Thiruvalluvar Temple, Mylapore
Thiruvalluvar Temple | |
---|---|
Valluvar and Vasuki | |
Location | |
Location | M. K. Amman Street, Mylapore, Chennai, India |
Country | India |
Geographic coordinates | 13°02′23″N 80°16′16″E / 13.0398073°N 80.2710717°E |
Architecture | |
Completed | Early 16th century (present structure)[1] |
The Ekambareswarar–Kamakshi Temple, commonly known as the Thiruvalluvar Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to the poet-saint Valluvar in the neighborhood of Mylapore in Chennai, India. The shrine is located within the Ekambareswarar temple complex. Believed to have been constructed in the early 16th century, the temple was extensively renovated in the 1970s.[2] Traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Saint Valluvar, the temple is the oldest ever built to Valluvar. The temple also serves as the venue for meetings of Tamil language enthusiasts. While many consider the temple as the birthplace of Valluvar, some consider it as his samadhi (place of cremation).
Tradition and history
The temple was originally believed to be a village temple dedicated to
In his 1989 book entitled Thirumayilayin Thirukoilgal, S. Rajendran indicates that the temple was built in the early part of the 16th century.
The tradition of celebrating Valluvar's birthday annually on Vaikasi Anusham (a day in May) was officially accepted on 18 and 19 May 1935, when a group of Tamil scholars and researchers congregated at the Pachaiyappa's College auditorium under the leadership of Maraimalai Adigal and officially declared Valluvar year and the Valluvar Day celebrations.[16] A procession organized on the first day concluded at the Valluvar temple and a mass worship was organized at the temple on the same day.[16] The temple was under the aegis of Sivagyana Mudaliyar before it was taken over by the Hindu Religious and Charity Endowment Department of the state government.[17] In the neighbourhood of Mylapore, which is known for its "Sapta Sthana Shiva sthalas" or the sacred seven-some Shiva shrines (which includes the Karaneeswarar Temple, Tirttapaleeswarar Temple, Velleeswarar Temple, Virupakshiswarar Temple, Valeeswarar Temple, Malleeswarar Temple, and Kapaleeshwarar Temple), the Ekambareshwarar–Valluvar temple is traditionally considered the indispensable eighth.[14]
The temple
The Valluvar shrine is located within the Ekambareswarar temple complex in a narrow lane adjacent to the Valluvar statue on
The sanctum of Valluvar is a two-roomed shrine enclosed by an open-pillared portico known as the maha mantapam or the meditation hall.
The temple's sthala vriksham (sanctum tree) is the iluppai or
In the introduction to his 1897 book The Ethics of Kural, J. M. Nallaswamy Pillai, describes the statue at the temple thus:
Those of you, who wish to have our idea of the personal appearance of the sage, may proceed to his shrine at Mylapore, a minute's walk from the Barber's Bridge, and witness the statue of the canonized saint. The folded knot of his lock, the bushy moustache and beard sweeping over his breast, the gravity of the forehead, the broad eyes revealing his noble heart, and the grace of his majestic frame are such as remind one of
Agasthya. He is in fact said to be the great grandson of Agasthya. At least the genealogy framed by the pandits states so.[20]
Rituals and festivals
Although the official count of
Like any other Hindu temple, the idols witness full traditional temple rituals on a daily basis. Abhishekam (bathing the idol) is performed twice a day, along with alankaram (decoration). In the morning, rice is offered as neivedhyam (offering). Draped in a white dhoti, the idol of Valluvar sports a dash of vibhuti (holy ash), kumkum (holy crimson), and sandalwood paste on the forehead.[11] Poojas for Valluvar are performed in the morning while those for Ekambareshwarar in the morning and evening.[14][15] The rituals are performed by the priests belonging to the Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities.[10]
Besides these daily services, special pujas are performed during the Arubathi Moovar festival (March–April), the second day of the Chitrai month (April),
According to legend, Valluvar gave some mud to Vasuki and asked her to cook it into food in order to marry her, which she did obligingly. To commemorate this, Pongal pots are kept in front of the sanctum sanctorum and on the Chitra Pournami day (falling in April), some mud is sprinkled into these pots before boiling rice into the dish of pongal.[11] Annual processions are also held by large group of people to the temple to mark Thiruvalluvar Day.[26]
Funds
The temple is part of temples that are under the neighbouring Sri Mundagakanniamman Temple, also at Mylapore,[11] and comes under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charity Endowment Department.[11] Being a small temple, the Valluvar temple cannot sustain itself and uses the funds from other temples.[11] The temple has no property and depends entirely on the Mundagakanni Amman Temple.[2] The temple's primary income comes from the wedding hall, a paid parking space and a few shops.[11] All the festivals are funded by devotees, and the events in the shrine are in part sponsored by the Mudaliar community, whose ancestors were Tamil scholars.[2] The ancestors of the Mudaliar community are believed to have donated the bronze idols of the shrine.[2]
See also
- Tirukkural
- Valluvar Kottam
- Heritage structures in Chennai
Citations
- ^ Rajendran, 1989.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Chakravarthy & Ramachandran 2009.
- ^ a b c Robinson, 2001, p. 15.
- ^ a b c d e Robinson, 2001, p. 32.
- ^ Kabirdoss and Shankar, The Times of India, 5 November 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Waghorne, 2004, pp. 120–125.
- ^ Muthiah, 2014, p. 232.
- ^ a b c Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, 2014, p. 54.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, 2014, p. 55.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ramakrishnan, The Hindu, 15 November 2019, p. 3.
- ^ a b Yogesh Kabirdoss & L. R. Shankar (5 November 2019). "Thiruvalluvar statue in Thanjavur defiled". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-63806-773-3.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Muthukumaran, M. (6 November 2019). "மயிலாப்பூர் திருவள்ளுவர் கோயிலில் என்ன நடக்கிறது? - ஸ்பாட் விசிட் #Video". Vikatan.com. Vikatan. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ a b "18 ஆண்டுகள் கழித்து நடக்கிறது மயிலாப்பூர் திருவள்ளுவர் கோயிலில் ஜனவரியில் கும்பாபிஷேகம்: அறநிலையத்துறை திடீர் முடிவு [Mylapore Valluvar Temple Consecration to be held after 18 years in January: Sudden decision by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]". Dinakaran (in Tamil). Chennai. 10 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ a b c Dinamani, 14 April 2012.
- ^ a b c d Shanmugasundaram, The Hindu Tamil, 27 August 2015.
- ^ Hindustan Times, 16 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Dinamani, 20 September 2012.
- ^ Kannan, The New Indian Express, 11 March 2013.
- ^ a b c Bhatt, 2020.
- ^ Swaminathan, The Hindu, 10 March 2014.
- ^ Lalithasai, The Hindu, 21 May 2012.
- ^ Ramesh, Dinamani, 4 February 2022.
- ^ Mylapore Times, 22 January 2023.
References
- Chakravarthy, Pradeep; Ramachandran, Ramesh (16–31 August 2009). "Thiruvalluvar's shrine". Madras Musings. 19 (9).
- Joanne Punzo Waghorne (2004). Diaspora of the Gods: Modern Hindu Temples in an Urban Middle-Class World. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-515663-8.
- S. Rajendran (1989). Thirumayilayin Thirukoilgal (in Tamil). Chennai.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Ramakrishnan, Deepa H. (15 November 2019). "As a war of words rages outside, peace reigns inside this temple". The Hindu. Chennai: Kasturi & Sons. p. 3. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- A. A. Manavalan, ed. (2009). Essays and Tributes on Tirukkural (1886–1986 AD) (1 ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies.
- Shanmugasundaram, K. (27 August 2015). "திருத்தலம் அறிமுகம்: திருவள்ளுவருக்கு ஒரு திருக்கோயில் [Shrine Introduction: A temple for Thiruvalluvar]". The Hindu Tamil. Chennai: Kasturi & Sons. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- Karthik Bhatt (16–31 March 2020). "Arupathu Moovar – 110 years ago". Madras Musings. XXIX (23).
- Kannan, Kaushik (11 March 2013). "Saint poet's guru pooja at Tiruchuli". The New Indian Express. Tiruchuli: Express Publications. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- Edward Jewitt Robinson (2001). Tamil Wisdom: Traditions Concerning Hindu Sages and Selections from Their Writings. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-1587-8.
- "Thiruvalluvar Day 2020: History, significance and all you need to know about the iconic poet". Hindustan Times. HindustanTimes.com. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Swaminathan, Chitra (10 March 2014). "Moods of Mylapore". The Hindu. Chennai: Kasturi & Sons. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- "Procession taken out to Thiruvalluvar temple, abishekham conducted". Mylapore Times. Chennai: Mylapore Times. 22 January 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- Yogesh Kabirdoss and L. R. Shankar (5 November 2019). "Thiruvalluvar Statue in Thanjavur defiled". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- Lalithasai (21 May 2012). "Significance of Panguni Uthiram". The Hindu. Chennai: Kasturi & Sons. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- "பொலிவிழந்து வரும் மயிலாப்பூர் திருவள்ளுவர் கோயில்!". Dinamani (in Tamil). Chennai: The New Indian Express Group. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
- திருக்கோயில்கள் வழிகாட்டி: சென்னை மாவட்டம் (in Tamil) (1st ed.). Chennai: Government of Tamil Nadu, Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments. July 2014. pp. 54–55.
- ISBN 978-93-84030-28-5.
- "திருவள்ளுவர் திருநாளும் ஆண்டுப் பிறப்பும் [Thiruvalluvar Day and the new year]". Dinamani (in Tamil). Chennai. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- Ramesh, Janani (4 February 2022). "திருவள்ளுவர் திருநாள் எந்த நாள்? [Which day is Thiruvalluvar Day?]". Dinamani (in Tamil). Chennai.
Further reading
- Mudaliar, Nathamuni (1929). Thirumayilai Thalapuranam. Chennai: Noble Press.