| Description:
This Shivastalam is located near Tiruchirappalli. The image shown above is that of the
Rockfort temple at Tiruchirappalli. The
formidable fortress, that this temple is, caused it to be the seat of Anglo French
disputes for control. Uyyakkondaanmalai is considered to be the
4th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south
of the river Kaveri. Legends: The Tiruchirappalli
hill temple was worshipped by Tirisiran, the Tiruverumbur
temple by Dhooshanan and this temple by Karan, all three being characters from the
Ramayanam.
History: This temple is a formidable fortress, by virtue of the layers
of . strong walls surrounding it The Anglo French wars extended even into the
domain of this temple. Cannon ball marks are seen on the walls. During the Carnatic Wars,
the British attempted to blow up this fortress, however their attempts failed. This
temple was built by Nandivarma Pallavan, and was later on renovated by the Cholas and the
Pandyas, as testified by the inscriptions here. Inscriptions from Parantaka Chola I's
period, as well as the Tevaram hymns and the Periyapuranam refer to this shrine as
Karkudi.
The Temple: A hill temple with five Prakarams, with cicrular walls and
a six feet thick surrounding walls. There are two sanctums for Anjanakshi Amman here, one
facing the East and the other, West.
Shiva's sanctum faces West, and Ardhanareeswarar occupies the Eastern niche, while
Durga and Bhramma occupy niches in the Northern wall of the sanctum.
This temple is under the able administration of the Dharumapuram Aadheenam
Festivals: The annual Bhrammotsavam is celebrated in the month of
Pankuni.
(Templenet acknowledges the contribution of the image above by C. Vedanarayanan -
London). |
