Annamalaiyar Temple – Alankara Mandapam
To the east of the Raja Gopura is a small mandapam meant
for darshan of the Panchamoorthies during processions. A fire on July 11, 1996
burnt the previous Mandapam to the ground. The current Mandapam built at an
estimated cost of 107 lakhs was part of major restoration work of the Temple
completed in time for the Arunachaleswarar Maha Kumbhabhishekam of February 27,
2002.
This current mandapam which is used for darshan of the Panchamoorthies
during festivals rises 31 feet at the Central Eastern Pinnacle and 22 feet on
the North and South sides and consists of 20 Anivetti Stone pillars and 24
Chittrakanda Stone Pillars as well as 44 stone Bothials and cut stone flooring.
Although this current mandapam consists of 44 pillars it continues to be known
as the 16 pillar mandapam (pathinaru).