Kandaswamy Temple, Thiruporur
– The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east with five tiered Rajagopuram on the southern side. The Rajagopuram is about 70 ft. (21 m) tall and 200 ft. (61 m) wide. The temple covers an area of 4 acres (16,000 m2). The temple is situated at the foot hill of the Pranava Mountain. The sanctum of the temple is approached through a 24 pillared hall near the gateway. The Sanctum houses two presiding deities namely Periyavar and Chinnavar.
Periyavar is housed in the sanctum inside the anthill. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested). The anthill is covered with a Kavacham (armour). No abhishekam is performed to this deity. He is garlanded with leaves of the Vilva tree. There is an idol of Lord Murugan in Brahma Sastha form can be seen in a small platform beneath the Swayambhu Moorthy. He is praised as Chinnavar.
He is gracing the devotees along with his consorts Valli & Devasena on both sides. It is said that these idols were made by Chidambaram Swamigal for performing abhisheka and aaradhana. Ganesha, Kukuda Dhwajar (Lord Murugan with a flag of Kukuda (rooster) in his hand), Dhandayudhapani, Vishnu and Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Elephant mount and Balipeedam can be seen in front of the sanctum.
Shrines of Agastya, Nagaraja, Veerabahu, Veerabhadra, Pancha Loha Vinayaga, Chandrasekarar, Somaskanda, Brahma, Devendra, Nandi, Dwani Chandikeswarar, Mathru Chandikeswarar, Astradevar and Upadesa Moorthy can be seen in the inner prakaram around the sanctum. Sri Chidambara Swamigal had installed a Yantra for performing Poojas as the poojas cannot be done to the presiding deity.
The Yantra established by Chidambaram Swamigal can be found in the northeast of the temple on a platform with Kurma, Ashta Gaja, Ashta Naga and ganas with 300 names of Lord Murugan engraved on it. Daily pujas are performed to this Yantra. Paintings depicting the life of Chidambaram Swamigal can be seen in the temple. There is a shrine for Utsava Idol of Upadesa Moorthy in the inner prakaram.
This shrine houses Lord Murugan in the form of a child, expounding the meaning of the oneness of creation (Ohm) to his father Lord Shiva. Lord Murugan can be seen sitting in the lap of Lord Shiva facing him. There is a shrine for Utsava Idol of Samhara Muthukumara Swamy in the temple premises. He is seen resting his right leg on peacock and holding bow & arrow. He is depicted as if he was ready for the war with the Asuras.
There are separate shrines of his consorts Valli and Deivanai around the inner prakaram. There is a Mandapa in front of Devasena Shrine. It is believed that functions like ear boring, head trouncing as offering to the Lord, conducting marriages etc., in this mandapa bring sacred blessings. The 24 pillared halls and the 30 pillared circular halls are other features of this temple.
Sculptures of Lord Gnana Skanda gracing Agastya, Ajaroodar, Marriage of Valli with Murugan and various forms of Lord Murugan can be seen in the Sarva Vadya Mandapam. There are shrines for Vinayagar, Suryan, Saneeswarar, Sri Chidambara Swamigal, Vanmeeganathar, Punniya Karunya Amman, Bhairavar, Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Vanni Mara Vinayagar and Idumban in the outer prakaram.
There is a shrine to Vembadi Vinayaka under a neem tree. Theerthams associated with this temple are Valliyar Odai (Shanmuga Theertham), Saravana Poigai, Pranavamiratnam and Velayudha Pushkarni. Saravana Poigai and Valliyar Odai are situated on the southern side of the temple. Sthala Vriksham is Vanni tree. It is situated in the outer prakaram.
