Pammal is a suburban locality of Chennai, located next to Pallavaram. This place is well known across the state of Tamil Nadu, thanks to the famous personality Pammal Sambandha Mudaliar, the founding father of model Tamil theatre. However, this article is not about him, but an ancient Chola Temple of Pammal named Pushpagireeswarar.
History
The current concrete structure makes it impossible to believe it is a 13th-century period temple. But it is true. There are two Chola-era inscriptions found on the outer walls of the sanctum.
The first inscription is dated to the 35th year of the reign of Virarajendra alias Kulotunga Chola III. The probable date in the English calendar is 3rd November 1210 CE. The inscription refers to an endowment of land to the nearby Tiruneermalai Perumal temple and its tax exemption. Interestingly, we understand that the land was located in present-day Tambaram. It was called Taampuram or Gunaseelanallur in those days. It also locates Tambaram in the Surathur Nadu sub-division of Puliyur Kottam division in Jayankonda Chola Mandalam. (Reference MCC 1971/02; Kalvettu - 65 January 2005 edition).
The second inscription is incomplete and dated to the 21st year of the reign of Rajaraja Chola III, which is in 1227 CE. It mentions that Pammal belonged to Kulotunga Chola Valanaattu Surathur Nadu sub-division of Puliyur Kottam in Jayankonda Chola Mandalam. It talks about the endowment for burning a lamp at Azhaga Perumal temple at Pammal. (Reference MCC 1972/03; Kalvettu - 65 January 2005 edition).
Per a report from Dr. Gift Siromoney, a polymath from the 1970s, there was a ruined Shiva temple with stone slabs from an earlier Vishnu shrine. I believe the above inscription refers to that Vishnu shrine as Azhaga Perumal.
Layout and Architecture
The temple, which was in a dilapidated state for a long was renovated at the beginning of the 21st century. This hillock temple can be reached in a narrow lane by climbing numerous steps. Literally, there is no hill left, and it is like a temple on the top floor of a multi-story building.
The presiding deity, Pushpagireeswarar, is in the Linga form. This large Shiva Linga is believed to be the original icon.
Although the temple is completely renovated, the bottom portion of the wall where the inscriptions are found is not disturbed.
There are two Nandis; one is the original, and the other is the modern-day Nandi.
The footprint of Ranganatha, the presiding deity of the nearby famous Tiruneermalai temple, is found. It is a highlight of this temple. The icons representing the holy symbol called Namam, conch, discus, Hanuman, and Garuda are found around the sacred footprint.
Pushpambikai is the Goddess. Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Lingodbhava, Brahma and Durga are the Koshta deities. Nataraja-Sivakami, Chandikeshwara, Hanuman, Navagraha and Swarna Akarshana Bhairava are the other deities. The entrance of the sanctum is guarded by Ganesha and Skanda. As stated already, all these icons are newly installed during the recent renovation.
Happy travelling.
