Ponsei Natrunaiyappar Temple, Thirunanipalli – The
Temple
The
sanctum sanctorum is very big in size that facilitated an elephant to worship
Lord directly inside. There are two Ambicas in the temples, Mother
Parvatharaja Puthri and Mother Malayan Madanthai. Lord Shiva granted his
wedding darshan to Lord Vinayaka and Sage Agasthya. Mother is on the right
of the Lord Kalyanasundarar graces with Mother Ambica from another shrine in
the temple.
Cauvery,
though flows eastward turns here westward. This is called
Basvamangini. Vinayaka had to incur a dosha as he toppled the Kamandala – hand
bowl of Sage Agasthya. For relief, he bathed in a tank here. The place
came to be known as Pon Sei which later changed as Punjai. While Mother
Durga appears in Shiva temples standing on the head of a buffalo, she graces
here with a deer and a lion destroying the demons Sumba and Nisumba.
The
temple is famous for its architecture. The principal idol of Nataraja is made of bronze and was carved in about 1000 AD. The sanctum
sanctorum and the mandapas speak volumes of the aesthetic sense and
architectural skill of ancient sculptors of Tamilnadu. The entire beauty
of the temple lies in the Nanipalli Kodi Vattam with a huge Lord
Dakshinamurthy, Lords Subramanya, Brahmma, Lingodhbava and Chandikeswara with
his consort.
The
temple was built by the ancestor of Raja Raja Chozha, King Paranthaka Chozha.
Main Deity is known as Swarnapureeswarar, Natrunaiyappar with Ambal Malaimaan Madanthai,
Swarnambikai. Theertham is Soornatheertham. Panchamoorthigal sudhai Sirpam is
located at the entrance of gopuram. Ambal is facing west.
On the
base of the Karuvarai Pudai sirpangal of Ramayana happenings can be seen. Lord
Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthy. The rays of Sun fall on the Lord from
Chithirai 7 to 13 when special pujas are performed.
