Annamalaiyar Temple – Fifth Prakaram – Kalyana
Sundareshwarar Shrine
This shrine facing east is a square cella situated on
the south side of the base of Vallala Maharaja Gopuram. It has a small antarala
which is reached by four steps. The southern side of the wall of the cella has
three pilasters and one niche between the corner pilaster and the middle in
front. The frontal part of the shrine is converted into an open mandapa supported
by five rows of pillars in north – south direction with six pillars in each
row.
On the northern and southern side, after the last row of
pillars, there are walls. The northern wall of the mandapa leads to the stairs
leading to the Vallala Maharaja Gopuram. The shrine can be reached from a
rather small aperture on the stairs or from the arched entrance within the
fourth prakara.
The Kalyana Sundara Temple is a 24 pillar mandapam that
lies to the left of the stairs leading to the Vallala Maha Raja Gopura. The
Shrine can be entered from a small opening on the stairs or from an arched
entrance within the Courtyard of the fifth Prakaram.
The actual shrine where the linga resides is enclosed
having a Linga Amman and a Nandi. A small Pillaiyar is set into the back wall
close to the small aperture that leads out onto the stairs of the Vallala
Gopura. This Ganapati is called Uchi Pillaiyar. There is a mandapam south of
the shrine which is now renovated and in which marriages are performed. There
are fourteen Naga – stones – a small sculpture of Surya, a very beautiful
carving of Krishna playing flute and Bhairava sculpture. All these rest at the
foot of the right wall.
As with the Gopurathu Ilayanar Shrine, the Kalyana
Sundareswarar Sannidhi is also believed to have been extended by Deva Raya II
around the year 1421 A.D. And in this respect the Vijayanagar insignia, the
‘Boar and Dagger’ is seen on the basement of the Sundareswarar Shrine.
During Sivarathri a great Abhishekam is performed to the
Linga of this shrine, filling the Linga with rice. Annabishekam at the Kalyana Sundareshwarar
Temple is held once a year on the Full Moon day in the seventh month of the
Tamil year i.e. Aippasi (October/November).
Annabishekam which is performed at Siva Temples is connected
to the rice harvesting time. It is performed at the time of the Full Moon as it
is considered to have the energies of bounty, abundance and expansion. This
festival gives an opportunity to people, who believe that God is the creator of
food and life, to show gratitude for the bounty they have received.