Jambai Jambunatheshwarar Temple, Villupuram

Address

Jambai, Thirukoilur taluk,

Thiruvannamalai district,

Tamil Nadu 605 754

Moolavar

Jambunatheshwarar (Thanthondreeswarar)

Introduction

This temple is also called as Thanthondreeswarar temple. This Shiva temple was built by Cholas during 10th century. The temple walls contain full of Tamil Vattezhuttu inscriptions of Cholas. This place was under Rashtrakuta rule during the mid 10th century, the statues of Lord Muruga, Jyestha Devi, Kalabairavar, Durga belonging to Rashtrakuta architecture, are found inside the temple. Since the temple become very old and damaged, reconstruction works are carried by local people of Jambai now.

Puranic Significance

According to the local tradition, there was pond where the Jambunatha temple is found at present and the main deity (linga) was formed on its own in this pond. When the sage saw this linga in the pond he took the form of a fish and entered the pond to lordship the linga. Hence he came to be called Valaimamani and this village should have derived the name Valaiyur in memory of the sage. Later it got the name Jambai during Chalukya Chola period.

Though the inscriptions of this temple mention the name of the principal deity as Tantorniswarar, He local people call the deity as Jambuskewarar, Initially the name should have been pronounced as Sambukeswarar meaning the Lord Siva who bestow happiness and the village where the temple of Sambukeswarar located come to be called as Sambai.

Special Features

This Temple is rich in it’s epigraphically values. Lot of inscriptions can be found here from all the leading dynasties of Tamil country. There are totally five inscription of Kopperunjingan in this temple raining from 1253-1258 C.E. They mention about the gifts and endowments made to the temple by him and officials. Some of the Inscriptions are listed below;

There is a mere fragment of an inscription which seems to refers to a gift of land for (the worship of) the goddess Jyeshta stationed on the side of the tank.

The inscription is much damaged. It seems to record the construction of a Mandapa (in the temple) by Viranaraniyar the consort of prince Gandaraditya and daughter (in law) of Solamadeviyar in the name of the Nagarattar of Valaiyur, and an endowment of seventy Kalanju of gold by that body by levy of tax for its Upkeep and for burning a lamp in it during the nights with the interest there on.

The inscription is badly engraved. It seems to record an endowment of land at Kadambur by Sri Pondaiyudaiyan, for the daily requirements of worship in the temple (name lost).

This is mutilated. It records a gift of 50 Kalanju of gold for burning 5 perpetual lamps in the temple of Tantonriyalvar by the San [arappadiyar] of Valaiyur.

This is fragmentary. It seems to record a gift of money for a perpetual lamp in the temple by one Sadaiyan Eluvan, who probably deposited the amount with the Nagarattar of Valaiyur.