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Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Aappudayar Temple, Thiru Aappanoor, Sellur – The Temple

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.