Uchiravaneswarar Temple, Thiruvilanagar – The Temple
This Temple is facing towards east with five tiered rajagopuram. There is another entrance arch on the southern side. This entrance arch has stucco images of Goddess Parvathy flanked by Goddesses Saraswathi and Maha Lakshmi. The Temple covers an area of about 2.5 acres and has two prakarams. Balipeedam and Nandi can be found immediately after the rajagopuram facing towards the sanctum. Asthana Mandapa can be seen on the left side immediately after the rajagopuram.
There is an entrance arch at the entrance of the inner prakaram. Idols of Vinayaga can be seen on both the sides of the entrance. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antrala and maha mandapam. Nandi and Balipeedam can be seen in front of the sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Uchiravaneswarar / Thurai Kaattum Vallalar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested).
The vimana over the sanctum is of two tiers. Dakshinamoorthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga are the koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Mother is called as Veyuru Tholi Ammai / Thurai Kaattum Valli. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine. Her shrine is situated in maha mandapam to the left side of the sanctum. She is in standing posture holding a discus in one hand and a conch in the other. Shrines of Nataraja and Navagrahas can be seen on the left side immediately after the second level entrance.
Shrines of Vinayaga, Somaskanda, Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Naalvar, Arunachaleswarar, Gaja Lakshmi, Surya, Chandran, Saneeswarar and Bhairavar can be seen in the inner prakaram. Theertham associated with this temple are Meignana Theertham and Cauvery river. Sthala Vriksham is Vizhal plant.
