Friday, August 19, 2016

Thiruthalinathar Temple, Thiruputhur – The Temple

Thiruthalinathar Temple, Thiruputhur – The Temple
Although Thiruputhur is a small town, the Shiva temple here is big and as we go inside the temple, it is really huge and causes fascination to the visitor. This 15-acre (61,000 m2) temple has a main vimanam with several stucco images on the east side and has 3 prakarams (outer courtyard). The outer 3rd prakaram (outer courtyard) is a wide courtyard on all the 4 sides. In the 2nd middle prakaram (outer courtyard) there are shrines for Subramanya along with his 2 consorts Valli and Deivayanai.




The presiding deity lord Shiva is called as Thiruthalinathar, Sreetalinathar and the Ambal his consort mother Parvathy is called as Sivakami, Soundarya Nayaki. The shrine for Thiruthalinathar is situated at an elevated portion and is facing east. The shrine for Sivagami is situated parallel to the north of the main sanctum sanctorum and is also facing east. The mandapam in front of the sanctum sanctorum has pillars with beautiful sculptured images of Rishabavaaganar, Narthana Ganapathy, Venugopalan, Narasimhar etc.



Interesting metal images of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana are also seen here. Stone images of Nataraja and Sivakami are seen in this temple. The Yoga Bhairavar shrine (facing west) is of significance here. The Navagrahams are in a seated posture. Entering the 3rd inner prakaram(outer courtyard) from the east side, one can see the small shrines for Sun God Sooriyan, Mahalakshmi, Mahaganpathy, Dakshinamurthy, Varunalingam, Visalakshmi Amman, Agasthiyalingam, Sandeswarar and Durgai on the 4 pathways of the prakaram (outer courtyard). The sthala Vriksham is Kondrai tree and the Theertham is called as Garuda Theertham.



The temple has a main gopuram on the east side and has 3 prakarams. The outer 3rd prakaram is a wide courtyard on all the 4 sides. In the 2nd middle prakaram there are shrines for Lord Subramanya along with his 2 consorts Valli and Deivanai, Lord Vinayakar, Yoga Bhairavar, Tirunageswarar and Navagraha Sannadhi.



The Sabha mandapam Kodungai is made of stone similar to Aavudaiyar Koil. Natarajar is made out of sudhai. Natarajar dance in this temple is Gowri Thandavam / Lakshmi Thandavam. He performed this dance for Devi Lakshmi.  The mahamandapam was built by Maruthu Pandiyars and later the Rajagopuram was built. The temple is under the control of Kundrakudi Ponnambala Adikal. Protective coatings have been applied to Bairavar Sannathi.



The place where Sage Valmiki performed penance here is shown behind the sanctum sanctorum.  Indira’s son Jayandhan has a place in Skanda Maha Purana.  He was abducted by demon Padmasura as he resisted the demon to rescue his mother.  Lord Muruga rescued Jayandhan from the demon.  He has a separate shrine in the temple.  A festival is conducted for Jayandhan in Chithirai-April-May. It is said that Lord Maha Vishnu worshipped Lord Thiruthalinathar in this temple.  His shrine is behind the sanctum in the name of Lord Yoga Narayana.



Mothers Sridevi, Bhudevi and Sri Anjaneya are nearby the Lord. There is also a shrine for Lord Tirunageswarar where people worship during Ragu Kalam time. Lord Muruga is facing north with his consorts Valli and Deivanai. Saint Arunagiriar had praised Lord Muruga of the temple in his Thirupugazh hymns. Dakshinamurthi graces alone without his disciples.  All planets-Navagrahas are in sitting form.  The temple has many such sacred features.