Sudarkozhundeesar Temple (Pralayakaleswarar Temple), Pennadam
– The Temple
This temple has two corridors and its main tower
(Rajagopuram) has 5-tiers. This is one of the 78 shrines built by Kochengata
Cholan at an elevation. The Temple covers an area of about 4 acres. Vinayagar
Sannidhi is located at the entrance of the temple. Inside the main entrance
there is a small garden. There is plenty of beautiful carvings of idols in the
main Tower. Unlike other temples here Nandhi doesn’t look at Shiva. It is
facing the town. The legend says that, there was a Pralayam and Shiva
ordered Nandhi to turn and drink all the water to save the town. That
is the reason for ‘Pralayakaleswarar’. Both the Nandhis at outer prakaram and
inner prakaram are facing the opposite direction.
Presiding Deity is called as Pralayakaleswarar / Sudarkozhundeeswarar
/ Kadanthai Nathar / Kaivazhangeesar. Lord Shiva in this temple is a
Swayambumurthy (self-manifested). The Vimanam (roof tower) of the sanctum
sanctorum has been constructed according to the Gaja Brushtam style of
architecture. The vimana (roof tower) of the sanctum sanctorum is designed in a
special style of architecture called the Gaja Brushtam. This makes the Vimanam
look like the rear of an elephant (Gaja - elephant, Brushtam - rear). This is
also known as “Thoonganai Maadam” in Tamil (thoong(um) - sleeping, Aanai -
elephant, Maadam - top of a temple).
Next strange thing is position of Dwarapalakas. Normally
they will be facing the same direction in which main deity faces. But here they
are facing each other and perpendicular to the deity. There is also a sanctum located
to the north of main sanctum, has three slotted windows on three sides which
facilitates dharisanam of the Lord from all sides. The lingam inside the
elevated shrine is made of 16 plate faces (Shodasa lingam) and is known as Sri
Soundareswarar. One can see this lord from outside the temple also.
Mother is called as Aamodanambal / Kadanthai Nayaki / Azhagiya
Kadhali. There is a separate temple for Goddess Aamodanambal in the outer
corridor. There are separate shrines for Saint Kalikamba Nayanar and Saint
Meikanda Devar in the corridors. Shrines and idols of Lords Vinai Theertha
Vinayakar, Murugan with his consorts, Natarajar and Sivakami, Kasi Viswanathar,
Dakshinamurthy, Nalvar, Navagraham, Goddess Mahalakshmi and Saptha Madakkal can
be seen in the corridors.
This temple is full of inscriptions – hundreds of them
on outer walls of the main structure. They are so crowded that many of them are
written even on small curved surfaces. Stone inscriptions of Chola
and Vijayanagara Kings regime are seen in the temple. There are three
pillars with Rajendra Chola inscriptions. Rajendra Chola meikeerthi could be
seen in these inscriptions. There was an inscription about the coronation of
British emperor George in one of the pillars in Mother Shrine.
There are few Pallava period sculptures – Saptha Matha –
placed in this temple. It appears that they are brought from somewhere nearby
for safety. They are beautiful. Two of the mathas are missing. Theerthams
associated with this temple are Parvathi Theertham, Kapila
Theertham, Kayilai Theertham, Indira Theertham, Mukkulam and Vellaru river.
Sthala Vriksham is Shenbaga tree. Vedavalli Samedha Vedanarayana Temple is
also present in Pennadam.
