Soundararajaperumal Temple, Nagapattinam – The Temple
The
temple is located in Nagapattinam, a town in the South Indian state of Tamilnadu. The main entrance of the temple faces the East and, at
the entrance of the temple, there is a four pillared open hall. The temple has
a 90 ft. (27 m) tall Rajagopuram (temple tower) and is enclosed by rectangular
walls around it. There is a smaller temple tower on the western side. The walls
of the temple are surrounded by large streets, through which the temple chariot
passes during festivals. The Southern street accommodates the station of the
temple chariot and Sarapushkarani, the temple tank.
A rare
image of Narasimha with eight hands, one blessing Prahalada,
another showing Abhaya Mudra and the others involved in the killing of the
demon, Hiranyakashipu, is present in the temple. There is a
four-pillared hall in front of the shrine of Soundaravalli shrine that has
beautiful architectural treatment. The hall has the images of the architects
who designed it. The Nayaka hall is built like a chariot with wheels outside
it. The hall which has entrance to the temple has two eight foot sculptures of
the guardian deities Sumba and Nigumba.
Vishnu
is worshiped as Soundararaja Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Soundaravalli.
The temple is believed to be of significant antiquity and is believed to be
initiated by the Medieval Cholas of the late 8th century AD, with
later contributions at different times from Thanjavur Nayaks. The temple has
two inscriptions dating from the Chola period. The complex contains all the
shrines and water bodies associated with it.
Since
the presiding deity and Goddess shines with a bright face here, they are called
as Soundararaja Perumal and Soundaravalli, ‘Soundaram’ refers to
‘most beautiful’ in Tamil Language. The Vimanam (temple tower) of this temple
is called Soundarya Vimanam. Utsavar is Soundararaja Perumal and Moolavar is
Neelamegha Perumal with his consort Goddess Soundaravalli Thayar in
standing posture facing east. The lord Neelamegha perumal with Gada is in a
majestic standing posture blessing devotees. The idol is more than 5 feet tall.
Along with this there is a small Krishna idol in a cradle is given to devotees
to rock as mukundashtakam is chanted for realization of our dreams and also to
beget progeny.
Soundarya
valli Thayar is found in a separate enclosure by the side of the main sanctum
complex in the outer praharam. There is a separate shrine for Mahalakshmi and
also a sanctum for Ranganathar with Adiseshan as his bed. Lord can be seen in
all 3 Kolams here - standing, sleeping and sitting posture and is said to have
given Darshan in each of these 3 postures to Naga Raja. In centuries gone by,
the 7 tiered Gopuram of this Divya Desam had a light atop the tower that served
as a ‘light house’ for ships coming into and crossing Nagapattinam.
