Annamalaiyar Temple – Fifth Prakaram – Nandhi Mandapam
Nandi (Bull) is the mount of Lord Siva. According to
saivagamas, Nandi is the most important feature in the structure of Siva
temple. The statue of a bull called Periya nandi is in the four pillared nandi
mandapa on a raised platform and is situated to the north of Sivagangai tirtha
and in front of the Rudraksha mandapa.
The raised platform exhibits the adhishtana parts in
line with the Kambatthu Ilayanar shrine. The nandi is six feet long and is
facing the Moolasthanam. Its head is slightly turned towards north while the
heads of all other Nandis in the temple are turned slightly south.
In front of the second Gopura (called the Ballala
Gopura) is a large Nandi in a mandapam. This was installed by King Deva
Raya II and on the pillars of the mandapam are statuettes of that King and his
Queen. This Nandi has round it a framework of iron on which are arranged lamps
which when lighted form the outline of a Lingam.
Five
Temple Nandis:
From east to west the five Temple Nandis are:
·
Periya Nandi in front of
Vallala Gopuram Fifth Prakaram
·
Chinna Nandi fourth
prakaram
·
Kodi Kambatthu Nandi,
Third Prakaram
·
Ratha Vilaku Nandi, Second
Prakaram
·
Pradosha Nandi, Moolasthanam