Needur Somanathaswami Temple – The Temple
The
presiding deity is Somanathaswami. The consort is Veyurutholi Ammai. The temple
has shrines to Sivaloganathar, Kailasanathar, Ganesha, Ananda Thandavamurthy, Murugan and the Seven Virgins. This east facing temple has
2 prakarams. The main entrance to the temple is from the east. The shrine for
the female deity is located on the outer prakaram and faces south. The sanctum
sanctorum of the main male deity Arutsomanathar is located in the inner
prakaram.
The
shrines for Lord Muruga, Sivaloganathar, Kailasanathar, Kasi Viswanathar, Munaiyadu
nayanar and Mahalakshmi are also located in the inner prakaram. The shrines for
Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, Annamalayar, Sandikeswarar and Durgai are also located
on the four corners of the sanctum. Planet Saturn is opposite Ambica shrine
facing east. The devotee can have the darshan of Mother and Saturn
simultaneously for removal of the adverse aspect of the planet.
There is
no Navagraha-9 planets- shrine in the temple. Mother Badrakali in a
separate shrine had worshipped Lord in the temple. As a rule in Hindu customs,
people worship Vinayaka before commencing any work. They then have
to follow the advice of elders. Vinayaka in the temple is considered
elder, experienced and adviser. The three aspects are praised as
Chintamani Vinayaka, Selva Maha Vinayaka and Sivananda Vinayaka. Any one
starting a business prays to Vinayaka in this temple for profitable results.
Inscriptions
of first Kulothunga Cholan, 2nd Rajaraja Cholan and 3rd Rajaraja Cholan can be
seen in this temple. Lord Nataraja is in Sudhai form. Siddhi Vinayaka
graces the devotees from his shrine. The vimana in the sanctum
sanctorum is of Irudala design. There is an imposing shrine to Bhadrakali –
Aalaalasundari and Surya here. On Sundays special worship is being conducted to
Sun God in his shrine.
Rishabaroodar
is located in front of entrance gopuram. In Koshtam Narthana Ganapathy,
Dhakshinamoorthy, Lingothbhavar, Bramha and Durgai are located. Sthala Vriksham
is Magizha Maram (Bakula) and Theertham of this Temple are Senkazhuneerodai, Bathrakali
Theertham, Parudhikundam, Varuna Theertham, and Surya Theertham.