Aappudayar Temple, Thiru Aappanoor, Sellur – The
Temple
The Pandya kings were the first to begin building the
temple, which was further expanded by the Nayak kings. Of the Pancha Bhootha Sthalas in Madurai,
this temple belongs to Appu-water category. This is the sub Temple of
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple. It is on the north bank of river Vaigai and the
place is called as Sellur. Lord Shiva in the temple is a Swayambumurthy. Presiding
Deity is called as Aappudaiyaar / Rishabeswarar / Idapureesar / Vrusharesar / Anna
Vinodhan, Appanur Nathar / Anna Lingeswarar. The Shivalinga is small in size
and big in name and fame. Mother is called Kuravankamazhum Kuzhalammai /
Suganda Kundalambal.
Presiding deity Lord Aappudayar and Mother Sugantha
Kundalambikai bless the devotees from their respective shrines. The shrine
of the presiding deity, Lord Shiva faces east. A shrine to Subrahmanya is situated between the shrines of Shiva and Ambal. Thus, the temple is said to be of the Somaskanda type. The Lord Hanuman is found on a pillar, and there is a fig tree (Ficus religiosa) in between the two shrines,
with a Vinayagar statue beneath it. This tree is considered to be Sthala
Virutcham or temple tree.
Idol of Nataraja is of Stone and Idol of Sivakami is of
copper in housed on Natarajar Mandapam. Some fascinating sculptures can be
found on pillars located outside the Natarajar-Sivakami mandapam. There are
also shrines for Lords Anugnai Vinayaka, Nalvar, Bikshadana, Murugan, Sundara
Vinayagar, Palani Andavar, Bhairava, Nataraja, Kasi Viswanatha, Mother
Meenakshi and Navagrahas the nine planets. Theertham of this Temple is Rishaba Theertham and
Vaigai River. Sthala Vriksham is Kondrai.
