Sivalokanathar Temple, Tirupunkur – The Temple
This
temple is called Thirupungur because the temple was surrounded by Punga trees
and Shivalingam and Nandi surfaced from an anthill (small mud mountain
(Putru)). Every day at 8.30 pm, even today, a special pooja is performed by
Punugu Chattam to the Lord, worshipped by many. Nandhi is huge and stays a few
steps away from its original position to give a good view of the Lord to Nanthanar
from outside since he was not allowed inside.
In most
of the temples Nandhi will have tongue but in this temple Nandhi does not have
a tongue. In all the temples, Dwarapalakas at the entrance will be standing
straight, but here Dwarapalakas’ face is slightly tilted and positioned
diagonal. This is so because Duwarabalas inform the Lord that “Nanadanar has
come to have a darshan and is waiting outside to see you”.
Mahaganpathy
is called “Kulam Vettiya Vinayagar” (The God who dug pond), and the pond is
believed to have been dug up by Lord Ganesh by using his Gana-boothas overnight
for Nanthanar to take bath. There is a sculpture of Nanthanar with a bowl in
his hand, near the gate. A Panchamukha lingam, representing Shiva’s appearance
before Brhamma, is seen under the Sthalavruksham in the Prakaram.
Sthala Vriksham
is Punga tree and Theertham is Rishaba theertham. Presiding Deity is
known as Shivaloka Nadhar with Sokka Nayaki Amman and Soundaranayaki.
