Narumboonatha Swamy Temple, Thiruppudaimarudhur – The
Temple
Tirupudaimarudur
Narumboonatha Swamy Temple is one of the biggest temples in Southern Tamilnadu.
This massive temple with excellent stone sculptures is located on the bank of
Thamirabarani River in a beautiful location. The temple has all the four styles
of temple architectures namely Pandiya, Chera, Chola and Vijayanagara which add
beauty for this glorious Temple. The temple has 5 praharams and 6 times worship
services take place daily. It is considered best to worship this Shiva on the
day of Pushya star.
The
Temple covers an area of about 6 acres of land. Thiruppudaimarudhur Temple’s
compound walls measure 575 feet in length. From outside, the temple tower can
be seen to go up in five layers like a step pyramid. It is heavily embellished
with figures from Hindu mythology. The 1200 years old temple has a stunning and
magnificent east facing five tier tower (Raja Gopuram). A temple wall without
tower (mottai gopuram) is standing in front of the tower. It appears that the
tower was originally planned but not constructed.
Otherwise,
this large temple might have another stunning tower. There is a huge open space
between the two towers. A small beautiful pillared mandapa is located in front
of the mottai gopuram. Presiding Deity is called as Narmboonathar /
Pudargeneswarar and Mother is called as Gomathi Ambal.
Both Ambal and Swami are
Swayambu. Sthala Vriksham is Marudha Tree and Theertham is Thamirabarani River.
Lord Shiva, a Swayambumurthy graces leaning on a side slightly. There are scars
of a sickle cut on the head and a hit of deer on the chest. Urchavar is
called as Bhoonathar.
The
Marudham tree where the Lord graced the king with his darshan is still behind
the Tambiraparani River left to the Vinayaka temple. Lord
Vinayaka graces in the name of Anukkai Vinayaka. Pure rice is offered as
Nivedhana to the Lord.
A long and broad hall covered with a ceiling on top and
supported by a lot of pillars found with carvings is located once you enter
into the temple. In this mandapa (hall), the flag staff (dhwajastambha) and
Bali peetha are located facing the sanctum sanctorum. Two small idols Dwaja
Ganapathi and Dwaja Subramanya are found near the flag staff.
The
temple as such, the bathing Ghat and the surrounding locations are beautiful
and popular film shooting spots. The temple Nandavanam adjacent to the temple
itself is a declared bird sanctuary, though tiny. The paintings on the
gopuram are so detailed that it attracts the attention.
The scenes depicted are
from the epics and literature in many colors. Paintings on wood include Lord
Shiva and Vishnu, and Goddess Meenakshi's marriage ceremony in vegetable paints
is exquisite. Tombs (Samadhis) of Siddhars are also located inside the temple.
Main Shrine:
The main
shrine is very long and divided into Moolasthanam (sanctum sanctorum), Ardha
Mandapa and Maha Mandapa. The Moolasthanam has big Shiva Linga named
as Pudaar Jeeneshwararaka Narumbunathar. He is found slightly leaned
towards his left side. The marks of deer hit and sickle cut are found on his
body. The reasons for his leaning posture and the marks are given in the
legends section. At the entrance of Ardha Mandapa, a pair of Dwarapalas are
located. Also, the idols of Anugnai Vinayakar and Bala Subramanya are found
here.
The
entrance of Maha Mandapa has another pair of Dwarapalas sculptures. The mandapa
has a big sub-shrine with a lot of Utsava (metal) idols such as
Nataraja-Sivakami, Shiva Linga, Bhikshatana, Ganesha, Chandrasekhar, 63
Nayanmars, etc. Nandi is found in the mandapa facing towards the main deity.
The hall has so many beautiful pillars having lion faces on their upper sides. There
is another Nandi facing towards the main Shiva Linga.
Brahmadanda:
The Brahmadanda,
which is associated with the origin of the temple, as per the legend, is found
more like a thin long Shiva Linga in the inner prakara. Along with Brahmadanda,
the idols of Surya, Shiva Linga and Nandi are also found.
Gomati Amman Shrine:
The
Goddess of the temple is Gomati. She is very tall and beautiful; her idols
is made up of Rudraksha. She is holding parrot in her right arm. Her shrine is
equally big similar to that of Narumbunathar and three sections - moolasthanam,
Ardha Mandapa and Maha Mandapa. At the entrance of Maha Mandapa, the idols of
Ganesha and Subramanya are located. Nandi is found in the maha mandapa facing
towards the Goddess. There is an exterior mandapa with a lot of pillars with
carvings.
Normally
the Goddess shrine is located to the left side of the main shrine. In this
temple, the Goddess' shrine is located to the right side of the main shrine,
which is very rare. At the main entrance of the Goddess temple, the sub-shrines
of Ganesha, Subramanya-Valli-Devasena and Bhoodathar (in the form a tomb like
structure) are all located.
Inner Prakara:
Some of
the idols found in the inner prakara around the main shrine:
·
Ganesha
·
63 Nayanmars
·
Karuvur Siddhar
·
Kasi Lingam with his
consort
·
Rameswarar Lingam with his
consort
·
Tritiya Lingams - three
Shiva Lingas
·
Chadur Lingams - four
Shiva Lingas
·
Ganesha
·
Maha Vishnu with folded
hands
·
Subramanya with folded
hands
·
Big Jwara Deva
·
Big Sapta Matas
·
Krishna
·
Yoga Dhakshinamoorthi
·
Saneeswara
·
Saraswathi
·
Sahashra Linga
The
prakara is full of pillars and half of the region has a kind of raised platform
called 'thinnai'.
Some of
the sub-shrines found in the inner prakara:
·
Ganesha - very beautiful
idol
·
Subramanya on top of
peacock with his consorts Valli and Devasena
·
Utsava idols of Uma and
Maheshwara - sitting posture
·
Chandikeswara
The
niche sculptures found on the main shrine walls:
·
Shiva Linga
·
Dhakshinamoorthi
·
Vishnu and Mahalakshmi in
the sitting posture
·
Brahma with folded hands
·
Durga
Punugu Sabhapati:
A big
sub-shrine is located in the inner prakara, which is dedicated to Nataraja and
Sivakami. Both the deities along with the other usual saints are all made up of
Punugu, a kind of perfume.
Other Idols:
Near the
flag staff, there are five small Shiva Lingas; two of them are found along with
Ambal. Apart from that there is a small Shiva Linga in a small shrine and
another big one - Ishana Linga along with Ambal in a separate shrine. All the
Shiva Lingas have their corresponding Nandi facing them. Navagraha, the nine
planets, are also located adjacent to these sub-shrines. Outside the Raja
Gopuram, there is a shrine dedicated to Shasta with his consorts Poorna and
Pushkala. Sapta Matas and some village deities are also found near this shrine.
Tamirabarani River:
Tamirabarani
River is flowing on the backside of the temple. On its banks, there are two
separate shrines - one is dedicated to Ganesha and in another shrine has part
of the holy tree Marudha where the deity was discovered originally. Currently,
a four-armed Shiva idol is installed here. The roof of this shrine is slope,
somewhat similar to that of Kerala type architecture.
Outer Prakara:
The
outer prakara is more like a garden with so many trees and plants. Under a
particular holy tree, the idols of Shiva Linga, Ambal, Ganesha and Nandi are
found.
Stone Nataraja:
In Thiruppudaimarudhur
Temple you can find a stone figure of Lord Nataraja, the dancing form of Shiva,
which is very unusual. Usually it is a bronze image in most temples. The south
facing figure of Lord Nataraja is in a spacious and open sanctum in the
northeast corner of the prakaram or compound along with his consort,
Shivakamasundari. The saint Patanjali, the codifier of Yoga, and Vyakrapada are
placed next to the stone deity. Vyakrapada was blessed by Lord Nataraja with
tiger feet to prevent his feet from getting injured by thorns when he was
picking fresh flowers untouched even by honeybees.
Placed
on a rectangular pedestal, the rare stone figure of Nataraja is over 2 meters
in height. The Nataraja proper is probably at least 1.60 high. The pedestal is buildup
of traditional mouldings such as an upana, the lowest visible part of the
pedestal; upapitha, additional moulded platform; the padmabandha—the top of the
shaft of a pillar with decorative bands between rows of lotus petals,
separating the shaft from the capital; and kapota—overhanging cornice.
The
prabha (circle of flames) is round and heavy with several layers of rims. Two
makaras (crocodiles) with large mouths and tails are clear elements that are
visible above a kind of base. Two makaras also occupy the top of the prabha,
with a medallion placed in between. This is topped with a huge flame or
shikhara. The Apasmara (dwarf trampled underfoot) lies with his head towards
the right and wears a kind of diadem and flame or fan-shaped crown. He holds a
large naga (cobra) in the hand that raises its head up to Shiva's left foot.
The
jata, or locks of hair, ripples around the head and ears and on the shoulders.
Shiva wears a kind of diadem and crown. From the head two struts connect it to
what seem to be streamers from the mouth of the makaras which form some kind of
decoration under the prabha. The body is sculpted beautifully and free from the
stone background. Around the legs the background stone has been removed to
leave open space. The sculptor has even carved away the stone between the
earrings and the shoulders. A strut seems to have been left in place to support
the lower hands. The upper right hand holds the damaru (drum) and the upper
left hand holds a small vessel from which the flame blazes forth.
Bird Sanctuary:
The area
outside the Raja Gopuram and around the temple complex is a declared bird
sanctuary. This area has abundant natural beauty which attracts so many
varieties of birds.
