Someswarar Temple, Achuthamangalam, Thiruvarur
Someswarar
Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Achuthamangalam
Village in Thiruvarur District of Tamilnadu. This temple was built 1500 years ago,
by the Chola king Achutha Cholan and hence the name Achuthamangalam. The Temple
is facing east and having a four tiered Rajagopuram. The temple has 4 prakaras.
The temple wall has lot of Chola inscriptions in Tamil. The Temple is believed
to be built by Sri Kanda Sambu, Raja Guru of Kulothunga III on 1182 A.D.
It is
believed that there is an underground tunnel which is near the main deity and
connects all the way to Thamarai Kulam (which is around 500 meters away from
the temple). The famous Nayanmar Thiru Sekkizhar has sung about this Sthala
(Kalyana Sundareswarar Shrine) and is considered to be Thirumana Parikara Sthalam.
The Temple belongs to Chola period. The Temple is complete with Arthamandapam,
Mugamandapam, Mahamandapam and Sanctum with a beautiful Vimana.
Someswarar
is gracing the devotees in the Linga form from the sanctum. Mother is housed in
a separate shrine. She is gracing the devotees in standing form with four
hands. The Temple is replete with sculptures in the pillars. Nardana Ganapathy,
Dhakshinamoorthy, Brahma, Chandikeswarar, Bikshadana, Gangala Nathar and
Arthanareeswarar are the Koshta Idols. Sculptures of Kulothunga III and
Sekkizhar can be found in the mandapam in eastern prakaram. The Temple has been
called as Panaiyur Naatu Sivapatha Sekaramangalamana Achuthamangaluthu
Somanathadevar Thirukoyil.
Connectivity
Achuthamangalam
is located at about 3 Kms from Srivanchiyam, 3 Kms from Nannilam, 19 Kms from Nachiyar
Koil, 30 Kms from Kumbakonam, 20 Kms from Thiruvarur and 120 Kms from Trichy.
Nearest Railway Station is located at Nannilam and Nearest Airport is located
at Trichy.
