Palani Murugan Temple – Perudaiyar Temple
Peru-Udayar (called Periya Avudaiyar Kovil) is by far
the most important and deserves special mention. Located near the railway line
on the banks of the Shanmuga Nadi in sylvan setting, it is about four
kilometres from the bus-stand reached by two stages, by buses going on the Old
Dharapuram road for three kilometres and by walking one kilometer from the arch
on that road.
It is convenient to go by a taxi or auto rickshaw and
alight at the doors of the temple. In the evening and in the pre-dawn period,
sounds of birds are heard and if you have a tape-recorder, you cannot afford to
miss recording these.
The air here is unpolluted and good breeze can be had.
The Devasthanam has put up a Kalyana Mandapam behind the temple. The temple is
dedicated to Peru Udayar or Brihadeeswarar a name that became a legend in the
days of the great Raja Raja Chola.
The deity here is a swayambu linga (i.e. naturally
formed lingam) and so, local belief is that it existed even before Bhogar. Only
male gods are found in the temple. A majestic figure of Dakshinamurti, a rare
Rudran and other gracious images in stone, as also the 16 old inscriptions
should be taken note of.
Peru
Udayar Temple Circuit:
The entrance faces south, and in the east is Vinayagar. This
along with the Karupanna Swami belongs to later days. Passing them we
enter in and see Bairavar in the circuit facing east. The western
circuit commences from this place. Midway in this passage is a way that leads
to the river.
This shrine is located in a peaceful natural setting.
The Puranas speak of it as 'Kannikara Vanam'. Perhaps that is the reason
the Sapta Kannis and Karupanna Swami keep watch over this places. It
is said that this temple was built about a thousand years ago. The first
consecration was held in 1915 and then a second time in 1962.
The niche of Brahma in the north corridor is within the
walls of the inner sanctum. The Chandisa cell is towards the east. Then the
Vishnu cell is located in the sanctum wall.
Here one has to pause and think. It is customary to
erect the Chandisa cell in the northeast, when the main deity faces east. Here
the main God looks west and the main entrance looks to the south. Strictly
speaking the Chandisa cell should be in south west or south east. But here it
is in the northeast and farther in contrast to the rule that no other cell
should be in a line with this, the cell of Tirumal and three others are found.
About 150 years ago, certain repairs were carried out in this temple, when some
cells were newly build, that of Chandisa was left untouched.
To the north of Chandisa is the Navagraha dais with iron
bars all round. Then we pass in to Dakshinamurthi and
Nataraja. It is very easy to fix
the directions by a look at these images. Both will always look to the south.
