Thiruthalinathar Temple, Thiruputhur – The Temple
Although
Thiruputhur is a small town, the Shiva temple here is big and as we go inside
the temple, it is really huge and causes fascination to the visitor. This
15-acre (61,000 m2) temple has a main vimanam with several stucco images
on the east side and has 3 prakarams
(outer courtyard). The outer 3rd prakaram
(outer courtyard) is a wide courtyard on all the 4
sides. In the 2nd middle prakaram (outer courtyard)
there are shrines for Subramanya along with his 2
consorts Valli and Deivayanai.
The
presiding deity lord Shiva is called as Thiruthalinathar, Sreetalinathar and
the Ambal his consort mother Parvathy is called as Sivakami, Soundarya Nayaki.
The shrine for Thiruthalinathar is situated at an elevated portion and is
facing east. The shrine for Sivagami is situated parallel to the north of the
main sanctum sanctorum and is also facing east. The mandapam in front of the
sanctum sanctorum has pillars with beautiful sculptured images of
Rishabavaaganar, Narthana Ganapathy, Venugopalan, Narasimhar etc.
Interesting
metal images of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana are also seen here. Stone images of
Nataraja and Sivakami are seen in this temple. The Yoga Bhairavar shrine
(facing west) is of significance here. The Navagrahams are in a seated posture.
Entering the 3rd inner prakaram(outer courtyard) from the east side, one can see the
small shrines for Sun God Sooriyan, Mahalakshmi, Mahaganpathy, Dakshinamurthy, Varunalingam, Visalakshmi Amman, Agasthiyalingam,
Sandeswarar and Durgai on the 4 pathways of the prakaram (outer
courtyard). The sthala Vriksham is Kondrai tree and the Theertham is called as
Garuda Theertham.
The
temple has a main gopuram on the east side and has 3 prakarams. The outer 3rd
prakaram is a wide courtyard on all the 4 sides. In the 2nd middle prakaram
there are shrines for Lord Subramanya along with his 2 consorts Valli and Deivanai,
Lord Vinayakar, Yoga Bhairavar, Tirunageswarar and Navagraha Sannadhi.
The
Sabha mandapam Kodungai is made of stone similar to Aavudaiyar
Koil. Natarajar is made out of sudhai. Natarajar dance in this temple is
Gowri Thandavam / Lakshmi Thandavam. He performed this dance for Devi
Lakshmi. The mahamandapam was built by Maruthu Pandiyars and later the
Rajagopuram was built. The temple is under the control of Kundrakudi
Ponnambala Adikal. Protective coatings have been applied to Bairavar Sannathi.
The
place where Sage Valmiki performed penance here is shown behind the sanctum
sanctorum. Indira’s son Jayandhan has a place in Skanda Maha Purana.
He was abducted by demon Padmasura as he resisted the demon to rescue his
mother. Lord Muruga rescued Jayandhan from the demon. He has a
separate shrine in the temple. A festival is conducted for Jayandhan in
Chithirai-April-May. It is said that Lord Maha Vishnu worshipped Lord Thiruthalinathar
in this temple. His shrine is behind the sanctum in the name of Lord Yoga
Narayana.
Mothers
Sridevi, Bhudevi and Sri Anjaneya are nearby the Lord. There is also a
shrine for Lord Tirunageswarar where people worship during Ragu Kalam
time. Lord Muruga is facing north with his consorts Valli and
Deivanai. Saint Arunagiriar had praised Lord Muruga of the temple in his Thirupugazh
hymns. Dakshinamurthi graces alone without his disciples. All
planets-Navagrahas are in sitting form. The temple has many such sacred
features.
