Amravaneswarar Temple, Manthurai – The Temple
The east
facing temple has three tiered tower and an outer prakaram. The tower has many
interesting stucco images. Nandi and Bali peetha are located outside the temple
complex. They face towards the temple tower. There is lot of inscriptions in
the walls of the temple revealing Chola architecture. This is one of the Pancha
(five) Shiva Temples in Trichy region. Presiding Deity is called as Maanturaiappar
/ Mrugandeeswarar / Suthrathaneswarar / Aathirathneswarar / Amravaneswarar and
Mother is called as Azhagammai / Balambal.
Sthala
Vriksham is Maamaram (Mango Tree). Theertham of this temple is Gayatri Nadi. The
east facing sanctum with a very beautiful Vimana enshrines a moderately big
sized Swayambu Shiva Linga named as Amravaneswarar. Sun God worships Lord Shiva
in the temple in Panguni month – March – April by spreading his rays on the
Lord. Nandi is found in Maha Mandapam and it faces Shiva Linga. Sanctum
Vimana has many beautiful stucco images.
The
south facing shrine for the Goddess Balambikai is located in the prakara. Nandi
is her Vahanam. One idol of Nandi at Maha Mandapam and another outside the Mandapam
are found facing towards the shrine. Lord Muruga graces from a separate shrine
with his consorts Valli and Deivanai. This shrine is sung by Arunagirinathar in
Thirupugazh. There is no Dwaja sthambam in this temple.
The
Chola period and few later period Koshta idols of Nardana Ganapathi, Dhakshinamoorthi,
Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are found on the outer walls of the sanctum. Adhi Sankara
is facing south in the ghoshta – wall around the sanctum. Mother Durga on
the ghoshta is all cool and smiling with demon Mahishasura absent under her
feet.
Navagrahas
are facing the Sun and Sun appears with his wives Samukya and Saya Devi. .
There is a Bhairavar next to the Suryan. Idols of Ganesh and Bala
Dhandayuthapani are located at the entrance of Maha Mandapam. Sub Shrine of Nataraja
- Sivakami is located in the Maha Mandapam. Utsava Murtis such as
Uma-Maheshwara, Ganesh etc. are located in a separate shrine in Maha Mandapam.
Shrines
of Ganesha, Bala Dhandayuthapani, Gaja Lakshmi, Bhairava, Surya, Adi Shankara,
Chandikeswara and Sthala Vriksham are located in the prakaram. Two stone
inscriptions of Rajaraja Chola period are found in this temple. In that, King
had waived the tax, when the peoples tried to vacate their villages due
to drought. Based on this and the architectural style followed in this
temple, the original temple must have been expanded or rebuilt in the 11th
century CE by the Cholas.
