Anbil Sathyavageeswarar Temple – The Temple
The Temple
has a 5-tier Rajagopuram with two
prakarams, the outer one with a Nandavanam, and the inner one with the
Mandapams are the structural elements of this temple. The entrance has two
moderately big sized and well sculpted stone idols of Nandi in both sides. The
tower has many interesting stucco images. There is another interior entrance.
This entrance has an arch with many stucco images related to Shiva and his
family. The area between both these entrances is open space with many trees and
plants.
The Temple
occupies an area of more than 1 1/2 acres. There are lots of inscriptions in
the walls of the temple revealing Chola architecture. The sanctum faces east
and so does the Ambal shrine. There is a niche image of Vishnu flanked by Surya
and Chandra in the space normally occupied by Lingodhbava. There are stone
images portraying legends associated with the temple on the exterior walls.
Inscriptions from the Imperial Chola and Hoysala periods are seen in this
temple.
This
temple is believed to have been rebuilt during the time of Parantaka Chola
prior to which period it is believed to have been a two tiered temple. There
are interesting pieces of sculpture in the mandapam in front of the sanctum.
Some of them are, two snakes worshiping Shiva, Snake tail on one side and head
on the other side of the pillar. The east facing sanctum has big Shiva Linga
called as Sathya Vageeswarar / Brahmapureeswarar / Alanduraiyar. Moolavar
is Suyambhu on the square Avudayar. Sanctum is built in Agazhi Type.
There is
a separate sannidhi for the Ambal located to the left of the main sannidhi.
Mother is called as Soundaranayagi. Both Shiva and Ambal have separate Nandi in
front of them. The entrance of Ardha Mandapam has a small idol of Ganesha. The
flag staff, Bali peetha and Nandi idol are found facing towards the direction
of the sanctum. Dwarapalas are big and attractive. Theertham of this temple is
Chandra Theertham and Sthala Vriksham is Banyan Tree.
Dhakshinamoorthi,
Vishnu and Brahma are found as the Koshta idols. There is no Ganesha or
Durga found as the niche images. Chandikeswara is found in his usual location
near Brahma. All these four Murtis belong to the Chola period. The temple has
two prakaras. The second prakara is an open space with trees and plants. In the
inner prakara, the sub-shrines of Sevi Saitha Vinayaka and
Arumugam-Valli-Devasena seated on peacock are found.
The
idols of Vishwanathar Linga-Vishalakshi, Lingodhbava and Bhikshatana are also
found in this prakara. It should be noted that Lingodhbava is not found as the
Koshta Murti but as a separate Murti in the prakara. Both Lingodhbava and
Bhikshatana appear to be ancient idols. The exterior walls of the main shrine
in the first prakara have few relief images depicting many sub-deities
worshiping Shiv Linga. This includes Vishnu, Brahma, Parvati, Agni, Surya,
Chandra and few saints.
The
pillars in the front side mandapam has many interesting sculptures of various
mystic animals, two coiled serpents worshiping Linga, Subramanya praying Linga,
the snake with head on one side of the pillar and tail on the other side of the
pillar and so on. Unfortunately, in the name of renovation, they are all
painted and do not look very attractive anymore. An old idol of Bhairava,
Saneeswara, Navagraha with Surya in the middle and the other planets facing towards
him and few neglected ancient idols are also found in this temple.
Sevi
Saitha Vinayagar is seen in hearing posture with head turned to receive the
hymns of Thirugnana Sambandar and he is also called as ‘Saamaveda Vinayagar’,
since Jaimini families had done Saamaveda parayanam in front of
Vinayagar. There are shrines for Sapthamadhas, Bikshadana, Viswanatha,
Bhairava, Muruga and Mother Visalakshi in the prakara. A sculpture depicting
Lord Brahma’s penance is near the Dwarapalakas.
There
are exquisite carvings on all the pillars and the side walls of the temple
which show multiple Devathas praying to Shiva like Agni, Chandra, Parvathy, Vyakrapada,
Brahma, Surya, Nagas, etc. Apart from this aspect, the Navagraha of this
temple is Special as Surya Bhagwan is facing west and all the other grahams are
facing Surya Bhagwan and hence the grahams are not as per the order normally
you will see in other temples.
The Thevaram hymns sung by Tirugnanasambandar
and Thirunavukkarasar are on the wall of the temple with an inset of a granite
stone. Though the temple is under the administration of HR & EC, the temple
is in a poor condition. Anbil Mariamman Temple is located at very short
distance from this temple. The Saptha Risheeswarar temple at Lalgudi and
Tirumandurai Shiva temple are located near to this place.
