and worshipped Lord Shiva here. After this, he got back his beauty and wisdom. As Sri Soman (Sri Chandra Bhagavan) worshipped the Lord here, Lord Shiva here is called Somanaadheeswarar and the place came to be known as Somangalam.

This temple is a Parihaara Sthalam for those having any Dhosham related to Chandra Bhagavan. Sri Chandra Bhagavan has a separate shrine in the temple, facing west.

This temple is said to have been built by Kulothunga Chozha in 1073 AD during his 3rd year of reign. According to inscriptions found here, this place was referred as ‘Jayankonda Chozha Mandalathu Senkaattu Kottathu Maaganoor Naattu Somangalamaana Rajasigaamani Chathurvedhi Mangalam” (ஜெயங்கொண்ட சோழமண்டலத்து செங்காட்டுக்கோட்டத்து மாகனூர் நாட்டு சோமங்கலமான ராஜசிகாமணிச் சதுர்வேதிமங்கலம்). Those days the places gifted (tax free) to Vedic Brahmins by ancient kings were called Chathurvedhi Mangalams.

The inscriptions found in the temple also reveal the information about the local lake which got damaged and about the repair works done to it. Also, there is information about the cows donated to the temple to fetch revenue to light the lamps in the temple, every evening.

There lived a king called Somakaanthan in this part of the country, who wished to build 108 Shiva temples throughout his country. While he was in the middle of the construction work for this temple, he had his enemies marching towards his territory for war. The king was shocked to hear this, because he was never prepared for a war at that time and had engaged all his soldiers in the temple construction work.

With much grief, he prayed Lord Shiva here to save him. Lord Shiva was pleased with his devotion in constructing the temple, directed Sri Nandhigeswarar to fight against the king’s enemy. Nandhi turned towards east and blew away the entire troupes of the enemy just with his forceful breath. Lord Shiva made Nandhi to face east permanently to make sure that there were no further attacks to the king’s country by enemies.

Here one can see Nandhi unusually facing east instead of facing the Lord in the sanctum. This is one of the very unique features of this temple.

Ambaal Sri Kamakshi Amman has a separate shrine in the temple, facing south.

Lord Natarajar here is present as Chathura Thaandava Murthy which is again very unique and rarely seen anywhere.

The sanctum is built in Gajabrishta shape or Thoongaanai Maadam (தூங்கானை மாடம்) type which is popular in Chozha architecture. Such structures would look like the back of a sleeping elephant.

Sri Vinayagar, Sri Dhakshinamurthy, Sri Mahavishnu, Sri Brahma, Sri Durgai and Sri Sandigeswarar are seen on the outer walls of the sanctum.

The other deities like Sri Valli Devasena Samedha Sri Subramanyar and Sri Bhairavar have separate shrines on the outer praakaaram.

The Sthala Viruksham for this temple is Sarakkonrai Maram which is found on the northern side of the sanctum. There is a small shrine having small Shiva Lingam below this tree and is called Viruksha Lingam. An image of a tree is carved on stone above this Lingam.

A few dilapidated idols are seen near Sthala Viruksham.

In the southern side of the outer Praakaaram Saptha Maathaas are seen in a row along the walls, in which Sri Jyeshta Devi is also present. Sri Jyeshta Devi is said to be the elder sister of Sri Mahalakshmi, who evolved earlier to Sri Mahalakshmi when the mighty ocean was churned.

The Theertham for this temple is said to be Sandeeswara Theertham, which is believed to be created by Sri Sandigeswarar. Another Theertham is Soma Theertham, which was created by Moon God is present a little away from the temple.

The temple is strictly closed between 12 pm and 4 pm. This beautiful temple surely has lots within itself for temple lovers.

12 comments:

  1. Hi! Boy,
    I am delighted that the number of readers from abroad is on the increse day by day. Fantastic is your effort in spreading salient details of many important Hindu temples, which people like me in India itself have had no opportunity to see in person.
    God bless you. You are a proud son of this soil.
    mouli mama

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  2. Hi,

    I think u r on the way to Moksha.

    Many wise people say "May God be with u" , But let me say that" let God be with u" so that u get the information directly from the God and pass it on to us..

    Hi Don't forget to take the Laptop on going to Vaikuntam.Also check the internet connectivity in Vaikuntam.

    Hari

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  3. Dear friend I am from Kundrathur. I have visited the somangalam temple many times . I wish to see photo graphs of the same and you fulfilled that wish through prparing separate profile. Thanks for your team and all your persons engaed to collect those valuable information.

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  4. Excellant presentation of the unique features of the Temple-Make me feel that I hav personally visited . Good wishes for more.

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  5. Dear Narayanan sir,
    I had an ooportunity of visiting this temple after coming to know about this through your blog. Thank you very much.
    This temple also has got a Suryan sannadhi.

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  6. There is Sri Somanatheswar temple at Kolathur
    within Chennai with Chandra theertham and with same legend of Chandran having got rid off his curse.I am yet to visit the temple.

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  7. Apsidal shaped temples were more popular with Pallavas. The few apsidal temples that you find standing today are primarily in Thondaimandalam - mostly pallava or Pallava - Chola transition period.
    Sahadeva Ratham of Mallai, Jvarageershwarar in Kanchipuram, Jaina Kanchi temples to name a few.

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  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. Not only this temple has nandhi facing towards east, in this area there five temples which are built in same manner.

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  10. The sanctum is built in Gajabrishta shape or Thoongaanai Maadam type which is popular in Chozha architecture. Such structures would look like the back of a sleeping elephant.Best way to visit there is through bus and you can book Online Bus Ticket also.

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  11. All your posts regarding the Navagraha temples are very useful and helpful. Thanks a lot. We visited the Kovur Sundareswarar temple and it was really a nice experience. Today we tried to visit Somanadheeswarar temple, but unfortunately the temple was closed by 11.15 am itself. We still had a glimpse of the sanctum from outside. Yes, it is around 10km from Kundrathur junction, after travelling a distance of 5km when the road splits into two, take the left road attached to Kubendran industries which will lead you to the Somangalam village.

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  12. Somangalam Damodaram Sridhar ReddySaturday, August 23, 2014 1:50:00 PM

    Dear Author Sir, I introduce myself S.D. Sridhar Reddy hails from this beautiful village SOMANGALAM. If you look at my initial S D stands for Somangalam Damodaram Sridhar.
    I have visited these beautiful temple many a times, but most of the facts known to me now through your excellent collection of information.. I am aged 56 years and my children too enjoys my village SOMANGALAM.

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