Iravatheeswarar Temple, Thirukottaram – The Temple
The Raja Gopuram is of three tiers. Main Deity is
small Swayambu Lingam known as Iravatheeswarar and his consort known as Sukuntha
Kundhalambigai / Vandavar Kuzali Amman. She is seen in standing posture. Sthala
Vriksham is Parijatham and Theertham is Vanjiaru and Soorya Theertham.
Previously the River was known as Kottaru and now it is known as Vanjiaru. At
the entrance, Dwajasthambam and Dwara Ganapathy can be seen. A mandapam,
with sculpture of Lord Siva as Kailasanathar is located in front of
Dwajasthambam. Bala Ganapathy can be seen to the left of this mandapam.
Nandhi Mandapam is equipped with pillars and the roof is in arch shape. Nandi
is seen here facing the main sanctum of Iravatheeswarar.
Artha mandapam and Ambal Sannidhi can be seen to
the right of this Mandapam. Natarajar, Sivakami Ambal, Lord Muruga and
Somaskandar Shrines are located in Mahamandapam. Boga Sakthy as Urchava Idol is
located in the North West corner of the Artha Mandapam. Ganapathy and Nagarajar
sculptures are seen to either side of the entrance of Artha mandapam,
which leads to main sanctum of Iravatheeswarar.
There is a separate sanctum for Kumara Bhuvaneswarar
and Siva lingam which was installed and worshiped by Agasthya
Maharishi and Subaka Muni. Shrines for Naalvar, Bhairavar, Surya, Chandran, Ganapathy,
Thirumaal, Kailasa Nathar, Nalwar, Paravai Nachiyar, Subaka Maharishi,
Nagarajar Subramanyar, Gaja Lakshmi, and Chandikeswarar can be found in the
prakaram. The image of this Subha Maharishi is seen in the rear side of
the outer round.
Dhakshinamoorthy, Brahma, Vishnu are the Koshta Idols in
this Temple. In the ardha mandapam is the old beehive formed by the bees can be
seen. Buzz of the bees can be heard in the main sanctum. The Thevaram is
inscribed on the walls of the temple within the sanctum sanctorum. There
are also inscriptions by Kulothunga Chola I who claims to be the builder of the temple.
